Silver Dollar City’s World-Fest

When representatives from 14 countries around the world from Zambia to the Philippines gather in Branson in April, it won’t be to discuss foreign policy or international relations – it’s all about world-class entertainment. World-Fest, which takes place at the Silver Dollar City theme park April 7 – May 15, brings in over 200 performers from five continents, all enthusiastic about presenting their country’s artistic heritage.

“Whether it’s folk dancers from the Philippines, a brass band from Russia or acrobats from Kenya, these performers love to entertain,” says Rex Burdette, Silver Dollar City’s World-Fest coordinator for 11 years. “And World-Fest brings in varieties of performance arts that most Americans have never seen before, performed by those who are among the best in their countries.”

Groups with such unique entertainment include the Russian Cossack dancers who perform athletic leaps and choreographed sword-fights that send sparks flying as part of the dance, and the Italian flag throwing teams who throw their colorful flags high in the air in precise arcs.

New this year, the park presents German dancers who perform on stilts, an Irish Celebration with five distinct shows from Irish Celtic music to Irish dance, an a cappella vocal group from Zambia, a Philippine dance troupe, a Honduran choir and a Czech brass band. A new flag team from Italy and a new steel drum band from Trinidad also perform. Major shows include Bulgaria se Artistka with Olympic-style “eurthymics,” a blend of acrobatics, folk dance and classical dance; and the high-energy Russian Cossack National Dance Company. Each evening, the Kenya Safari Acrobats showcase their skills in a show in Echo Hollow Amphitheatre.

Not-to-miss events are the noon parade, where the World-Fest groups parade around the Square in their colorful costumes, and the closing activities, where each night before park closing, a featured group jams on the Square. Then guests join the World-Fest performers for a song and dance ceremony that draws performers and visitors together in an international circle of friendship.

Food takes on an international flavor too, as the park offers a pavilion of specialties such as Jamaican jerk chicken and Caribbean barbecue ribs, Italian calzones, Mexican fajitas, oriental platters, and Greek pies, salads and gyros. International desserts include French crème brulee and Italian tiramisu with chocolate and espresso.