Branson News Guide

Silver Dollar City Soars with an All-New Southern Gospel Picnic Festival

A Glorious Gathering of Food, Friends and Great Harmonies - August 31 - September 10

Southern Gospel, known for its strong American roots, is said to be music that moves the soul. In recognition of a resurgence of the music’s popularity, Silver Dollar City is celebrating two great traditions in an all-new festival: Southern Gospel Picnic brings together the rich harmonies of America’s heartfelt music with the home-cooked spread of an old-fashioned gathering. More than 500 performances will resound throughout the park with Southern Gospel Picnic running August 31 - September 10.

Presenting gospel music 7 days a week for 11 straight days, performers range from the traditional to the contemporary including Grammy nominees and Dove Award winners The Crabb Family, Jeff & Sheri Easter, The McKameys, The Kingsmen and The Perrys.

Southern Gospel Nights literally envelop a star-studded stage with an outdoor presentation each evening in Echo Hollow Amphitheater. Performers include The Florida Boys of the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame, Grammy nominees Dixie Melody Boys and Dove Award winners Gold City.

In honor of another southern tradition, the festival presents The House of Chicken & Fixin’s featuring Applewood Smoked Chicken with all the picnic-style fixings such as fried green tomatoes, fried apples and au gratin potatoes. An array of desserts will complete the picnic with a variety of pies and cakes that are long-time favorites at church socials and family reunions.

“With this new festival Silver Dollar City is promising a glorious gathering of food, friends and great harmonies,” said SDC entertainment coordinator, D.A. Callaway. “We’ll host the top names in gospel music in a setting promising to be the largest ‘picnic on the grounds’ in our history.”

Silver Dollar City, an 1880s-style theme park located near Branson, Missouri, presents six world-class festivals from April through December . The park also features over 20 rides and attractions including the all-new Grand Exposition with 10 new family rides in an all-new area of the park.

In the presence of a full-house audience, Branson entertainers Dave & Denise Hamner and Jim Barber were the honored recipients of the prestiguous “Merlin Award” by the International Magicians Society (IMS). The awards were presented during the 506th performance of the Hamner Barber Variety Show on August 12th, 2006 by the World President of the IMS, Mr. Tony Hassini.

This is the second time The Hamners have received a Merlin Award. In 1999 they won “Best Manipulation” and according to Tony Hassini, The Hamners performance level is even higher now than it was then.

This is the first time in the society’s 38 year history that a Merlin Award has been presented to a ventriloquist. As Tony Hassini explained to the audience, “Jim started out as a magician… he knows magic, and along the way he took that magical talent and brought it into ventriloquism. He does magic with the dummies!”

The International Magicians Society (IMS) is the world’s largest magic society as recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. The IMS began in 1968 and now has over 37,000 members worldwide. It was created to help promote and preserve the art of magic and provide a format where magicians (and magic hobbyists) could share their secrets and ideas.

In the profession of magic, the Merlin statuette is the equivalent of the Oscar for film, the Emmy for television, and the Tony for theater. It is presented only to those entertainers who have achieved the highest level in their craft. The voting members begin with approximately one hundred names and narrow the list down to a select few. The criteria considered for a winner include talent, showmanship, originality, skills, and above all, the rare ability to entertain under any conditions.

The Merlin Award statuette was commissioned to over 100 art students from various colleges across the country. The winning design was carved and created in 1968 by New York University art student Carol Michaud.

Some of the more famous winners of the Merlin Award for excellence in magic include: Harry Blackstone, Doug Henning, Siegfried & Roy and David Copperfield.

Chateau on the Lake Resort, Spa & Convention Center recently announced the opening of the all-new $6 million Spa Chateau at the 301-room award-winning resort on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri.

The 14,000-square foot Spa Chateau is the Midwest’s premier new spa offering customized body treatments, massage therapy, facials, manicures, pedicures, salon services and state-of-the-art equipment. Guests can enjoy dry saunas, steam rooms, an indoor coed Jacuzzi, outdoor Roman bath, and men’s and women’s private relaxation lounges. The European style two-story spa boasts signature treatments such as the nurturing Rhythm Massage and the Royal Shave. In-residence and poolside massage services are available to guests staying at the hotel. The Fitness Studio inside the Spa offers a breathtaking Table Rock Lake view, state-of-the-art equipment, a juice bar, personal training services, and Yoga, Salsa Aerobics and Tai Chi classes among others.

