Trip Ideas

Oh Summer in the Ozarks! That midwestern humidity, coupled with those temperatures are nothing to mess with, right? Downtown Branson has too many shops and flea markets to stay cooped up indoors in front of the television! Besides, who is going to eat all the cold and sweet treats in Downtown if we don’t? So why miss out? Beat the heat with Sparky! When you need to go Downtown, whether it’s in the Historic District or the famous Branson Landing, you can find relief from the heat (and an easy way to get around) on Sparky. As he circles the downtown route, he brings with him the gift of air conditioning! Hitting each stop about once every 30 minutes, you are sure to find a nearby stop so you can…

School is just around the corner yet again! And Downtown Branson, home to dozens of unique and convenient shops, is a great one-stop destination for all the latest fashions. Don’t forget about Missouri's annual Back-to-School State Tax-Free Weekend that happens every year on the first full weekend in August. The 2024 tax holiday is slated August 2 - 4. Here are a few of the many great downtown shops where you can outfit your kiddos and college-bound students. And don't forget that the free Sparky Trolleys can help you get around, serving 13 stops around downtown every day from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.! Historic Downtown Alex & Alaina's Treasure Chest Alex & Alaina’s Treasure Chest is a small shop with many one-of-a-kind, handmade and old-world items. You'll find handmade moccasins,…

Come find the eclectic, the unique, the unusual and the crafty stuff you never knew you needed at the 2024 Branson Market Days, July 12th, 9am-6pm and 13th, 9am-4pm! 125 wonderful booths of the most unique vendors from all across the country gather with some of the coolest stuff you’ll find! Everything from sweet treats, unique one-of-a-kind finds, vintage clothes, and even Christmas decor can be found at Market Days! So make a day of it, grab your friends, your partner, or even your neighbors and come on down for some snacks and treasure hunting. Admission is $5 for everyone 13 and up and free for everyone 12 and under. Don’t forget, you don’t have to walk in the summer heat with Sparky, the Downtown Trolley! He’s running both days…

Come Celebrate America’s Independence in Style, Wednesday, July 3rd. What is more American than celebrating our independence and freedom with live music and fireworks? Bring your lawn chairs and your love of music and get ready for a great show. Please leave your coolers at home. This years 17th Annual Liberty Light Up is hosted by the Branson Landing, the Hilton Branson Convention Center Hotel and The Dirty Saints band. The event is July 3, 2024 (Wednesday). The beer garden opens at 6:00pm, and is sponsored by Wil Fischer Budweiser. So bring your ID and come thirsty! And be ready for a great show! This years live music lineup is ready to rock! The Dirty Saints were voted by 417 Magazine for Best Cover Band. They cover some of the…

[caption id="attachment_284" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Some Ozarks folklore says that early Branson settlers greeted the first downtown trolley around 1903 (NOTE: We cannot verify this story or the authenticity of this photo).[/caption] If you're a fan of Sparky, you may have come up with your own theories about how the Downtown Branson trolley got his name. Some theories we've heard involve electricity or maybe even an Ozarks tall tale that coincides with the founding of Branson ... and we like to play along with these fanciful explanations. But for historical posterity, we thought we'd give you the real story. The Historic Downtown Branson Discovery Trolley, Circa 2009 The Trolley's First Years The Historic Downtown Branson Discovery Trolley first came on the scene in 2007, just as the Branson Landing and the new Branson Convention…

A free outdoor concert at Branson Landing? Downtown Branson is definitely the best place kick off your summer! The 2024 Branson Landing Summer Concert Series gets kicked off with Rock 'n Roll from the Queen City Dad Bods beginning at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 25 (Opening act Bad Mojo takes the stage at 7:30 p.m.). The beer garden opens up at 7:30pm. Don't forget your lawn chairs and blankets. No coolers allowed. There's also lots of great summer fun around Branson too! Memorials and Museums While enjoying the start of summer, it's also important to remember the reason for Memorial Day, honoring the men and women who have fought and continue to fight for our country. At the Veterans Memorial Museum, not far from downtown, you will be reminded…

With the addition of the new Rose O'Neill mural on Commercial Street, downtown is now home to four major murals, each with their own stories and purpose. You can see each of these while riding the free Sparky downtown trolley, or you can lace up your walking shoes for a unique art walk experience. 1) The Star Spangled Banner Bicentennial Mural Painted by Raine Clotfelter, known as “America’s Muralist,” the giant mural on the west side of the Liberty Utilities building at 215 W. Main is downtown's largest. This artwork celebrated the bicentennial of the Star Spangled Banner in 2014. The background depicts the famous flag over Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. The foreground features a giant eagle, a revolutionary-era drum and fife corps and the song originally…

Thanks to the hard work, creativity and fundraising of two area women, a new 21-foot by 28-foot mural is taking shape in Downtown Branson on the south side of the Centennial Museum at the corner of Commercial and Pacific streets. The mural memorializes famous Ozarkian Rose O'Neill. The project is being brought to life by Kansas City resident Delanie Johnson and Hollister muralist Christine Riutzel. The pair became friends over Instagram and conceived of the art project to pay tribute to one of area's most famous (and often forgotten) residents. Rose O'Neill was the first published female cartoonist in the United States, living from 1874 until 1944. She was an illustrator, artist, writer, suffragist, activist, and philanthropist. She rose to fame for her creation of the popular comic strip characters,…

It's officially Spring, and The Branson Farmers Market is back on Tuesday afternoons in Downtown Branson beginning in April. This amazing market includes locally grown produce, artisan foods, flowers and crafts. Depending on the week, you may also find food trucks, games and live entertainment. More than just shopping, it's always a fun family activity. The market takes place every Tuesday evening from 3-7 p.m. May - October on the south end of the Branson Landing parking lot (Bass Pro side near the Taneycomo bridges). The Branson Farmers Market part of the Farmers Market of the Ozarks, which also operates the Saturday farmers market in Springfield. The Farmers Market is also conveniently near Trolley Stop #1 at the Lakeside RV Park.

Spring is here and so are Spring Breakers! Welcome to Branson and to Spring Break 2024! Here's some of the fun things in Downtown Branson that should be vying for a spot on each family's must-do list. Family Fun Attractions If you're looking for fun things to do with the entire family, Downtown Branson is a great place to start! At Branson Landing, you'll find great attractions like Andy B's Bowl Social, Arcade City, Branson Jet Boats, Parakeet Pete's Steampunk Balloon, The Mirror Maize and Meta Golf. Historic Downtown also has other great family activities, like parks and live performances. The Region's Best Dining Whether you're dining on a patio overlooking the Branson Landing fountains or enjoying a home-cooked meal at one of Branson's traditional diners, you'll discover that Downtown…