The end of the holiday season always brings about a period of blues as the anticipation, the excitement, and all the delicious foods we eat are done for another year. But we at Sunset Nightly Rentals have learned a few things over the years, and one of those things is that the best way to get through the blues is to start planning your next getaway, preferably one that takes you to our hometown of Branson for a stay in our vacation retreats. If you haven’t really considered Branson as your next vacation, however, this preview to all you can expect from a trip to Branson in 2025 will perhaps give you an encouraging nudge in the right direction.
Something New
The traditions of Branson are important to us, and many of our performers stay on the stage for years, becoming an important part of our town’s family, but new is good as well, and in 2025 the shows listed below are coming to the stages of the “Live Entertainment Capital of the World.”
David, Sight & Sound Theater, 1001 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway in Branson
A new show, David, is coming to the Sight & Sound Theater, a theater company that began over 50 years in Pennsylvania, bringing bible based stories to the people. The Branson version opened its doors for the first time in 2008, offering Noah the Musical as its first performance. Every year since then, they offer a new biblical story, each showcasing the talents of the finest actors in the state. 2024’s was the very successful Daniel, and we are sure that David will be an equal success. Tickets cost a very reasonable $79, ensuring that most vacation budgets can handle the purchase.
Thunder Ridge Concert Arena, 1901 State Highway 86 in Ridgedale
Thunder Ridge Concert Arena is the one place in town where change is a constant, offering up a steady stream of headliners from all over the country, and the 2025 lineup promises to be an exciting one. On April 26, Bulls, Bands, & Barrels is the first show up to bat, combining, of all things, bull riding with live musical performances from Riley Green and Craig Morgan. On June 7, legends in the rock world, Styx & Keven Cronin, + Don Felder will be bringing the Brotherhood of Rock Tour to the stage. Less than a week later, Post Malone and his Big Ass Stadium Tour comes to the concert arena, sharing the stage with Jelly Roll, and both performers promise to bring magic to your world. These are just a few of the exciting performances coming to the stage in 2025, but the Thunder Ridge website offers a more comprehensive list of performances and things to do in Branson that will be coming to its stage.
Not Just Music
Branson wasn’t always a popular vacation destination. Before all the theaters began opening up, we were known for our natural beauty and quiet peace, and although we are famous for being the live music capital of the world, the theaters that line our streets aren’t the only game in town. Below, we have listed a few attractions that will enhance your vacation experience.
Silver Dollar City, 399 Silver Dollar City Parkway in Branson
Known as the home of American craftmanship, Silver Dollar City is a theme park might be the only amusement park based on a time period, the 1880s to be exact. Offering thrilling rides, including the all new family coaster called Fire in the Hole, an indoor roller coaster that is the largest in the heartland, the park also is the center of holiday entertainment, offers 100 craftsmen and women who demonstrate milling, blacksmithing, blowing glass, wood carving, and so much more. Their completed works are offered for sale, often serving as souvenirs of a thrilling adventure travelers could never experience anywhere else. Don’t feel like carrying everything you see and need home in your luggage, even though there is plenty of room? Their online store allows you to buy what you love and have it shipped to your home!
The sinking of the Titanic still captures our attention more than 100 years after the tragic event occurred. We still can’t wrap our minds around such great loss and the tales of heroism still warm our hearts, making Titanic museums and exhibits popular attractions wherever they may exist, including the one that lies right here in Branson. Offering authentic renditions of the ship, key movie memorabilia, and telling the ship’s story with dignity and style, visitors can touch an iceberg, walk along the sloping deck as the passengers and crew had to on that fateful night and can sit in actual sized lifeboat, while listening to the stories of the real passengers that boarded the luxury ship. Upon walking in, guests are given a boarding pass with the name of an actual passenger or crew member and at the conclusion of the tour, will be able to learn the fate of “their” person, adding an additional layer of realism to the experience. This attraction sells out quickly on a daily basis, so reservations are recommended.+
Branson Auto and Farm Museum, 1335 State Highway 76 in Branson
The Branson Auto and Farm Museum is another popular attraction to check out on your trip to Branson, offering a collection of over 150 restored classic and muscle cars and tractors that will engage the shade tree mechanic in your traveling party. 90,000 square feet of building is divided into two halves, one serving as a garage for its truly marvelous collection of cars and the other serving as a barn of sorts for an equally impressive farm exhibit. Marvel over the purple 1932 Ford Highboy, the red 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air, and the more modern 1974 Plymouth Cuda (as well as all the other vehicles in the collection!) and then turn your attention to stunning selection of fully restored tractors that date back to the 1920s. Also offering a section entitled barn finds that features a fascinating group of plows, carriages, and more, this museum may be one of your favorite Branson adventures.
