Yakov Smirnoff, who shot to international fame playing opposite Robin Williams in Moscow on the Hudson, Tom Hanks and Shelly Long in The Money Pit, Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson in Heartburn, Richard Pryor and John Candy in Brewster’s Millions and as Yakov Korolenko in the award-winning TV sitcom Night Court, returns to the Branson stage. The comedy legend will bring his “Make America Laugh Again” tour to Branson October 13th – November 24th at Yakov’s beautiful Branson theatre.

“Only in America would the word POLITICS describe the process so well,” states Yakov. “POLI in Latin means “many” and TICS means “blood sucking parasites”.”

Yakov Smirnoff, who has been selling out Performing Arts Centers and concert venues all over the world, is famous for his comedic way of getting to the heart of the issue. His show is predicated on the theme of his life’s observations and the curious pseudoscience and transformation that occur when people laugh together. Tackling everything from relationships to pop culture to political satire, Smirnoff is a master at filtering relatable situations through humor. His recent academic studies reinforce the fact that giving people laughter is serious business, inspiring him to tour the country to “Make America Laugh Again.”

For Branson ticket information visit www.yakov.com or call 417-336-3838. Located at 470 State Hwy. 248, Branson, MO 65616

Experience the incredible music and absolute hilarity of Paul Harris & The Cleverly’s! Paul Harris, an Arkansas native, is widely known as a comedian, singer, songwriter, and musician with tastes ranging from rock to bluegrass. Harris and his “family” bluegrass band, The Cleverly’s, are well-known as a YouTube sensation receiving over a million views! Prepare to be double over with laughter in this one night only event!

Utilizing state-of-the-art lighting, video and the tightest live band, Joseph Hall’s Elvis ‘Rock ‘N’ Remember Tribute” will blow you away as he recreates the legendary performance of Elvis Presley. You will think you are watching the King himself in this one night only event! Call Clay Cooper theatre for reservations at (417) 332-2529

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jill Heppner
417-339-3003 ext.3010
[email protected]

The 12th Annual Branson Elvis Festival will be held at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater April 13-15, 2018. The highlight of the festival, the Ultimate Elvis® Tribute Artist Contest™, will take place on Saturday, April 14th at 7 pm. This contest is one of a select few tribute competitions sanctioned by Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. and will be hosted by the incomparable Dean Z.

Twenty contestants will be judged on vocals, appearance and stage presence. The winner of the Branson contest will receive a prize package and the opportunity to compete in the 2018 Ultimate Elvis® Tribute Artist Contest™ finals presented by Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. The finals will be held in Memphis, Tennessee during Elvis Week, August 11-18, 2018.

The 2018 Branson Elvis Festival contestants are:
David Allen – Frisco, TX Russ Brittain – Ogden, IA
Ralph Carey – Lyndhurst, NJ Tyler Christopher – Ft Thomas, KY
Josh Davis – White Oak, TX Johnny Deans – Hillsboro, OH
“Cody” Cote Deonath – Oscala, FL Dusty “Delvis” Duling – Eureka Springs, AR
Austin Irby – Honea Path, SC Daisuke Kirya – JAPAN
Rory Moore – Bonne Terre, MO Carl Poe – Lyons, IN
Taylor Rodriguez – Lynchburg, VA Ryan Roth – Englewood, OH
EJ Sharp – Claremore, OK Eddie Simpson – Boxholm, IA
Steve Sogura – Ravensdale, WA Mansour Spears – Austin, TX
Monty Tucker – Parma, MO Gary Tussing – Clare, IA

Branson Elvis Festival activities include an Elvis Vendor Village, Elvis Meet & Greet Dinner at Grand Country Buffet, New Youth Tribute Artist Showcase, Contest “After Party” at Branson’s Center Stage Grille, Jerry Presley’s Elvis Gospel Revival at God and Country Theater, and The Dean Z Show which will take place at 10:45 p.m. on April 13th following Legends in Concert featuring Ryan Pelton as Elvis.

Tickets for the Ultimate Elvis® Tribute Artist Contest™ start at $32.95 plus tax.

