Miss Connection | Contributing Writer
Editor@DallasVoice.com
Branson has a way of greeting you like an old friend who also happens to be really, REALLY into Christmas. I rolled into town right as the holidays fully took over — garlands on every storefront, lights wrapped around trees and light poles like candy canes. The air smelled like cinnamon and funnel cakes.
Immediate vibe check: Passed. I knew I was about to have a festive weekend.
And look, for a queer traveler, that first impression matters. You want to feel safe, welcomed and free to be exactly who you are while you wander someplace new. Maybe you want to hold hands with your partner; maybe wear something a little extra; maybe just exist without doing the mental math of “Is this place gonna be weird about me?”
Branson, in my experience over Thanksgiving weekend, delivered in the most Midwestern Ozarks way possible: friendly, upbeat and committed to giving everybody a good time. The energy was very “Come on in, sugar,” and honestly, I love that for us.
A big part of that comfort came from The Ozarker Lodge (TheOzarkerLodge.com), a reimagined roadside motor lodge turned boutique stay, leaning into nostalgia without feeling dated. Think cedar siding, warm lodge lighting and a lobby you actually want to hang out in — big fireplace energy, games for slow evenings and a general “stay a while” vibe. I even made s’mores over the open firepit just off the front lobby, which made me feel like a camp kid who grew up and now picks cute hotels on purpose.
I started my weekend at the iconic Silver Dollar City (SilverDollarCity.com). The park is still buzzing, but everything leans into its old-timey charm even harder. The tree-lined paths and wooden storefronts feel like a living history set, with the full-season spectacle of 6.5 million Christmas lights and holiday music. Families, couples, friend groups — everybody mixing together, nobody paying attention, so for those traveling queer, that shared atmosphere is relaxing. No side eyes, no weird energy, just people living their funnel cake and saltwater taffy dreams.
Silver Dollar City is best done with a little surrender. I drifted from craft demos to rides to shopping, letting the rhythm of the place set my pace. There’s something oddly satisfying about watching someone shape molten glass into ornaments while a roller coaster is absolutely losing its mind somewhere over the hill. I kept stopping for those tiny travel joys: the smell of fresh cinnamon bread (I mean, HELLO), the clank of a blacksmith’s hammer, the way lights looped across rooftops like they’d always belonged there.
By sundown, the park was in a full Christmas mode that would make Clark Griswold jealous. Everything glowed — trees, storefronts, walkways, hillsides. The town exhaled joy into the night air.
What better place to start Christmas shopping than in Branson?
I began at Kringles Christmas Shops at Grand Village. This is Christmas retail as a mood. Ornaments stacked like jewels, trees dressed in every imaginable theme, little corners that make you slow down just to soak it all in. I’m not usually the person who buys glittery anything, but something about the place softened my defenses. Branson’s holiday energy is contagious, and I caught it big time, leaving with a glitter-covered ornament I did not plan to buy.
Up next in the Show Me state, The Butterfly Palace (TheButterflyPalace.com). I’d seen billboards on the drive up from Dallas but never really considered myself a “bug person.” But y’all, this was exactly what I needed after the hustle of holiday shoppers — the most unexpectedly peaceful stop of the weekend.
You walk into this humid conservatory — basically a tropical world tucked into Branson’s main strip — and butterflies float around like they own the place. They do not care who you are, who you’re with or what box the world tries to put you in. They’re busy being beautiful and, honestly, same.
There’s something calming about an attraction that asks you to be quiet and pay attention. Travel can be loud and packed, so moments like this feel like a gift. Guests get little cups of food to feed the butterflies, and, before you know it you’re covered in these gorgeous wings like you’re some kind of tropical holiday fairy, living your best soft life.
Branson Landing (BransonLanding.com) is another shopping district (I might have a shopping problem), but I also wanted some cardio (aka shopping) to work off all the food I was loading down my gullet this holiday weekend. Mostly, I loved the people watching.
Branson Landing also has these amazing fountains designed by the same folks who did the Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas. When the show kicked off, it pulled everybody in. Branson is not subtle about amusement, and, honestly, I respect a town that commits.
After a full day on my feet, I needed something low-key, so I drove through the Lights of Joy Christmas (Lights OfJoyDriveThru.com) light display. It’s charming and, yes, a little cheesy, but very much worth it. There’s comfort in traditions like this that feels especially sweet during queer travel. We’ve built our own traditions in community, so stepping into someone else’s holiday ritual for a night can feel like a warm crossover episode.
My final day in Branson started with the Titanic Museum (TitanicAttraction.com). The building itself is dramatic, a huge replica of the Titanic with an iceberg and spraying water located right on the Branson strip. Like the ship, the building is larger than life. The museum is fascinating by how it takes a world-famous tragedy and makes it deeply human. I moved through rooms with authentic artifacts. I read about passengers who had plans and routines and loved ones waiting for them. In a town centered on entertainment, this stop grounded me. I walked out quieter than I went in.
The trip closed with Trail of Lights at Shepherd of the Hills (TheShepherdOfTheHills.com) amusement park. The lights wind through this glowing storybook and into the backwoods, bringing the Ozarks in to be part of the magic.
By the end of my weekend, Branson had done what it does best: mixing big, bright fun with moments of stillness and surprise. As a traveler who identifies as LGBTQ+, I’m always clocking the vibe of a place. Here, the vibe was simple: Come as you are; bring your people; take the photo; hold the hand; laugh loud, and let yourself have a good time.
I drove away thinking, “Yep. I’ll be back.” This place reminded me that Christmas spirit doesn’t have a demographic. It’s just awe-inspiring, and Branson is very good at it.
Learn more at ExploreBranson.com.