Published October 30, 20263 min read

October 30, 2026 · Lakes

Branson Holiday Season 2026: Thanksgiving to New Year’s

Branson markets itself as “America’s Christmas Tree City,” and from early November the theme park, the theaters and downtown all run Christmas programs. This page covers the dated events we could confirm on the organizer’s or the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB’s own pages, read on October 30, 2026. Shortlist cabins and condos on Branson rentals, then book on the property site. For year-round ideas, see things to do, and for cold nights, the winter packing guide.

Quick answer

Silver Dollar City’s An Old Time Christmas runs November 7, 2026 to January 2, 2027. The downtown Adoration Parade is Sunday, December 6, 2026, at 5 p.m. Show schedules and theme park hours vary by day, so check the operator’s calendar for your dates. We do not list ticket prices we could not read on the organizer’s page.

The 2026 holiday calendar

Thanksgiving: Thursday, November 26, 2026.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day: Thursday, December 24, and Friday, December 25, 2026.
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day: Thursday, December 31, 2026, and Friday, January 1, 2027.

Many rentals set their own minimum stay for these nights, and it can differ from the rest of the season. Read the minimum for your exact dates on the booking site, not the general winter rule.

Silver Dollar City: An Old Time Christmas

Silver Dollar City’s An Old Time Christmas page lists the festival as running November 7, 2026 to January 2, 2027. It is billed with more than 6.5 million lights and a Stars, Lights & Christmas Nights Parade that runs the same dates. The park sits west of Branson toward Table Rock Lake, so a rental in the Branson West or Table Rock Lake area keeps that drive short. Daily hours are on the park’s operating calendar. Read it for your exact dates.

The Adoration Parade

From the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB’s Adoration Parade page: the parade is Sunday, December 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. It starts in the Branson Convention Center south parking lot, runs through Historic Downtown Branson and finishes along Branson Landing Boulevard. It features high school bands, floats from area churches and organizations, and Santa Claus. Downtown streets will be busy that evening, so if you are checking in on December 6, ask the host about the best route.

Light displays on the CVB calendar

The CVB’s Christmas page lists Branson’s Christmas events. The listings showed these dates when we checked:

Lights of Joy Christmas Drive Thru: November 1, 2026 to January 3, 2027.
“Let There Be Lights!” at Branson’s Promised Land Zoo: November 1, 2026 to January 4, 2027.
Nature at Night at Top of the Rock: November 1, 2026 to January 3, 2027.

Prices and nightly hours are set by each operator. Read them on the operator’s own page before you go.

What to confirm before you pay

The minimum stay and cancellation terms for your holiday nights.
Which part of the area the pin is in: Branson, Branson West, Hollister or Table Rock Lake. Drive times to Silver Dollar City and to downtown differ.
Whether an outdoor hot tub is open in winter, if that is why you are booking. See Branson cabins with hot tubs.
House rules and occupancy: Branson rental tips. Typical December weather: weather by month.

If one feature matters for a holiday stay, start with these Branson pages; each lists only rentals whose own listing title or website mentions that feature: Branson rentals with a hot tub (16), Branson rentals with a pool (16), Lakefront rentals in Branson (11), Branson cabin rentals (19), Branson condo rentals (17). Confirm the feature and the holiday minimum stay with the owner or manager in writing before you pay.

FAQ

When is An Old Time Christmas at Silver Dollar City in 2026?

November 7, 2026 to January 2, 2027, per Silver Dollar City. Check the park calendar for open days and hours.

What date is the 2026 Branson Adoration Parade?

Sunday, December 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., in Historic Downtown Branson.

Does BnB Search book the stay?

No. Compare on the hub, then finish on the site linked from the listing.

Start browsing stays

Sources

Silver Dollar City — An Old Time Christmas (read October 30, 2026)
Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB — Adoration Parade (read October 30, 2026)
Branson/Lakes Area CVB (Explore Branson) — Christmas in Branson (read October 30, 2026)

Things to do · Winter packing · Weather by month · Rental tips · Christmas week lakes rentals