What: Blueberry Festival & Music Festival at Persimmon Hill Farm

When:  Saturday, June 6

Where: Persimmon Hill Farm is located south of Lampe off of Mo. 86, at 367 Persimmon Hill Lane. The farm is 1 1/2 miles off of Mo. 86. A map is posted on the farm web site, www.persimmonhill.com

The event includes an annual Cobbler Contest to benefit the Lives Under Construction Boys Ranch, along with entertainment featuring the Farnum Family in an outdoor music fest. Cobbler contestants should bring their cobblers by noon on June 6. Cobblers will be judged by 1 p.m. The music fest will feature the Farnum Family of Galena, performing bluegrass and gospel music from noon to 4 p.m.

For more information, call 417-779-5443 or visit the Persimmon Hill Farm web site, www.persimmonhill.com.

What: Table Rock Dam 50th Anniversary

When: Sunday June 14, 2009

2:15 p.m. Springfield National Guard Band Performance
2:45 p.m. Anniversary Celebration Begins
Followed by refreshment at the Dewey Short Visitors Center

Where: Table Rock Dam Overlook

An afternoon of celebrating how the Ozarks were changed forever.

Schools out for summer…… and the Kids are Free!!

All Summer long…parents get a break too at Andy Williams Moon River Grill.

During the months of June, July and August… KIDS EAT FREE with the purchase of an adult entree!

Choose menu items made from scratch that feature some of Andy’s mother’s recipes. Our Reputation is built on quality “home made” food and excellent service presented in a beautiful setting.

Enjoy fine dining at affordable prices in a relaxing and elegant ambiance at Andy Williams Moon River Grill.

A benefit show featuring Branson celebrities and a pig roast and casino night are two separate upcoming fund raisers sponsored by Branson Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) Chapter 913. Proceeds will go to help various veterans’ projects sponsored by the chapter.

The Sixth Annual Branson Vietnam Veterans Benefit Show begins at 7 p.m. at the Hamner Barber Theater, 3044 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, June 1. Proceeds will be used to assist military personnel and their families from Southwest Missouri.

Tom Brett of the Brett Family is the founder of the show. Brett and his family in concert with Dave Hamner and Jim Barber donate their time and theater annually to the cause.

The entertainment line-up includes many Branson entertainers. In addition to the Brett Family, Hamner and Barber, slated for appearances to date are #1 Hits of the 60s, Clay Cooper, Barbara Fairchild, Allen Edwards, Wade Landry and Doug Gabriel. The cast of Country Tonite will perform and a video from their recent trip to visit troops in Iraq will be shown. Tom Mulica returns as emcee. Ambrus Presley will present the national anthem. Pastor Don Brezavar of Branson’s Church of the Harvest will bring the invocation and the Branson VVA will provide the color guard. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children. For advanced reservations call 417-334-4363.

The Third Annual Pig Roast and Casino Night is set for May 30 at the Branson Hollister Lions Club, 1015 E. Highway 76. The pig roast is 5:30-6:30 p.m. followed by the casino night 6:30-10 p.m. “Funny money” and two different auctions, a funny money auction and a silent auction, are among the happenings. Cost for the dinner and casino night is $20 per person and includes “funny money.” To purchase advance tickets call 417-334-0733. A limited number of tickets may also be purchased at the door.

The Branson VVA supports local veterans in need with specific projects, transient vets when necessary and the current returning vets. Program includes annual sponsorship of one Iraq/Afghanistan veteran, an outreach called Breakfast with Buds and creating care packages to send to troops.

Corporate sponsors for Branson VVA include Branson’s Wal-Mart on Highway 76, Hollister Cycle, Ron’s Trailers, Lakeland Pharmacy, Mount Pleasant Winery, Motorcycle Boulevard, Main Street Jewelry, Spirits Shop, Stone County Cycle, Branson Wal-Mart Super Center, Shenanigan’s RV Park, Ozarks Kirkwood Travel and Gary’s Coiffures.
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Branson area members of Missouri Kids will be featured on Wednesday Night Specials, a new free venue of The Grand Old Gospel Hour, on May 20 at 6 p.m. at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater under the direction of Pastor Sam Stauffer and Colt Straub, Grand Old Gospel Hour music director and music minister.

Missouri Kids is a division of American Kids Inc., the nation’s only little league of entertainers. A newly formed group of Branson area kids will be performing a segment of their gospel show.

The members of the group include Becci Roffitt, Kelsey Pettit, Micaela Miller, Brianna Miles, Krystal Wright, Kiana Ellis, Molly Schulze, Savannah Jewsbury, Quenton Ellis, Christina Oneida and Toni Bianchi.

Many different styles of gospel music are part of Wednesday Night Specials. The free gospel show with inspirational testimonies lasts about 70 minutes allowing audience members to fit the show in between afternoon and evening shows. Weekly performances run through December.

For more information go to gospelhour.org or call 417-337-8888. For more information about American Kids call 417-337-8964.

Blankets of Love Ministries proudly presents the second tri-annual “Standing Tall “Concert benefitting the Greene County Family Violence Center.

