Adoration Parae route map.*

The 61st year of a Branson Christmas tradition will continue when the 61st Branson Adoration Nativity Scene Lighting Ceremony starts at 5:00 p.m. It will be followed by the Adoration Parade through historic downtown Branson and Branson Landing.

Paul Miller, General Manager, Branson Tourism Center said, “The Adoration Parade and ceremony is a long standing Branson tradition and is one of the few, if not the only, non-commercial, lighted nighttime parades in the United States devoted to the theme of “Keeping Christ In Christmas.” He points out that it is a featured event of “Ozark Mountain Christmas” and expects that, in addition to locals, thousands of people from all over the country will be on hand to view the lighting ceremony and parade.

The Nativity Scene Lighting Ceremony will be conducted near the intersection of Commercial and Main Streets in historic downtown Branson starting at 5:00 p.m. Although the ceremony takes place in downtown Branson, the Nativity Scene that will be lit up is on top of Mount Branson on the opposite side of Lake Taneycomo. With some of its figures being nearly 30 feet in height, the Nativity Scene is readily visible from downtown Branson as well as Branson Landing.

Ted Martin, one of the spokespersons for the parade said the parade will have about 14 bands and 37 other floats and units. The bands will vary in size from the Branson High School Pride Band with its 96 members to the Wheaton Bulldogs Band from Barry County with its 12 members. Spaced in with the bands will be the parades signature lighted floats and even a reindeer.

The parade route starts at Branson Landing Boulevard near the south end of the south Branson Landing parking lot (Bass Pro.) It will proceed west to Business Highway 65 and turn north onto Business Highway 65. At the “Y” junction of Business Highway 65 and Commercial Street the parade proceeds down Commercial Street, through the entire historic downtown area, to its intersection with Branson Landing Boulevard. At that point it will turn north onto Branson Landing Boulevard and go to the north end of the north Branson Landing parking lot (Belks) where it turns east and crosses the parking lot until intersecting with the perimeter road just west of the Brandon Landing Boardwalk. The parade will continue south along that road ending back near its point of origin.

Martin said there are a lot of areas to get a good view of the parade. Commercial Street, through the entire length of historic downtown Branson has historically been an excellent area to view the parade. In addition, he points out, the area on the north end of the north Branson Landing parking lot (Belks), where the parade turns east to the perimeter road, provides another excellent viewing area as well as the fountain area of the public square at Branson Landing.