BY K.D. MICHAELS, Staff Writer
A popular Branson event, Branson Music Fest, was held last weekend at the Clay Cooper Theater.
"Branson Music Fest was a huge success," said Toyea Youngblood of Branson Ticket and Travel and the Branson Travel Planning Association. "Over the course of the two-day event, Branson Music Fest presented audiences with over six hours of live stage entertainment featuring 26 different acts and artists."
The weekend event featured entertainment from Million Dollar Quartet, The Texas Tenors, Rick Thomas, New South, Colton Cooper, Matt Gumm, Hot Rods & High Heels, Rick McEwen, Branson's Famous Baldknobbers, Amazing Acrobats of Shanghai, New Jersey Nights, Clay Cooper's Country Express, #1 Hits of the 60's, Goldwing Express. Doug Gabriel, Jay Osmond, Nashville Roadhouse Live, Pierce Arrow, Best of Motown, Mary Lou Turner, Dublin's Irish Tenors & Celtic Ladies, Elvis Live, Billy Yates, Cassandre and the Haygoods.
"Roughly we had about 1,850 in attendance—a mix of tour operators, travel agents, bus groups, media (both domestic and international), group leaders and annual repeat visitors," noted Youngblood.
Hosted by the Branson Travel Planning Association, Branson Music Fest began as an idea that Diane Fisher, owner of Branson Ticket and Travel, brought to the organization several years ago—to bring together multiple acts on one stage and give audiences an opportunity to experience all of Branson's most popular shows and entertainers for the price of one show, in a unique, two-day event.
The Branson Travel Planning Association, an organization of tour and event planners, uses funds raised from Branson Fest to continue to market Branson as a live entertainment destination for group tours.
"A special thanks to all the entertainers and stage artists who came together to make Music Fest Branson's largest annual live stage entertainment event," said Youngblood. "Plans are already underway for next year's event: April 25-26 and returning again to the Clay Cooper Theatre."