The Spa Chateau offers an exclusive Barber Spa for men seeking a relaxation and professional grooming experience. The Barber Spa utilizes the services of Truefitt & Hill professionals, London’s “Court Hair Cutter” since 1805. A haircut, shave with hot towels, and a manicure from a Truefitt & Hill professional leaves the Chateau’s gentleman guest ready to face the world knowing that he has been attended to by one of England’s Hairdressing Aristocracy.

The Chateau’s 10 luxurious treatment rooms feature hydraulic-operated massage tables complemented by plush heated padding and dressed with Comphy skirting, sheets and comforters for maximum relaxation.

Chateau on the Lake, known for its superb mountain top location and world-class hospitality, is Southwest Missouri’s only AAA four-diamond resort. Chateau offers a wealth of recreational amenities for guests including heated indoor and outdoor pools and hot tubs, 24-hour fitness center, nature trail, two lighted tennis courts, and a full-service marina. Other offerings include The Crawdaddies Kids Club with castle playground, a movie theatre, full-service concierge, two shops, and five restaurants and lounges including lakeview dining at the award-winning Chateau Grille. A stunning 10-story sky-lit atrium lobby complete with running streams brimming with Koi fish, lush foliage, exotic flowers and towering trees adds a touch of drama to every arrival.

2006 Shepherd’s Super Summer Cruise Schedule of Events

Thursday, August 10, 2006

7:00 am – 5:00 pm - Vehicle Registration – Gates Open for Registrants

8:00 am – 5:00 pm - Vehicle Show & Shine at The Shepherd of the Hills

8:00 am – 5:00 pm - See the General Lee, Daisy Duke Jeep, and the Hazard County Police Cruiser from the original Dukes of Hazard TV Show

9:00 am – 5:00 pm – Entertainment in the Pavilion Theatre, DJ, and Music

9:00 am – 5:00 pm – Spirit Industries Hot Rod and Wiring Seminars

8:00 pm - Kick-off and welcome at The Shepherd of the Hills Outdoor Theatre

Friday, August 11, 2006

7:00 am – 5:00 pm - Vehicle Registration – Gates open for Registrants

8:00 am – 5:00 pm - Vehicle Show & Shine at The Shepherd of the Hills

8:00 am – 5:00 pm – See the General Lee, Daisy Duke Jeep, and the Hazard County Police Cruiser from the original Dukes of Hazard TV Show

9:00 am – 5:00 pm – Entertainment in the Pavilion Theatre, DJ, Music, and Games

9:00 am – 5:00 pm – Spirit Industries Hot Rod and Wiring Seminars

9:30 am – 11:30 am - Personal appearance by James Best, “Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane” from the original Dukes of Hazard TV Show

10:30 am - 5:00 pm – Judging for Vehicles

11:30 am – 1:00 pm - Personal Appearance by Spiderman!

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm - Personal appearance by James Best, “Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane” from the original Dukes of Hazard TV Show

3:00 pm – 4:30 pm - Personal Appearance by Batman!

Saturday, August 12, 2006

7:00 am – Noon - Vehicle Registration – Gates open for Registrants

8:00 am – 5:00 pm - Vehicle Show & Shine at Shepherd of the Hills

8:00 am – 5:00 pm – See the General Lee, Daisy Duke Jeep, and the Hazard County Police Cruiser from the original Dukes of Hazard TV Show

8:30 am - 1:00 pm –Judging Concludes

9:00 am – 4:00 pm – Entertainment in the Pavilion Theatre, DJ, Music, and Games

9:30 am – 11:30 am - Personal appearance by James Best, “Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane” from the original Dukes of Hazard TV Show

11:30 am – 1:00 pm - Personal Appearance by Spiderman!

Noon – 12:30 pm - Car build by Spirit Industries!

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm - Personal appearance by James Best, “Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane” from the original Dukes of Hazard TV Show

3:00 pm – 4:30 pm - Personal Appearance by Batman!

4:00 pm – 5:30 pm - Best In Show Awards at Pavilion Theatre and Driver’s Briefing for Midnight Cruise

Midnight – The Shepherd’s Super Summer Cruise!

On W. HWY. 76 from GRETNA RD. to THE SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS EXPWY. – then right onto THE SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS EXPWY. to ROARK VALLEY RD.