Ralph Foster Museum To Host Area Appreciation- February 1-11, 2012
By: Chelsea Kliethermes

The Ralph Foster Museum at College of the Ozarks will host area appreciation with free admission from February 1-11, for the residents of Boone, Carroll, Christian, Greene, Stone and Taney counties.

The Ralph Foster Museum is dedicated to the history of the Ozarks region. The museum is named in honor of the late Ralph D. Foster (radio pioneer and philanthropist) the museum houses thousands of objects representing archaeology, history, firearms, antiques, numismatics, natural history, fine arts, geology and mineralogy.

Among other things, the museum houses the original Beverly Hillbillies car, Music Hall of Fame, and Rosie O’Neil’s Kewpie Doll Collection and one of the largest gun collections in the country.

The Ralph Foster Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For further information, please contact the Museum at 417-690-3407.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! St. Branson Odditorium celebrates the 6th annual World Sword Swallower’s Day on February 25th with free sword swallowing demonstrations. Watch Charles “Crispy” Knight, one of the top sword swallowers in the world, perform a FREE show at Ripley’s Branson. He helped set a world record – now witness this sword swallowing legend in person!

Date: Saturday, February 25

Time: 2:00 pm

BRANSON, MO – Over 25 different countries will be represented in Branson at the 2012 See The World in Branson Music Fest. This 1st annual event will be held at the Welk Resort April 25 – 26, 2012 and will provide a sampling of the internationally flavored entertainment that is found in Branson.

Attendees will have the opportunity to stroll through booths in the Marketplace tent, each representing Countries from around the World. Experience the costumes, history and culture as well as participate in games, prizes and autograph sessions.

The highlight of this two-day festival is the Music Showcase. Close to 20 different Branson shows will take the stage each day at 2PM in the Welk Theatre lending the audience to the greatest exposure of non-stop, back-to-back, entertainment on a Branson stage.

See The World In Branson is an area wide festival highlighting the vast amount of Internationally inspired entertainment, attractions, and cuisine available to visitors in the Branson area. See The World In Branson is held annually during the months of April and May. It is one of the special events featured during our Ozark Mountain Spring.

Admission to the Marketplace Tent is free. Tickets to See The World Music Fest can be made by contacting a Branson Receptive or by calling the Welk Resort at 800-808-9355.

Nation on alert as World Attention Turns to Historic Clash of
Man vs. Ice Competition in Branson, Missouri
Saturday, February 4 and Sunday, February 5

Branson, Missouri – January, 2012. Thirty of the U.S. National Ice Carving Association’s champion Ice Carvers are coming to Branson to blast, drill and torch three-hundred pound chunks of ice into amazing works of art starting at 9 a.m. Saturday , Feb. 4 and Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012 at the Titanic Museum Attraction’s outdoor staging center, announces Titanic owner, John Joslyn.

This marks the first-time ever that the NICA has chosen the city of Branson for it’s annual world-class championship competition and it promises to be the biggest and best in the Association’s 25-year history. The two-day family event will be hosted by the Titanic Museum Attraction outdoor entertainment area. This outdoor event is FREE to the public.

Due to anticipated interest, visitors are advised to arrive early for the best views to watch all of the ice carving action. “Last year’s regional-only competition at Titanic Museum Attraction drew more than 10,000 people. This year, the NICA is projecting a 15,000 to 20,000 visitor turnout for the grand Nationals,” says John Joslyn, owner of Titanic Museum Attraction. Sculptors will be competing for a prize purse valued at over $25,000, – the largest to date – and for the possible chance to represent the United States in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia.

“At 3 p.m. Sunday, February 5, an official National Ice Carving Association judging panel will announce the winners, so stick around to see if your favorite carver is among them,” adds Joslyn.

The Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson, Missouri is open during this National Event at 9 a.m., passengers may purchase museum tickets online at www.titanicbranson.com or call 800-381-7670 .

(Branson Museum Attraction will be closed January 16-19 for a new “Molly” Brown exhibit installation)

NOW SHOWING—Special Exhibit on the “Iron Lady” Featured at Branson Meadows Cinema for “The Iron Lady” Movie Premiere January 20-22

“The Iron Lady” is making a second appearance in the Ozarks—this time in the form of a movie. The real “Iron Lady,” Lady Margaret Thatcher, made her first appearance in 1997, visiting College of the Ozarks to speak to students and community members about “Free Enterprise and Work Ethic.”

To celebrate the life of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and the premiere of the movie “The Iron Lady,” a special exhibit will be on display at the Branson Meadows Cinema January 20-22.

Full of historical pictures, memorabilia, and photographs of Lady Thatcher at College of the Ozarks, the exhibit tells the story of Great Britain’s first and only female Prime Minister and her special visit to the Ozarks.

