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Lights and Sounds [WEB EXCLUSIVE]

417-land is full of sights, shows and events that will get you in the holiday spirit.

Last year, Cornerstone Church’s popular light display, the Festival of the Light, was destroyed when the January ice storm damaged the wiring and bent, knocked over and ruined the displays. We reported in November 2007 that the church had to cancel the annual display for the year but promised to be back better than ever in 2008. Now a year later, that promise holds true.

“It’s going to have some larger displays,” says Doug Decker, media ministries director for Cornerstone Church. “There will be a Christmas village that will be kind of a walk through type of area. It’s just going to be an improvement all around.”

The improvement comes thanks to more than a year of donations and community support. It took a $30,000 effort to get the electrical work redone and the foundations back in place, plus the people to make it happen.

“We’ve been blessed by the generosity of engineers,” Decker says.

The new and improved Festival of the Light, now in it’s 18th year, kicks off the evening of November 27 and runs through New Years Eve. Decker describes the event as a “big celebration of happiness.”

“It’s a very, very Christmasy thing,” he says. “It’s one of those things where people say, ‘Oh yeah my kids and grandkids are in town this weekend, we’re going to bring them over here.”

And kid-friendly it is. In addition to the drive-through portion on 14 acres and the walk-through display, there will be inflatables for children and plenty of Christmas music.

Free, donations are welcome, 6:30–9:30 p.m November 27–December 31, Cornerstone Church, 1701 S. Fort St., 417-831-7242

Late November-December 31: Festival of Lights Celebration in Center City
‘Tis the season for Springfield’s annual Christmas festival. The Festival of Lights Celebration in Center City is set to feature many special holiday events including the mayor’s Christmas tree lighting, Miss Merry Christmas Pageant and a visit by Santa Claus, as well as twinkling Christmas lights on numerous Springfield buildings. Free, 417-864-1010, 417-864-1119, itsalldowntown.com.

Branson

The Trail of Lights is a drive-through display of not only lights, but also 3-D animations, story boxes and music. Themed portions of the trail include outer space, Victorian and Hawaiian.
$10 per adult, $5 per child, dusk–midnight, November 1–December 31, Shepherd of the Hills

Silver Dollar City’s An Old Time Christmas is back again with more than 4 million lights on display. Christmas on Main Street features 720,000 lights of its own and a five-story special effects Christmas tree. Also look out for Frosty the Snowman in an all new show.
$52.66 for adults, $41.92 for children age 4–11, November 1–December 30, 1-800-831-4FUN, bransonsilverdollarcity.com

November 1¬-December 31: Branson Area Festival of Lights
Pack the car with hot cocoa for this year’s Branson Area Festival of Lights. The festival, which is a mile and a half in length, includes 175 holiday light displays, as well as new displays this year. For maps of the light displays, visit explorebranson.com. Admission is paid at the display drive through, $10 for family vehicle, $15 for family vehicle season pass, $25 for limo or van, $50 for full size motor coach, open Sunday-Thursday, dusk to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday, dusk to 12 a.m., maps online, Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau, 800-214-3661, explorebranson.com.

Bolivar

Bolivar’s Christmas Parade includes floats, bands and walkers. The parade begins at SBU, then circles Bolivar’s square and returns to SBU. Dec. 13, 2:00 p.m., free., 417-326-4118.

Light The Park in Dunnegan Memorial Park is a drive-through animated light display. Nov. 28, 6-9:00 p.m. nightly, donations accepted when exiting, 417-326-4118.

Festival of Christmas is a holiday music program, and donations benefit Share Your Christmas, a program for people in need. Dec. 7, donations accepted, 417-326-4118.

Marshfield

The Marshfield Christmas Parade on the square kicks off with a cookie baking contest. The square will be lit up with twinkling holiday lights, and a tree lighting ceremony follows the parade. Dec. 13, 3:00 p.m., free, 417-859-3925, marshfieldmochamberofcommerce.com.

Monett

Monett’s Festival of Lights in South Park features a variety of Christmas light displays as well as displays that are representative of Monett. Nov. 26-Dec. 26, 5:30-9:30 p.m., free, donations accepted, 417-235-7919, monett-mo.com.

Neosho

Celebrate the holiday season at the Dickens Christmas Faire in downtown Neosho. Dec. 6, 5:00 p.m., free, 417-451-1925, neoshocc.com.

Ozark

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is the theme for this year’s Christmas parade in Ozark. For a $25 entry fee, you can have your own float in the parade. Dec. 15, 6:00 p.m., free, $25 entry fee for parade float, 417-582-6246.

Also, be sure to visit Finley River Park for the drive through light display Christmas Lights of Ozark. On Saturday nights, you can take a carriage ride through the park to enjoy the holiday light displays. Nov. 15-Jan. 4, open 5-10:00 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 5-11:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday, donations accepted, 417-581-7002.

West Plains

West Plains will have its annual Christmas Parade. The parade has around 100 floats and a different theme each year. Dec. 13, 1:00 p.m., free, down Porter Wagoner Blvd., 417-256-4433, wpchamber.com.

Springfield

The Festival of Lights Celebration in Center City includes the mayor’s Christmas tree lighting, Miss Merry Christmas, a visit by Santa Claus, fireworks at Hammons Field, lights around downtown and free ice skating.  Most events are free, November 21–December 31, 864-1010 or 864-1119, itsalldowntown.com

More than 2,500 luminaries will light up Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield to commemorate lives lost in the battle.
Free, December 13, 5:30–9:30 p.m., Wilson’s Creek Battlefield, 417-732-2662, ext. 227, nps.gov/wicr