One holiday that has grown into its own season in the Table Rock Area is Christmas, when we celebrate Ozark Mountain Christmas. Most of the theaters in Branson have special Christmas shows beginning in November and the area streets and shops take on the look of a winter wonderland outlined in Christmas lights. Area restaurants and accommodations stay open to welcome the winter vacationers. The most beautiful and popular event during Ozark Mountain Christmas is the “Port of Lights” at Kimberling City.
The Port of Lights is built and sponsored each year by the Table Rock Lake Chamber of Commerce. Thousands and thousands of Christmas lights are carefully coordinated to bring a vivid vision of the season’s joy to young and old alike. Toy soldiers, Jack-In-The-Box, Cinderella, Coach and Castle, Hillbilly Fisherman with fish, actually jumping in Table Rock Lake and an American Flag 50 feet high and 60 feet wide are just a few of the artistic animated displays available as the visitors pass through blue, red, gold and green forests. The Candy Cane Forest meanders past brilliantly decorated dollhouses and sprinkled along the path are twinkling bicycles, wagons, buggies and trucks…a new surprise at every turn.
There are two drive-through tunnels, a 120-foot Snowflake Tunnel and a 240-foot Hollywreath Tunnel. Each year the Port of Lights grows larger and larger with new and even more spectacular displays. The event can be viewed every night from early November through December and has gained national recognition as one of the truly great lighting displays in the country. The recent new expansion of the Port of Lights extended the lighting display to a three-mile drive-through extravaganza.
One of the new displays in 2001 was a large Paddle Boat; and is truly a “Showboat.” It received raving reviews! The animation and lighting gives a three dimensional appearance that invites boarding. From bow to stern, its span exceeds 85 feet and is 30 feet tall. Our American flag blows in the wind, and Santa waves from the deck above as the paddle wheel turns.
The Port of Lights is located at the US Corps of Engineers Highway 13 Park in Kimberling City.From Branson go West on Highway 76 to intersection with Highway 13 and turn south on 13 For additional information Call 1-800-595-0393 or email trlchamber@tablerocklake.org.