Okay, folks. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I've never been to SDC during the Christmas Festival. My wife and I are hoping to finally make it down this year and possibly bring our young one with us. I was hoping all you city veterans out there could share your must-do's and favorite things in general about the festival.
Obviously there zillions of lights, and the Christmas Carol production at Echo Hollow (any good, by the way?). Just wondering if any of you have any tips for getting the most out of a day at the park during the festival? Any favorite foods (and places to get them), etc.
Hard to believe we're little more than a week away from the festival opening.
Here are my favorites:
1) The giant Christmas tree with over 100,000 lights, synchronized with "Carol of the Bells", "Polar Express Suite" and other songs :)
2) The Christmas Parade
3) Dickens Christmas Carol - actually at the Opera House---love it!
As for foods, I prefer Hot Chocolate. But if you want something more "seasonal" that you can't get everywhere, I recommend you that you wassail on over to one of the hot drink stands near the tree :)
Top Ten Things to see/do at Old Time Christmas
1. The Train Ride (no train robbery on this trip, instead you get to have a beautiful/inspiring visit with grandpa). No matter how long the lines are for the train ride....please don't miss this!
2. The Christmas Carol at the Opera House
3. The Living Nativity in Red Gold Heritage Hall.
4. The lighting of the Giant Christmas Tree
5. The Gifts of Christmas Parade (you need to see it at least once)
6. Hot Chocolate (get the works with whipped cream, chocolate chips, marshmallows and a candy cane--bring your refillable mug and its only $1.75)
7. Hot Apple Dumplings with ice cream.
8. See Terry S. as "Clarence Peabody" Santa's head elf (along with Santa Himself) at Kringles Crossing (in the Carousel Barn by RiverBlast)
9. Frosty the Snowman (yes its a children's show, but you need to see it at least once)
10. The lights reflecting off Lake Silver.
Backintime, "say it aint so!".....I hope u make it! no matter the weather you will wonder why you have not been there before! Mkae sure you see as much on the lists these people are leaving.. ti is all great.. the one thing i miss from years past is "tinker" the talking tree.. anybody miss him?
My kids were greatly disappointed when they took out Tinker. Their grandmother (my mother) wrote SDC and asked them to bring him back. SDC replied that they had no plans to bring Tinker back because he was in pretty bad condition. Maybe Copper or Zephon could give us more information about why they took Tinker out. At least the opening of Frosty the Snowman pays tribute to him. The actor that provide the voice for Tinker, also played the role of the mailman in the last few seasons of Frosty.
I think that fella or was it the raindeer passed away........and I am going for the first time to the christmas specktacular this year also! I cannot wait. I am glowing with christmas SDC style gleee!!!
I have friends that request to go with us every year JUST at Christmas-time. I am a Wassail man, but my wife says hot chocolate is bar-none the pinnacle of hot chocolates. Maybe it is the cold weather, maybe the holiday mood/ cheer, but everything seems to taste better on my visits uring the holiday times. Good memories will be had by all.
We aint never made it at Christmas time either, ??? shame on us. The train ride & the lights reflecting off Lake Silver sounds awesome! I bet the coasters would really make ya'r eyes water.
Oh, yeah, Wildfire, Thunderation, and Powderkeg after dark and in the coolness of an autumn evening are pretty intense. Its kinda like moonlight madness, only all the shops and stores are open, there's Christmas lights everywhere and there's old-timey-Christmas-carols-type-music playing throughout the park, no modern stuff. On second thought...it's nothing like MM, with the exception of riding after dark.
And Rube, your wife is right about the hot chocolate! It's the best!
I love SDC wasail! ;D So much that it inspired me many years ago to perfect my own. While in some respects, mine IS better, I still can't go to SDC during Christmastime without getting several cupfulls of that good ole' SDC wasail! :D
I also really like the Frosty show. It's cute. :)
And yes, I do love Christmas Carol, and find myself singing, "Thank you very much! Thank you very much! That's the nicest thing that anyone has done for me!" ALLLLLLLL year 'round! LOL! :D
But most of all, I just love BEING at Silver Dollar City at Christmas time. Everything is so pretty and there's so much to see and do! I just love it!
