Branson 2026

Ozark Mountain Christmas

November 16-21

 

     Experience the magic of an Ozark Mountain Christmas with Laura and Gary Block, November 16-21, 2026.  All of Branson sparkles for the holidays, from fabulous Christmas shows and dazzling lights, to spectacular and breathtaking scenic beauty.  Branson can be a special gift to you or to someone else at this festive time of year.  Six days, five nights and lots of entertainment in Branson.  In fact, we’ve included more entertainment this year than we’ve ever offered in over 25 years!  There are 7 shows, plus three of the restaurants provide entertainment.  That’s 10 venues that with entertainment.  That’s unbelievable! Once again, this year, we’ve included loads of meals with two lunches, five dinners, five breakfasts and more surprises that help make up an unbelievable week of fun, food and entertainment. In fact, all of the meals while you’re in Branson are included. Compare our trip with other companies and you’ll find we offer more…more days, more entertainment and more meals…and a more reasonable price. We’re up front where you’ll be seated in the theaters and which hotels you’ll be staying at.  Not all tour companies do that, but we do!!  This just may be one of the best Branson trips we’ve ever offered!! 

Day One - Monday

     Our North Star Coach departs from Little Falls early in the morning.  You’ll get an itinerary in the mail before the trip! We’ll pick up in Royalton, Rice, St. Cloud, the Twin Cities or any other locations on our route.  Our destination is the Drury Inn, Overland Park. Kansas for our overnight stay. The 5:30 Kickback with a rotating menu of hot food and cold beverages will be waiting for us when we arrive.  Plus, there’s free evening sodas and popcorn in the lobby.    

Day Two - Tuesday

     The day begins with a hot breakfast buffet.  “Hot” means sausage and eggs, not bread and a toaster!  Choose from scrambled eggs, sausage, Belgian waffles, biscuits, gravy and more. This morning, we travel to Branson, Missouri.  Lunch is on our own today, before we arrive in Branson. We’ll check into Branson’s Best for the next three evenings We have stayed at this property for a number of years and we were impressed overall, especially the service.  Branson’s Best is centrally located, locally owned with exterior corridors and known for its friendliness and cleanliness.  It is rated #7 of 133 hotels in Branson by TripAdvisor. There is live music, dining and shopping at our next stop which is at the Branson Craft Mall and Pickin’ Porch Grill.  This is the craft mall that has it all!  You’ll have some time to shop before dinner. Thousands of handmade items, the work of creative and imaginative artisans are on display. These artists hail from all over America, but you’ll also see many items that are staples of the Ozark Mountain region in this 16,000 square foot facility.  Also at the same location is the Hillbilly Nut & Fruit Company, offering a large variety of fruits and nuts as well as jams, jellies, salsas, soup mixes and local honey.  Don’t forget to visit the Branson Coffee Company and the Branson Fudge Company where they have free samples of the candy.  Dinner tonight is in the same building, The Pickin’ Porch Grill.  Enjoy one of the entrees, including pulled pork, single cheeseburger, turkey melt, chicken salad sandwich or a choice of grilled chicken, crispy chicken or chicken-salad salad. Set in the rolling Ozark Mountains, Sight & Sound is a unique theater experience.  Tonight, you’ll experience “Miracle of Christmas” as it comes to life on stage with massive sets and live animals in this cherished holiday production.  Travel back in time to Bethlehem as the original Christmas story literally unfolds all around you.  Journey alongside Mary and Joseph, a flock of surprised shepherds and three wise men – along with their camels!  There may be no room at the inn, but God has a lowly stable prepared as the angels announce the coming of the Messiah.  Every production at Sight & Sound is a spectacular show with a message that reaches far beyond the stage.  Our seats are on the main floor in Section 103 beginning in Row S. To top off our evening, there are nightly desserts of hot cobbler, ice cream and fresh-baked cookies served in the dining area of Branson’s Best for us to enjoy. Usually there’s someone waiting to play cards such as Cribbage. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day, so an evening of relaxation will be appreciated.   