All patrons to the cinema are invited to view the exhibit, located in the cinema’s lobby, at no charge.
Following the movie’s premiere weekend, the exhibit will be displayed at the College of the Ozarks Keeter Center.

For more information on the “Iron Lady” exhibit, please contact the College of the Ozarks Public Relations Office at (417) 690-2212. To find out show times of “The Iron Lady” at the Branson Meadows Cinema, please call (417) 332-0464 or click on the link below.

Branson Meadows Schedule for January 20-26, 2012.

Branson’s 3rd Annual Gong Show – February 22, 2012 – Benefit for the Branson’s Homebound Senior Food Program

Don’t miss the third annual Branson Gong Show set for Wednesday, February 22 at 6:49pm at the Hamner Barber Theatre. This hilarious show serves as a benefit for the Branson Senior Center and the Meals on Wheels Program. Branson entertainer Jim Barber will once again serve as host with celebrity judges. Click on the flyer below for all the details.

If you wish to audition to be in the show, try-outs are scheduled for Monday, January 23 from 5:00-8:00pm at the Branson Senior Center.

Call 335-4801 with questions.

Audition Information

Gong Show Flyer

Sponsored by the Branson Parks and Recreation, The Vacation Channel, and Castle Rock Resort and Waterpark.

The Bretts are headliners for popular German Festival

Branson entertainment family returns home after 14 successful performances at one of Germany’s largest Christmas festivals, Triberger Weihnachtszauber.

January 13, 2012, Branson, MO – The Bretts just returned from a very successful Christmas festival in Triberg, located in the Black Forest region of Germany. The festival is known as “Triberger Weihnachtszauber,” or “Triberg Christmas Magic,” and is one of Germany’s largest Christmas festivals. Over 40,000 people attend the festival each year in the little tourist town of Triberg. While there, visitors enjoy Germany’s largest waterfall, festive decorations, great food, and non-stop performances from entertainers that come from all over the world.

The festival, now in its eighth year, runs from December 25th to the 30th, and was started by Thomas Weisser and Reiner Huber. “Thomas and Rainer are both visionary men, with a very professional setup,” said Brydon Brett. The Bretts performed 14 variations of their 2011 Christmas and regular season Branson show on both indoor and outdoor stages over the six day festival. “It was a lot of work performing and rehearsing, yet fun and relaxing,” said Brydon, “The chocolate, food, and sightseeing were all great as well. It is very beautiful over there, but the German people were the best thing about the trip. We just love the people over there.”

A large variety of acts shared the stages with The Bretts, ranging from local German stars to fire shows and gospel groups, which included another Branson favorite, Voices of Glory. “This was our fourth time to perform at the festival, and it looks very positive that we will go again this year. We are excited to be back in Branson, and are preparing for an exciting 2012 show. We feel refreshed and ready for a great year!” said Brydon. The Bretts 2012 show opens on April 16th at the Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Theater.

More info about The Bretts visit: thebrettsshow.com
More info on Triberger Weihnachtszauber visit: http://www.triberger-weihnachtszauber.com/
To see videos of the festival: Video 1-Click Here, Video 2 – Click Here
To see photos of The Bretts performing: Photos 1 – Click Here, Photos 2 – Click Here
Information Contact: Joshua Hall 417-597-3185 or [email protected]

1945 W. 76 Country Blvd.
Branson, MO 65616
417-335-2484 – Reservations
417-336-5829 – Fax

Recorded LIVE on Friday night at 10:30 PM
This show is broadcast on radio stations around the country.
Airing Saturday nights at 7:00 PM on KRZK – 106.3 in Branson, Mo.
And — Sunday nights at 9:00 PM. on KHOZ – 102.9 in Harrison, Ar.,

You can also listen via the internet.
Show airs at 7:00pm (CST) every Saturday night.
www.BransonCountryUSA.net

1945 W. 76 Country Blvd.
Branson, MO 65616
417-335-2484 – Reservations
417-336-5829 – Fax

Recorded LIVE on Friday night at 10:30 PM
This show is broadcast on radio stations around the country.
Airing Saturday nights at 7:00 PM on KRZK – 106.3 in Branson, Mo.
And — Sunday nights at 9:00 PM. on KHOZ – 102.9 in Harrison, Ar.,

You can also listen via the internet.
Show airs at 7:00pm (CST) every Saturday night.
www.BransonCountryUSA.net

1945 W. 76 Country Blvd.
Branson, MO 65616
417-335-2484 – Reservations
417-336-5829 – Fax

Recorded LIVE on Friday night at 10:30 PM
This show is broadcast on radio stations around the country.
Airing Saturday nights at 7:00 PM on KRZK – 106.3 in Branson, Mo.
And — Sunday nights at 9:00 PM. on KHOZ – 102.9 in Harrison, Ar.,

You can also listen via the internet.
Show airs at 7:00pm (CST) every Saturday night.
www.BransonCountryUSA.net