When do Branson's four pillars of Faith, Family, Flag and Fun shine brightest?

In an Ole Seagull’s opinion, if you want to know what truly makes Branson tick—the heart and soul behind the music, live entertainment, attractions, patriotism, and the fun and adventure Branson is known for —then the first week in November is special. Every day, what Branson offers is built on the four pillars of Faith, Family, Flag and Fun. It’s this that sets Branson apart from most other tourist destinations. Ozark Mountain Christmas and Veterans Homecoming week, both starting in the first week of November, are special celebrations of those pillars that highlight and honor our Veterans and the traditional celebration of Christmas, offering a unique experience not available anywhere else.

The first pillar of Faith, the belief in something unproven, is a foundational element of everything Branson offers. From Faith in our God to the Faith that members of the Armed Forces, Veterans and their families should be honored, and the Faith that Branson should be a place devoted to the traditional American Christmas, celebrating the reason for the season, Faith is part of Branson's DNA. Nowhere is that Faith felt more obviously by locals and visitors alike than during Branson's Veterans Week and Ozark Mountain Christmas, both of which start in the first week of November.

The second pillar, Family, a group of people united by certain convictions or a common affiliation. Branson's success as both a tourist destination and a place where people choose to live is based on the Family. Not only are most of the live shows and entertainment it offers family-friendly, but many are presented by families. From a show perspective, it doesn't get more "Family" than the Haygoods, Presley's Country Jubilee, Clay Cooper's Country Express, The Duttons, the Hughes, Doug Gabriel, and George Dyer's shows, to mention just a few. If there's a place on this earth that is more family-oriented on any day, but even more so during Veterans Week and Ozark Mountain Christmas, the Ole Seagull hasn't seen it.

The third pillar, the Flag or patriotism, is an everyday part of what Branson does. From its Veterans Memorial Garden at the entrance to the famed Branson Strip to the way most of its shows and businesses honor Veterans and our Flag every day, Branson proudly proclaims that it is "America's Most Patriotic City." Branson Veterans Homecoming Week focuses on that with special events for Veterans and their families, and one of the longest continuously running Veterans Day Parades, starting at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, as it has for the last 93 years.

The fourth pillar, Fun, is self-evident. It is the primary reason people come to Branson. The neat thing about Branson is that, unlike many other tourist destinations, the fun here is based on the three pillars of Faith, Family, and Flag every day, especially so starting the first week of November with Veterans Homecoming Week and Ozark Mountain Christmas.