Day Three - Wednesday

     We’ll start off the day with the hot breakfast that includes eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, waffles, cereals and more. What a day of entertainment this is going to be. We begin in the morning with Down Home Country at Grand Country Music Hall.  The “Down Home Country” show is the best show in Branson to hear traditional country music.  With an incredible cast of singers and pickers, you literally step back in time to the classics, bringing to life the country music you will never forget.  You’ll love the variety of dynamic singing, side-splitting comedy, powerful gospel, barn-burning bluegrass and down-home fun.  This show alone will make sure that your trip to the Ozark Mountains is a memorable one.  Our seats are in the center section, rows 11-15. Following the show, it’s an included lunch at the Grand Country Buffet where we’ll enjoy an experience reminiscent of a meal at Grandma’s house.  This afternoon be ready for Branson’s Famous Baldknobbers, featuring the Mabe family, with a country music and comedy variety show performing at the Hughes Brothers Theatre.  The Mabe family began the Branson family entertainment phenomenon over 65 years ago.  If you haven’t seen Branson’s Famous Baldknobbers while visiting Branson, then you haven’t seen Branson.  This is the show that started it all.  Our reserved seats for the Vintage Christmas Show begin in Row 7. Dinner this evening is at Jackie B. Goodes Uptown Café, a classic 50’s experience.  Not only are they known for their classic American food, but they also have “live” entertainment every day.  Listen to the greatest hits of the 50’s, gospel music or top country hits at one of the favorite family friendly restaurants in Branson. Comedy is on tap tonight as we travel to the Yakov Theatre, a place that has been at the heart of Branson’s entertainment scene for over three decades.  This magnificent 2,000 seat theater is more than just a venue, it’s a testament to the enduring power of laughter, dreams and the American spirit all brought to life by Yakov Smirnoff, an iconic comedian who started with nothing but a dream.  Our reserved seats start in Row F in the left section.  Desserts will be available at Branson’s Best this evening. Enjoy!

Day Four - Thursday

     We’ll start our final full day in Branson with the breakfast at Branson’s Best.  What a day of entertainment this is going to be, once again. Our first show of the day will be the Hughes Brothers Christmas Show, eighteen times voted Branson’s best Christmas show.  The Hughes Brothers and family transport you to a Christmas Wonderland filled with the season’s best vocal harmonies, exciting dances, inspiring instrumentals, and of course, the enchantment and light-hearted humor that everyone loves about the Hughes Brothers Show.  Along with all the festive surprises and reassured family traditions, see Santa in a new light when he explains the symbols of Christmas in the most moving holiday presentation you’ve ever witnessed.  Our reserved seats begin in the 7th Row of the center section. We’ll remain at the theater for lunch in the upper dining area.  Next stop?  Retro Christmas at The Showroom.  A fresh chapter is beginning for a longtime Branson performance space – now rebranded as The Showroom at Branson Meadows with comfortable stadium style seating ensuring everyone get a clear view of the stage and located in the heart of the Branson Meadows Shopping Center.  We have fantastic reserved seats, front and center, for Matthew Boyce’s Retro Christmas, a heartwarming and nostalgic production that takes you on a journey back in time to the golden era of Christmas entertainment featuring classics by Elvis, Bing Crosby, the Andrews Sisters, the Beach Boys, Michael Buble’ and more.  Starring two-time Tribute Artist of the Year and Branson’s 2025 Entertainer of the Year Matthew Boyce, the MBE showband, female trio “The Garland Girls” with family friendly comedy and a special guest from up North.  We’ll head across town after the show to the Midwest’s grandest Christmas store, Kringles & Kringles Village Treasures, all part of your adventure at the Grand Village.  It’s dinner at 6:00 at the Hard Luck Diner, home of the original singing servers.  When you walk in, you are greeted by a 1950’s aesthetic, a delicious offering of classic diner foods and a singing staff who deliver a musical experience from across the decades.  The diner’s servers, hosts, cooks and cashiers are professional singers, song writers and musicians.  Like a true Branson dinner show, they offer a great dining experience seasoned with a song.  Our final Branson show tonight is with the Duttons. America’s most musical family, this a show you don’t want to miss.  Every show is personal.  You’ll laugh, clap, and maybe even tear up, because this isn’t just a concert, it’s a family sharing what they love most: music, connection and joy.  We have reserved seats in rows 5-8 for this Christmas show.  What a way to close off our shows in Branson this year. It’s been a busy day and a relaxing night at Branson’s Best is something we’ll look forward to.  And if you’re still hungry, there’s always dessert waiting for you!!

