A Branson tradition continues Sunday (Dec. 6) at 5 p.m. with its 61st lighted nighttime [Adoration] parade with its non-commercial “Keeping Christ In Christmas” theme. Thousands of spectators come from across the country to see the parade, and often comment on how important it is to remember “the reason for the season.”
“Originally, it started with the lighting of the large nativity scene up on the hill to let the world know that we’re a Christian community,” said Edd Akers, an insurance agent and longtime volunteer organizer.
The parade begins just after the lighting of that scene with some figures as tall as 28 feet. To kick off the event, the LeCroix Sisters will sing the National Anthem, and Rev. Bob Hubbard will present the invocation.
Sunday’s weather forecast promises a sunny afternoon and 40 degrees for members of the 15 bands and 40 floats and walking units who will wend their way through historic downtown Branson and Branson Landing on the Taneycomo lakefront.
There’s quite a variety of entrants. The Branson High School Pride Band features 96 members while the Wheaton Bulldogs Band from Barry County has 12 members. One of Wheaton’s planned numbers is “Grandma Got Runover By A Reindeer.”
The Riverton High School Band from Kansas returns with 49 members. And two drill teams from Kansas City will be here: With 52 members, CJ Jaushlin’s The Infamous Marchin’ White Tigers, and with 16 members, Willie Arthur Smith’s Marching Cobras.
Among the floats, there will be several new entrants including the Hillbilly Youth Bowling League from Lampe. The Christian band “New Anointing” will ride the “Jesus Take The Wheel” float. And Morning Star Reindeer Productions from Donnellson, Ill., will bring a reindeer.
Awards in various categories will be presented at 7:30 p.m. at the Branson Landing fountains.
In addition to Commercial Street in downtown Branson, there are some great locations to watch the parade, said Kathleen Bullock, director of tourism development for the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce.
In the Branson Landing area, the parade travels on the street between the shopping center and the lake. The area north of the Belk parking lot has recently been graded and would be a good viewing location. Other spots include the lawn at the northeast side of the shopping center, the sidewalk along Lake Taneycomo and the Landing fountain area.
The Publication of the information from this press release, on this site, is sponsored by Branson Tourism Center (BTC) one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services and sellers of Branson show and attraction tickets and lodging. BTC can be reached by calling 800-785-1550 or through its website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.