Celebrate Big Cedar Lodge’s ‘Home for the Holidays’ season with festive lights, holiday treats and family fun.
Nov 2024
The holiday season at Big Cedar Lodge in the Ozarks is one of the most magical times of the year. Families travel from all over Missouri to enjoy Big Cedar Lodge’s Christmas lights, Santa experiences and festive holiday activities, with Home for the Holidays seasonal experiences running throughout November and December.
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Guests can skate on the new real ice rink, race down the tubing hill or get creative with gingerbread charcuterie, painting and ornament decorating. Add in breakfast with Santa, in-room scavenger hunts and holiday photos, and there’s something fun for everyone to enjoy.
Here’s a look at the top experiences you won’t want to miss this season.
See the Ozarks sparkle after dark on Top of the Rock’s Nature at Night, running November 2 through the end of the year. Drive a golf cart along a 2.5-mile trail of lights, waterfalls, bridge crossings and a cave featuring the Bat Bar.
Celebrate the season from your vehicle on the Home for the Holidays self-guided light tour. See sparkling displays, enjoy hot chocolate or a s’mores kit and discover a winter wonderland with an ice rink, snow tubing and seasonal souvenirs. This runs November 8 through December 31, 5–10 p.m. Cars and SUVs cost $35, mini buses are $60, and the tour is complimentary for Big Cedar and Wilderness Club guests.
Snuggle up on Big Cedar’s Holiday Tram Ride and take in views of Table Rock Lake and historic sites while festive music plays. The ride runs daily November 8 through December 31, 6–9 p.m. at the Swimmin’ Hole Lawn. Tickets are $25 for overnight guests, $30 for the public and free for children 2 and under. Reservations are required.
Make the season unforgettable with a special in-room visit from Santa and his elves. Santa stops by to chat, collect wish lists and pose for photos, while the elves add a touch of holiday magic. Each visit includes a special gift for children to keep, creating memories that will last long after the holidays.
When: Ten-minute slots from 7–10 p.m. on select dates in November and December. Click here to explore availability.
Where: Lodging
Cost: $75 per child
Share a little Christmas magic and snap a photo with Santa during your Big Cedar Lodge stay.
Santa’s elves bring extra magic to Big Cedar Lodge with an in-room scavenger hunt, complete with hidden clues, sweet treats and a personal note from the North Pole.
At The Worman House, breakfast with Santa turns a classic morning into a festive celebration. Guests can dig into an omelet station, Belgian waffles, French toast and a cupcake wall that’s almost too pretty to eat. Visitors can snap a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and meet one of the elves. The event welcomes both overnight guests and the public.
When: 7–11 a.m. on select Saturdays and Sundays in November and December
Where: The Historic Worman House
Cost: Adults are $52 plus tax and gratuity, children 5–10 cost $26 plus tax and gratuity, and children 4 and under are free
Make a stay at Big Cedar Lodge even more magical with a surprise holiday twist. After booking, guests receive a call the week of arrival so Santa’s elves can set up a festive scavenger hunt in the room, complete with a special letter, hidden clues and four custom cookies. Extra cookies can be added for $5 each, making it an even sweeter way to celebrate the season.
When: Daily November through December
Where: Lodging
Cost: $40 per room, guests can add additional cookies for $5 each
This holiday season brings a new kind of sparkle to Big Cedar Lodge with the debut of a real ice rink. In past years, guests have glided across synthetic ice, but this year they can lace up and experience the magic of skating on genuine ice surrounded by the lodge’s festive lights and scenic Ozarks backdrop. The upgrade adds an authentic winter touch to one Big Cedar’s favorite holiday traditions.
When: Open 4–10 p.m. daily November 7 through January 12
Cost: $25 for overnight guests and $30 for the public for both the ice rink and the ice tube sledding
This season, Big Cedar’s tubing hill is the place for fast, festive fun. Surrounded by sparkling Christmas trees, it’s perfect for families and friends looking to make a few memorable runs in a winter wonderland.
When: 4–10 p.m. daily November 7 through January 12
Cost: $25 for overnight guests and $30 for the public for both the ice rink and the ice tube sledding
Gingerbread houses aren’t just for kids at the adults-only Gingerbread Charcuterie Chalet. Guests can build their own edible masterpiece with meats, cheeses, nuts and plenty of snackable extras. The experience includes two complimentary glasses of wine, beer or soda to sip while creating a holiday-inspired work of art.
When: 1–3 p.m. on Saturdays in November and December
Where: Recreation Center Studio Room
Cost: $55 per person
Big Cedar Lodge offers plenty of ways to get creative this holiday season. Guests can paint alongside an instructor in a relaxed, step-by-step art class complete with all supplies, two drinks of choice and the lodge’s signature Chex Mix. Each participant gets to take home a logoed apron as a keepsake.
Families can also join Mrs. Claus and Santa’s elves for a cupcake-decorating session filled with stories and games, plus a chef’s apron, hat and cozy critter to take home.
For a more festive touch, guests can decorate a Big Cedar-themed ornament with help from the elves, who fire each piece in a kiln. Ornament sessions take place November through December on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 a.m. and Saturdays at 9 a.m. in the Table Rock Event Room at Fun Mountain, with a cost of $22 per ornament.
Celebrate the season with a visit to Santa himself. Stop by for a cheerful meet-and-greet, snap a few photos and make memories the whole family will love.
When: Dates and times vary in November and December. Click here to explore availability.
Where: Ozark Room
Cost: $25 including printing
Share breakfast with Santa, Mrs. Claus and friends at The Grandview Conference Center. The Big Cedar Lodge culinary team serves a festive holiday spread that makes it easy to create lasting family memories.
When: 7:30 a.m.–noon on Select Saturdays and Sundays in November and December
Where: Grandview Conference Center
Cost: Adults are $48, kids 5–10 are $24 and kids age 4 and under are free