The Dean Z Show is a one night only event taking place on Friday, April 13th at 10:45 pm. The show is an unrivaled musical celebration of a bygone era of rock ‘n’ roll, pop, and rhythm and blues. Award-winning and internationally acclaimed entertainer Dean Z, sings the hit music that inspires his passion for performance. Songs made famous by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Buddy Holly, Michael Jackson and many others come to life with timeless appeal and contemporary flavor. Tickets start at $25 plus tax for adults and $10 plus tax for children.

For more information, call 417-339-3003 or visit the website: www.bransonelvisfestival.com

About Legends in Concert: Celebrating its 34th year, “Legends in Concert” is a live musical celebration featuring the world’s greatest celebrity tribute artists. The product is owned and operated by Las Vegas based On Stage Entertainment, Inc. Widely recognized in the entertainment industry as the original celebrity tribute show, “Legends in Concert” has not only performed throughout the United States, but the show has traveled to 15 countries on five continents, entertaining more than 25 million fans. It currently operates numerous fixed-based, touring, limited-term and private engagements of “Legends” throughout the world. In addition to Las Vegas, “Legends” is presented year-round in numerous cities including Atlantic City, Branson, Foxwoods, Long Island, Melbourne, Myrtle Beach, Niagara Falls, on the high seas onboard the Norwegian Pearl and Waikiki. For more information: www.legendsinconcert.com

Clay Cooper’s Country Express Show Opens Friday, March 9th @ 7:30 pm! Clay Cooper’s Country Express offers high-energy live music, singing, dancing, and hysterical comedy – Clay Cooper shares the stage with 24 entertainers, whose unbelievable talent, hysterical comedy, and down-home personality bring our guests back time and time again. Don’t miss our Ten amazing dancers led by Clay’s multi-talented wife, Tina Cooper; Branson’s funnier than funny comedian, Matt Gumm; outstanding youth entertainers, Colt & Caden Cooper ; the best six-piece band in Branson and New for 2018 a trio with harmonies that are second to none! Clay Cooper’s Country Express has something for everyone with great visual effects and a variety of music-old country, current hits, gospel, patriotic and rock N roll. This is one show you DON’T want to miss!

Clay Cooper and his cast have won several awards throughout his career in Branson such as: Entertainer of the Year; Show of the Year; Band of the Year!

There are lots of exciting changes in this show, so come on out and see it!! Call our Box Office at (417)332-2529 for reservations!

The City of Branson Engineering Department will be closing one lane of traffic on Branson Landing Boulevard at the Roundabout near Cox Hospital on Tuesday, October 17 from 2:00 p.m. through 10:00 p.m. This lane closure will provide working space for a crane to place the 80′ Christmas tree on the main flagpole in the Roundabout landscaped area in preparation for its lighting on November 4 as part of Ozark Mountain Christmas. Barricades and detour signs will direct motorists and pedestrians safely through the lane closure at this location. Please be aware of temporary safety signage, watch for construction personnel, use an alternate route if possible and/or expect delays if traveling through the Roundabout.

The City of Branson’s Stockstill Park will reopen to the public on Friday, October 6. The park has been closed since May 27 after being heavily damaged by flood waters from nearby Roark Creek. The park has been affected by flooding four times over the past two years while City leaders continue to look for options for the park’s future.

“Two of those floods were this year. The first flood happened on April 29 and we were within days of reopening when it flooded again, wiping out all of our work. At this point, we knew something had to change,” stated Parks and Recreation Director Cindy Shook. According to Shook, frequent and repetitive flash flooding has caused over $600,000 in damages since 2002.

“Moving forward the park will emphasize access to natural elements like the creek and open green spaces for people to use. We are also improving our pavilions and adding more areas for people to picnic,” said Shook. “While it is still a work in progress, Stockstill Park is one of our most popular parks and we look forward to opening it back up for the community to use. A huge thank you to our staff and community volunteer groups that helped prepare the park to reopen” stated Shook.

To learn more about Branson Parks and Recreation activities, events, parks, or pavilion use, visit their website at www.bransonparksandrecreation.com

The Branson Public Works Department is working with Donelson Construction Company and Streetwise to perform maintenance on city streets over the next couple of weeks. The work will begin Monday, September 25th and end Sunday, October 8th, depending on the weather.