I do wish they'd do a new show though. Maybe a version of Miracle on 34th Street or something. It's time for a new show. Not that I want to see Christmas Carol go anywhere, but maybe take a "break" and then come back in a few years once I'm done being sick of it?! LOL! ;D
Thanks everyone for the responses. Makes me want to check it out even more now. Going down in the middle of October every year is fantastic, but it's always been a big tease as well with many of the buildings already covered in lights (not on of course) and a few of the shops already breaking out their Christmas season decor.
Question: If I take my kiddo to see the frosty the snow man show, and he gets all 4 year old excited, are there oter 4 year olds that get excited without the parents taking them out for sheer exuberence on the 4 year olds part? I dont want to be one of those parents that let their kid be loud/talk and be disruptive.
Let him get excited! It's Christmas time, and Frosty is FUN! It's a family park, too, so why get all upset because some kid next to you is excited? Come on, Frosty!
I guess.......so my excited kidlet wont bother other patrons? that is great news. and Jr, if I am frosty then you are the abominal snowman. ;D
Frosty is the forum for excited kids...being kids :)
I'm the Abominible snowman? ROOOOOARRRRR! AHHHH! LOL ;D
The Frosty show is always full of excited 4-year-olds (and 40-year-olds for that matter....but that's another story altogether!) The show is especially marketed as a kids show and its usually performed in the Boatworks theater. The kids are even invited on-stage for part of the show. Bring him, he'll love it. And you'll wonder just how they brought Frosty to life.
Quote from: MissinTheGreenTrams on October 28, 2010, 10:40:13 AM
Question: If I take my kiddo to see the frosty the snow man show, and he gets all 4 year old excited, are there oter 4 year olds that get excited without the parents taking them out for sheer exuberence on the 4 year olds part? I dont want to be one of those parents that let their kid be loud/talk and be disruptive.
Oh, they call all of the kids up to the front... some get to "help" in the show, things like that. And then, Frosty comes to life while all the kids are at the front. If you're not sure if your kid will stay seated while all of that is going on, you're more than welcome to go up with him, or stand over on the side so that you're close by.
But, there are looooooooots of kids being... well... kids!!! ;D Don't worry about your son! I'm sure he'll fit in with all of the other excited 4 year olds! ;)
thanks for the reassurances! I will definatly take him now. sounds like fun!
Quote from: Makayna on October 28, 2010, 12:38:36 AM
I do wish they'd do a new show though. Maybe a version of Miracle on 34th Street or something. It's time for a new show. Not that I want to see Christmas Carol go anywhere, but maybe take a "break" and then come back in a few years once I'm done being sick of it?! LOL! ;D
I'll say it again, please don't take Dickens away!!! :D Maybe some people get tired of it, but the theater is usually full. It wouldn't be Christmas at SDC without it for my family. No one ever says "take out the Nativity show." Yes, it's the story of the birth of Christ, but the guy (angel) jumping out everywhere to sing is weird. We haven't watched that show in years. Many people on here would love for the Diving Bell to come back. Well, if they take out Dickens, I will be posting about how great "the good old days were" when they used to have the Dickens show. My family has seen it twice in one trip before.
Ok, so tips for the Christmas festival--
Don't go where there are crowds of people. This is the most important advice I can give.
Don't be on the square for the tree lighting ceremony. There is not much more to the ceremony that will not happen in intervals throughout the night. It's a good time to eat, though.
Don't try to watch the parade on the square. There are many places along the route that are less crowded.
Don't leave after the first (or only) parade. You will only join in a line to exit the park. Take a walk, ride the train, enjoy some hot chocolate, but do not leave!! Later, you can leave and it's won't raise your blood pressure and cause you to right horrible reviews about how SDC needs to manage crowds better. If you want to leave because you are very cold, find a place to warm up in the park. The line to the tram is not heated.
Do--
Ride the train no matter how long the line looks. It moves faster than you think. Plus, ride it after dark (maybe during the tree lighting).