Branson Events
The best way to get to know a place is by attending the events and festivals that the locals attend and the ones listed below are ones that we look forward to every year. Your Branson journey can be planned around the top things to do in Branson that interest you most and if there is more than one event you are interested in, why not go ahead and plan an additional visit? There is always something fun and exciting going on in our Ozarks mountain town, and if you visited five times in a single year, you wouldn’t experience the same vacation twice.
Branson Music Fest, April 25-26, Clay Cooper Theater, 3216 W 76 Country Boulevard in Branson
Music made our fortune, and you might think, if you didn’t know the area very well, that we would want to try something a little different. But we still haven’t celebrated all that makes the music play, and every April, the Branson Music Fest helps move us even closer to a state of music enlightenment. Held at the Clay Cooper Theater, offering two days filled with a total of 20 to 22 different performances. Performed by nationally renowned artists, some of our favorite local artists, and also offering a sneak peak into some of Branson’s newest shows, this festival will give travelers a better understanding of just what makes our mountain town tick.
Veterans Week, November 5-11, Various Venues in Branson
Our all-American town pays homage to the American veterans who make it their business to keep us safe and free, and while most places just offer a single day to celebrate, we dedicate an entire week to our heroes. Kicking off the celebration with a Veterans Show at the Clay Cooper Theater, there are musical events, a Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall (a half scale replica of the original Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall monument found in DC) free meals, a Vietnam Veterans Reunion, military themed movies, a Sandbox Party honoring those who served in the Gulf War, and so much more it would take us more time than we have to list everything that takes place during this wonderful week. Culminating with a Veterans Day parade held on Veterans Day, the entire week is designed to remind our veterans that we honor, thank, and appreciate them so very much.
Christmas at Silver Dollar City, 399 Silver Dollar City Parkway in Branson
Many local events take place in Silver Dollar City, the 1880s themed amusement park we mentioned earlier, and if you are planning a Christmas visit to Branson, the activities and events at the park are sure to make your visit more magical. The theme, Old Time Christmas, fits right into the brand of the amusement park, and as you and your family enjoy a Living Nativity for its peaceful and serene rendition of that significant night in Bethlehem, the bright and sparkling Rudolph’s Holly Jolly Light Parade, and a festive selection of holiday performances, it will be near impossible to ignore the spirit of Christmas that descends upon you!
The Meals You Will Remember
As the tour of Branson in 2025 continues, it is time to explore the epicurean landscape that will be such an important part of your getaway. The best vacations are often remembered for the foods we ate, and although we don’t show any new restaurants on the Branson landscape as of yet, the tried and true tastes found below will be memorable ones.
Billy Gail’s, 5291 State Highway 265 in Branson
There are actually three locations for this much loved favorite, but for today’s purposes, we are going to visit the original Billy Gail’s, the one that made everyone fall in love with their food. Open every day for breakfast and lunch and also serving dinner on Fridays and Saturdays, their breakfast menu is a large one and is served all day, every day. This is where you find the Southern comfort foods you have always read about, including country fried steak and pancakes that will give you the sweetest start to your day. If breakfast isn’t your thing, that’s ok too! Their burgers are thick and juicy, and their Home Cookin’ menu items will make you wonder if your own grandma isn’t in the back, cooking up her own favorites!
Fall Creek Steak & Catfish House, 997 Historic Highway 165 in Branson
Offering live entertainment (including waiters that toss dinner rolls to their guests!) this family restaurant is another Branson favorite, having tossed their rolls for over 30 years. Offering the best barbecue in town and fried catfish prepared the correct way (everyone knows it has to be breaded in cornmeal) they also serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with expertly prepared and very thick and juicy steaks shining bright on their menu. Their dessert menu is a wonderful one, so be sure to save room for cobbler or cake.
Mitsu Neko Fusion Cuisine and Sushi, 224 W Main Street Suite B in Branson
All of this country cooking is wonderful, but even in Branson, travelers hope to find sushi that is fresh, sweet, and delicious, and Mitsu Neko always comes through for us. Closed Mondays and open for dinner every other night of the week at 4:00 PM, they are proud to serve food made with locally sourced ingredients whenever possible and their ramen choices are authentic and wonderful.