Work crews will remove and replace striping and resurface various city streets in Branson.

Affected streets include:

• Green Mountain Drive – from Wildwood Drive to Highway 76
• Oakwood Drive – South Drive to end of Oakwood Drive
• Commerce Drive – Hwy. 248 to end of Commerce Drive
• Aaron Way – Hwy. 165 to end of Aaron Way
• Commerce Way – Buena Vista to Branson Commerce Parkway
• Skaggs Road – west of Skaggs Roundabout to Hwy. 65 Bridge

The contractor performing striping removal will be working between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Most of the resurfacing construction will be done in the overnight hours to minimize delays that may be experienced by drivers navigating through these work zones.

Please be aware of temporary safety signage, watch for construction personnel working in the roadway, use an alternate route if possible, and expect delays if traveling through the work zones.

Branson will welcome the Purple Heart Run truck, and its Purple Heart Recipient driver, on August 11, in a ceremony at the Radisson Hotel beginning at 11:00 AM. Participating in the ceremony will be Missouri’s Lieutenant Governor Michael L. Parson, Military Order of Purple Heart Public Relations Director, John Bircher and others. The public is invited and encouraged to attend the ceremony.

The Purple Heart Run is not actually a “running” event. It’s an 8,500-mile “run” of a 2017 Ford F-150 Raptor truck, adapted to accommodate combat-wounded veterans who are paralyzed or have lost legs and/or arms. The Run is sponsored jointly by the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH) and Wounded Warriors Family Support (WWFS) and has a two-fold purpose.

The first is to rally communities across America to thank our Nation’s military veterans. The second is to share the sponsor’s belief that “given the right vehicle for mobility, a combat-wounded veteran will have the freedom to live a productive and quality life with their family.”

Throughout the Purple Heart Run, the truck is being driven exclusively by amputee Purple Heart Veterans. It began on July 1, at the foot of the “Washington Monument” in our Nation’s capital. Visiting communities along the way, it has traveled across the nation to California and is visiting Branson on its way to Dallas, Texas and MOPH’s National Convention.

At the convention, the keys to the truck will be presented to U. S. Marine Sergeant (Ret.) Marshall Kennedy, a Purple Heart Recipient from Farmington, Arkansas, in a joint MOPH/WWFS ceremony on August 13. Sergeant Kennedy was on his fourth deployment when he lost both of his legs and sustained severe damage to his left arm after stepping on an improvised explosive device (IED) in Sangin, Afghanistan on June 13, 2011.

MOPH appreciates the support and enthusiasm shown by all the Sponsors, MOPH Chapters and Departments, and the communities along the route the Purple Heart Run truck has traveled. “We are so honored to host the Purple Heart Truck Run in Branson this year and be part of a community that is so appreciative and supportive of Veterans and Purple Heart Recipients” said Randi McCormick, Senior Sales Manager for the Branson Tourism Center. “From the fueling and servicing of the truck by Tri Lakes Ford, to the donation of pies by “Branson’s Pie Man,” Linn Windle, and so much more, the support has been overwhelming,” she added.

For additional information on the Purple Heart Run Ceremony please call Randi at 1-800-268-4014.

View Video here

At the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon, last week, at the Keeter Center, located on the campus of the College of the Ozarks; the Branson Convention and Visitors Bureau marketing department rolled out plans for promoting the Christmas season this year.

The already amazing holiday season in Branson will be even better as the community transforms into “America’s Christmas Tree City.” With over 100 dazzling trees on display throughout the town – in addition to the many music shows, great shopping, family attractions, and wonderful dining – Branson will become an even more “tree-mendous” holiday destination!

“America’s Christmas Tree City” is the new tagline that will be used in Christmas promotional efforts added for yet another reason for guests to come to Branson in November & December.

Branson’s goal is to create a spectacular, one-of-a-kind holiday experience for our guests, while preserving an important tradition observed throughout the world. Ozark Mountain Christmas will be home to the most amazing, colorful, unique, and creative collection of Christmas Trees anywhere.

Branson has been recognized as one of the best Christmas destinations in America by NBC’s Today Show (Best Holiday Travel Deal,) USA Today, A&E Network, Travel Channel, and the Wall Street Journal.