See Dickens. The line may also seem long to this show, but even if you are in line at the saloon, you will get in.
Stroll the park after dark with the warm beverage of your choice.
We are going to try Frosty for the first time this year. We have a one-year-old now. We waited in line for Santa for the first time last year--totally worth it. The picture is wonderful!
My advice come from many visits to SDC during Christmastime--I'd say about 14 trips for Christmas alone. We usually go at least twice during the season. Plus, we will only stay at Deer Run at Christmas. We have for the past four years.
those are some nice tips staceysue. thanks
Someone was using their imagination-
RiverBlast will be open during the Christmas Season, the water is turned off and instead the course is filled with Christmas lights and Christmas displays.
Well, uh, OK for Riverblast. I'm not sure if this will be a big draw for Christmas, but we'll all have to check it out.
So are they renaming it from River Blast to River Dud? I'm just teasing. ;)
I think they should turn it into the worlds first snowball fight ride. However, I don't expect a lot of people to agree with me on this one. It would be a blast though.
So you are saying during the winter they should rename it from River Blast to Snow Blast? :P
Ummmm how about ice skating on Lake Silver!!!!!! I could see Terry Sanders in costume skating forwards and backwards a-la scott hamilton (I don't even know if he can skate) around lake silver
@Ozark BBQ. There ya go. And have soft-packed safer snowballs already on the ride and on the shore to facilitate the Snow Blast ride.
So, how many days to you plan for Christmas time at SDC? One day, evening? Two days, evenings?
I am soooooooo excited!!! ;D
~shyronn
Quote from: shyronnc on November 01, 2010, 11:09:22 PM
So, how many days to you plan for Christmas time at SDC? One day, evening? Two days, evenings?
I am soooooooo excited!!! ;D
~shyronn
This year we're doing two evenings--not sure about daytime hours yet. We like to see Dickens at park opening, so we'll see. We're going next weekend, actually.
OK. I love The City, always have, always will. But if they don't do something about this MAJOR problem...I may never come back during Old Fashioned Christmas ever again..
TURN OFF the HYPER LOUD music on the square when the HOMESTEAD PICKERS ARE TRYING TO PLAY AT THE HOMESTEAD!!!!!! For crap sake folks, come on. It ain't hard to figure out you can't hear bluegrass instruments played acoustically when there is 10 million watts of canned christmas music blaring just a few feet away. I was in the park all of 30 minutes last year during the Christmas display before I just got fed up and left because I had come to hear the Homestead Pickers, who were overpowered, even with the doors and windows closed inside the homestead. Can someone pass this along so I don't have ANOTHER negative Christmas experience at SDC this year?
I cannot pass this information along for you, but I am sure you can send them an e-mail, or better yet a formal letter addressing your concerns. I am sure they will be happy to hear from you. :)
ya know I like riber blast for the sheer fact I can sit there and get soaked. I dont have to do any work. I sit and float and enjoy while gettin all wet from the squirt gunners on land and cool off nicely. Its not too much of a dud.
I did. I just hope I hear back soon. I'd like some sort of confirmation that its being addressed.
If you don't hear back from SDC in two weeks, try it again. They usually respond fairly quickly. I got a response to a concern I had within three days.
The Homestead Picker's have their own theatre specifically for these times when there's things playing on the square. I wonder why they aren't playing there during the light shows?
Quote from: jeffthephotog on November 02, 2010, 02:03:11 AM
TURN OFF the HYPER LOUD music on the square when the HOMESTEAD PICKERS ARE TRYING TO PLAY AT THE HOMESTEAD!!!!!! For crap sake folks, come on. It ain't hard to figure out you can't hear bluegrass instruments played acoustically when there is 10 million watts of canned christmas music blaring just a few feet away.
I agree with you on this, to a certain extent. The homestead pickers cannot be heard over the music associated with the square.
That said, the square music caters to thousands of people who want to hear it. Sadly, the music is pre-recorded because it HAS TO BE. The Trans Siberian Orchestra, Alan Sylvestri, and other nationally renowned musicians aren't gonna stand in the cold every weekend, just to play music to a giant Christmas tree.
