BransonFest 2008 is your greatest opportunity to see a ‘sampler’ of the very best of what brings millions of visitors to the beautiful Ozark Mountain region annually. Five action-packed days are filled to the brim with an amazing array of entertainment, traditional arts and crafts, unique local culture, and tasty foods of many descriptions.

It is no wonder that BransonFest, celebrating its 16th year, has been named by the American Bus Association as one of North America’s Top 100 Events!

Following are some of the exciting details:

Dates: Tuesday, April 8, 2008 – Saturday, April 12, 2008

Place: Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater Complex

1600 W Hwy 76 , Branson, MO 65616

Activities:

The BransonFest Concerts, held on the main stage of the Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater, showcase Branson’s best musical, comedic and variety stars in eight separate shows. Each show is different! Six to seven headlining performers or productions are presented per show. Tickets per show are only $28 (including tax). Here is the schedule of main stage show times:

Tuesday, April 8 7 p.m.

Wednesday, April 9 10am & 2pm

Thursday, April 10am & 2pm

Friday, April 11 10am & 2pm

Saturday, April 12 2 pm

The Hospitality, Business and Arts Expo and Taste of Branson have been combined under one central tent this year in Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater Area 57. Representatives from Branson’s theatres, attractions and businesses will be happy to talk with you and many of the Branson Stars will be available to chat and sign autographs. Unique Ozark Mountain arts, crafts and history will be presented by nationally recognized local artisans and a tantalizing assortment food and drink from Branson’s finest restaurants will be available. Visitors can also enter to win fun prizes and giveaways and learn what is new things Branson has to offer in 2008.
The Great American Entertainment Tent presents a wide array of performances from selected Branson shows at No Charge!

Contact The Branson Tourism Center at 1-800-978-1999 information and tickets.

Finalists from Billboard Magazine’s prestigious World Songwriting Contest will converge in Branson on Saturday, March 29^th at 7:00pm for the live Awards Presentation Show & Performance at the Mansion Entertainment and Media Center.

First-Place winners from eleven musical categories have been invited to receive their awards and perform their winning songs onstage at The Mansion Theatre in front of music industry professionals, theatre owners, talent buyers and the public.

The diverse musical styles represented include Rock and Alternative Rock, Pop, Country, Latin, Folk/Americana, Jazz, Contemporary Christian/Gospel, R&B/Blues, Dance, Rap/HipHop, World Music and Electronica/Soundtrack

Billboard will award the winners more than $30,000 in prizes ranging from musical equipment and merchandise to promotional help, with the top three winners from each of the categories earning a spot on Billboard’s Annual Song Contest Winners’ CD, a compilation of the best songwriting from this year’s competition.

In addition to the Billboard prizes, a jury of music industry professionals will select one of the live performers in the Branson showcase to win a $5,000 Grand Prize, the runner-up to win a $1500 prize and the second-runner up to win a $1000 prize.

Mark Furnas, the event Director with the Jim Halsey Co. says, ‘We are proud to work with Billboard and the other sponsors to offer these amazingly talented writers the chance to be seen by industry executives, record companies, and others with influence in the music business. These winning songs deserve to be heard on a national or international scale and this event may well jump-start some exciting careers.”

Branson resident, Pat McManus, a noted songwriter with seven number one hits including Reba McIntire’s Little Rock and The Oak Ridge Boy’s American Made, shares that “This is a once-in-lifetime deal for these hard working writers to be noticed by some very important industry movers-and-shakers. It is also a great opportunity for the people visiting Branson to hear an amazing array of talent that hasn’t been offered in this town before. I’m not going to miss the show!” McManus will be visiting with the winners at a reception and sharing some insight on how to take the next steps to develop their talents and career opportunities.

Besides Billboard Magazine, sponsors include: CASIO, D’Addario Strings, TAXI-The Independent A&R Vehicle, Indie Band Manager, Discmakers, BluBlocker Sunglasses, GoGirlsMusic.com, The Halsey Institute and online song submission partner Sonicbids.com

For more information regarding Billboard Magazine’s World Songwriting Contest taking place on Saturday, March 29^th at 7:00pm, please contact:

The Mansion Media and Entertainment Center

(417) 239-1333 or toll free at (866) 707-4100.

Area Appreciation
March 24-29
Admission $5.00

Kids 17 & under FREE!!!!

For our friends & neighbors who live or work in Stone & Taney County
(Proof of residency required.)

Area appreciation tickets available ONLY at Welk Resort Branson box office

(417) 337-SHOW (7469)
Welk Resort Branson is located on Hwy 165, 3 miles south of Hwy 76 & Gretna Rd.