 

Day Five – Friday

     Breakfast is at the hotel this morning and then it is back on the road as we head north through Missouri and into Iowa.  We’ll stop for lunch on our own, visit the Osceola Cheese House and have some fun on the coach.  Our home tonight is the Drury Inn in West Des Moines, Iowa.  Dinner is included with the 5:30 Kickback with hot food and cold beverages. After a day of traveling, this beautiful Drury Inn will provide a comfortable place to relax and unwind. 

Day Six - Saturday

     Our final day together begins with a delicious breakfast at the Drury Inn as we prepare for our last day together.  Choose where you’d like to have lunch on your own today, Famous Daves BBQ or other choices in Owatonna.  Before we leave town, we’ll stop at the Russell Stover Candies store featuring a full selection of boxed candies and chocolates. This is an outstanding Ozark Mountain Christmas trip. A great time is almost a guarantee and you’ll have pleasant memories for many years in the future.

 

 

This is a one-of-a-kind six day/five nights Branson holiday getaway at a great price that includes seven shows, plus three restaurants that provide entertainment, two lunches, five dinners, five hot breakfast buffets and some of the best seats in the theaters. The Branson tradition continues and we would love it if you joined us November 16-21,2026       

 

 

Cost:      $979 Double occupancy per person

$899 Triple occupancy per person

$839 Quad occupancy per person

$1349 Single occupancy 

 

$250 non-refundable deposit per person will reserve your spot and must be mailed within 3 days of signing up, unless previous arrangements have been made. Deposit is refundable if tour is canceled or if a replacement is found when you cancel.  Balance is due October 1, 2026. An itinerary with all pertinent information and times, along with luggage tags and emergency forms will be mailed a couple of weeks before the trip!

 

Gary Block Tours

320-632-8632

mgaryblock@hotmail.com                www.garyblocktours.com

 

 

 

   

Ø  Comfortable North Star motor coach transportation

Ø  Experienced and friendly driver

Ø  All meals are included while we’re in Branson

Ø  Down Home Country (Center Section Rows 11-15)

Ø  Miracle of Christmas – Sight & Sound Theatre – (Main Floor Section 103 beginning in Row S)

Ø  Baldknobbers Vintage Christmas Show – (Seats begin in Row 7)

Ø  Yakov Smirnoff – (Row F – Left Section)

Ø  Hughes Bros Christmas Show – (7th Row Center Section)

Ø  Matthew Boyce’s Retro Christmas – (Front & Center)

Ø  Duttons Christmas Show – (Rows 5-8)

Ø  One night lodging at Drury Inn, Overland Park, KS

Ø  Three nights lodging – Branson’s Best – Branson, MO

Ø  One night lodging at the Drury Inn – West Des Moines, IA

Ø  Osceola Cheese House

Ø  Russell Stover Candies - Owatonna, MN

Ø  Two lunches  

Ø  Five dinners

Ø  Five hot breakfast buffets

Ø  Three restaurants with singing entertainment

Ø  Shopping opportunities in Branson

Ø  Luggage handling

Ø  Refreshments and snacks on coach

Ø  Fun - Games - Prizes

Ø  Hosted by Laura & Gary Block

 

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Transportation and lodging hosted by Gary Block Tours is arranged with independent firms.  Bookings for entertainment are arranged through independent hotels, theatres and other entertainment venues.  We take great pride in our selection of reliable firms.  However, we do not control these independent firms.  Sometimes shows or celebrity appearances are changed or cancelled without notice.  We cannot be responsible for claims or losses arising out of injury, Covid, accident, death, loss of enjoyment, frustration or inconvenience that arises from the act or omission of any independent firm supplying services to Gary Block Tours, or for mechanical breakdowns, governmental actions, acts of God, strikes or acts of war beyond our control.  We cannot be responsible for the consequences of your failure to follow instructions, including but not limited to check in, check out and baggage handling.  If events or reservations are cancelled or changed, we will make every effort to provide a comparable substitute tour experience. 

Deposits and payments are non-refundable unless the tour is cancelled or we’re able to replace you. I have read and understand the Cancellation and Refund Policy notice. All participants of this trip must sign below.

 

Return with payment to:  Gary Block Tours, 112 SE 4th Street, Little Falls, MN  56345

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                                                              Branson 2026