Date— July 11th & 12th, 2009
Venue—City Park Galena Missouri
Time—Festivities begin at 3pm with gospel concerts beginning at 5pm on both days.

Come enjoy the musical talents of; Southern Raised, The Cerces, New Anointing, Christ like Records, & the dramatic talents of S.W.A.T., (more groups to be added)
Admission is free however monetary donations are encouraged. All proceeds go directly to the Family Violence Shelter.  Please join us in lifting up the name of Jesus and making a difference in these precious ladies lives.  Together wee can save lives, and change futures one women and child at a time.

For Further information please contact Blankets of Love Ministries’ President /Founder      SueMitchell @
www.myspace.com/blanketsofloveministries or Phone (417) 631-9290
[email protected]  or

Together we can make a difference!

Mandy Stauffer, cast member of Branson’s 50s at the Hop Show and a long-time member of the Grand Old Gospel Hour Praise Team, will be featured this Sunday at the Grand Old Gospel Hour.  The May 17 venue is free and open to the public at 10 a.m. at Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater.

The Grand Old Gospel Hour is a long-time Branson praise and worship venue for tourists and locals alike. The non-profit organization is celebrating 14 years of a fast-paced, contemporary and gospel praise and worship experience in Branson. The free gospel performance features a live band, gospel vocalists and entertaining and inspirational messages by Sam Stauffer. Grand Old Gospel Hour made the move from its former location at the Legends Family Theater to the Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater along with the Legends in Concert show.

The Springfield Cardinals take on the Arkansas Travelers on Monday May 18 for the third annual “Hollister Night at Hammons Field.” This event is presented by the Hollister Area Chamber of Commerce and the Ozark Mountain Family YMCA.

Fans of all ages can purchase a commemorative t-shirt and a ticket for only $11. T-shirts and tickets are also available separately for just $9 (ticket) and $7 (t-shirt). Game time is 7:10 pm and Hollister fans will be seated in a special section where they can cheer on the team together. In addition, prior to the game, the Hollister High School Band will entertain fans at the Main Gate to Hammons Field. And, during the seventh-inning stretch, singers from the Hollister Elementary and Middle Schools will have the honor of leading the crowd in “Take Me Out To The Ball Game.”

This fun evening is open to everyone, not just Hollister residents, but tickets can only be purchased at the following locations: the Hollister Area Chamber of Commerce (in the Taney County Airport), the Ozark Mountain Family YMCA, Country Mart (Hollister), Hollister Public Schools (Principals’ offices), Hollister Town Hall, or by calling 417.337.5050.

Tickets may be purchased anytime through Monday May 18 at 12 pm, but t-shirt availability is only guaranteed for purchases made by Wednesday May 13. Tickets for this special event will NOT be available at the Hammons Field Box Office.

Andy Williams would like to wish all Mothers a very Happy Mother’s Day!!
Please join us for our Mother’s Day Celebration on Sunday May 10th at Andy Williams Moon River Grill! Every Mother will receive a Flower and complimentary dessert of the day! Plus 50% off of her meal!! Make your reservations Now for a fabulous Mother’s Day!!
For an extra special day…..Take Mom for Dinner and a SHOW!
Andy Williams Moon River Theatre has extended Area Appreciation through Mother’s Day!!
Make your Reservations NOW for a wonderful Mother’s Day!

Eating lots of food is probably not a good idea all the time, but, in terms of fighting cancer, it can be an excellent idea if it is done at Chili’s Restaurant, 1150 Branson Hills Parkway on Tuesday May 5th between 4:00 p.m. and closing. Chili’s is teaming up with the Branson Tourism Center Relay for Life Teams to help raise money for the American Cancer Society.

Ten percent (10%) of the Relay For Life “dining checks” will be donated to the “Relay for Life of Taney and Stone Counties.” To be eligible for the donation the dining check must be accompanied by a copy of the “Let’s Get Together” flyer that is available in the Branson Tourism Center lobby at 220 Branson Hills Parkway, the checkout lanes of Branson 1st Stop convenience store and gas station at that same address or on line at  https://www.bransontourismcenter.com/Chilis_relay_for_life.pdf.

According to the American Cancer Society, one out of every three Americans will be diagnosed with Cancer during their lifetimes. “Relay For Life” is an American Cancer Society, grassroots program designed to empower groups and individuals to participate in the fight against this formidable foe. The program “represents the hope that those lost to cancer will never be forgotten, that those who face cancer will be supported, and that one day cancer will be eliminated.”

To do that each “Relay For Life” teams raises money that will be used for cancer research, patient services and early detection and prevention education. Branson Tourism Center has three Relay For Life teams that have been involved with various fund raising efforts throughout the year such as the Chili’s event, an Ester egg hunt, and various in-house fund raising efforts.

The signature activity of Relay For Life is an annual overnight event celebrating “the lives of those who have battled cancer, remembering loved ones lost, and fighting back against a disease that takes too much.” It involves more than 3.5 million people from 4,900 communities across the country who camp out over night at local school tracks or other areas as team members take turns walking or running around the track with at least one member of the team on the track at all times during the