I enjoy the tree, but have also grown to appreciate the Homestead Pickers too. The Homestead Pickers should use their current location for day shows and move to another spot in the park at night. To me, it makes more sense than trying to move a 5 story Christmas tree or cancelling a "tree performance" during the homestead pickers shows. Turing the tree music down would be ineffective. They have it loud for a reason, so thousands of people can enjoy it :)
just need to move them to one of the "show" buildings. Or maybe put up temp walls around the open pavilions.. give them assigend spots and show time like the other artists, so we can plan to see them and listen to them with no distraction. ;D
Quote from: shavethewhales on November 02, 2010, 05:01:59 PM
The Homestead Picker's have their own theatre specifically for these times when there's things playing on the square. I wonder why they aren't playing there during the light shows?
My thoughts exactly! During my most recent trip to Silver Dollar City, they spent nearly the entire day down the hill on that stage. Although I prefer them to be at the homestead, the stage definitely works for them.
OK...Christmas Festival opens Saturday! My wife and I have plans to attend this year. Anyone going this weekend, and if so, what are the best things to see/do? Dickens Christmas Carol is something I'd be interested in...how is that show? What is the best food/drinks to go after. Somebody please ride RiverBlast and let us all know here what that's all about for Christmas! Please give a review of the parade, too. Pictures! Pictures! Pictures! Thanks so much!
Definitely see the Christmas Carol. Get a place early to see the parade if you haven't before; somewhere around Echo Hollow and the Frisco Barn works for us. The tree is terrific, but you will find it very crowded. And don't leave without getting some hot chocolate with the works (If the stand doesn't say "the works", find one that does.).
Thanks for the tips...and if anyone is going past the depot and could take some photos of Half Dollar Holler, it would be great if you could post them.
have a great trip junior. ;D
Quote from: History Buff on November 06, 2010, 11:27:07 AM
Definitely see the Christmas Carol. Get a place early to see the parade if you haven't before; somewhere around Echo Hollow and the Frisco Barn works for us. The tree is terrific, but you will find it very crowded. And don't leave without getting some hot chocolate with the works (If the stand doesn't say "the works", find one that does.).
I agree with HB. There is usually a stand on the square that has Hot Chocolate with the works. Also make sure you ride the train! Even if there is a long line, ride the train, it's worth it.
My recommendations for Christmas at SDC: Food - Apple Dumpling with Cinnamon Ice Cream and Sauce, Cinnamon Bread, and Hot Chocolate with the works. Shows: Definately Dickens at the Opera House, The Living Nativity at Red Gold Heritage Hall. Don't neglect the other shows either - they are all wonderful. Rides: The Train is a must Do, if it's cold, wear a hat, but well worth it. And don't forget to just take in the sights, sounds and smells of the park, it's all very "magical". One of my best memories was just walking thru the park during a light snowfall and just taking it all in. O.K. it wasn't very crowded at the time, so it made it very peaceful. JUST ENJOY!!
I am going mid december!!! My husband and I dont have a whole lotta green to blow on christmas gifts for our kid (who is by the way 4) so we buy one really nice gift that we can all enjoy (last year it was the complet GI JOE series in a footlocker) So I asked my son the other day, would you rather have one gift from santa or go see santa at ilver dollar city?? Are you ready for this???? he silver dollar city duh mom. like I was mental. lol. so come see u around the 16th of december!!! yay for little boys and good taste!!
P.S. Is it worth standing in line to see santa and sit on his lap.......for my kid not me....
you do have season passes for the whole family? dont you? :D
Quote from: MissinTheGreenTrams on November 09, 2010, 06:05:19 PM
P.S. Is it worth standing in line to see santa and sit on his lap.......for my kid not me....
We did it last year, and we plan to do it again. They took pictures, and they took pictures with our camera. The people taking pictures have no idea if you will purchase their picture or not, so I say it's worth it. We couldn't resist their picture, so we have an ornament with our baby's first visit to Santa on our tree!