Lake Of The Ozarks Gets Dressed Up For The Holidays

Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks offers families and friends the opportunity to get together, relax and enjoy the holiday season with many festive events, impressive holiday light parks, incredible shopping and delicious meals.

The festive season at the "Best Recreational Lake in the Nation" begins in earnest with the Thanksgiving holiday. Many restaurants and resorts around the the Lake of the Ozarks take away the stress and mess of the holiday by offering delicious Thanksgiving meals for their guests. Camden on the Lake Resort in Lake Ozark, The Inn at Grand Glaize in Osage Beach, The Lodge of Four Seasons in Lake Ozark, Margaritaville Lake Resort in Osage Beach, Old Kinderhook Resort in Camdenton and The Regalia Hotel & Conference Center in Lake Ozark are all offering Thanksgiving meals with all the trimmings. Most offer special lodging packages for the holiday as well, so visitors should check with the property of their choice for lodging specials, menus and available reservation times.

In addition to offering a delectable Thanksgiving meal, Old Kinderhook's annual Christmas Village opens for the season on November 29. The Christmas Village is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and features horse-drawn carriage rides, carols with Santa Claus and his helpers, gingerbread house-decorating stations, fun games, storytelling with elves, s'mores, bonfires and breakfast with Santa on Sundays. Thanksgiving weekend also marks the opening of The Ice, the only outdoor skating ice rink in Mid-Missouri. The Ice is open for casual skating sessions throughout the week and weekends. For more information on the Christmas Village and The Ice, visit OldKinderhook.com.

Visitors to the Lake of the Ozarks can enjoy the glow of thousands of holiday lights at the Lake area's four drive-through light parks, which open for the season around the Thanksgiving holiday and remain open through New Year's Day. The  Enchanted Village of Lights, the largest light park in Mid-Missouri, opens on November 22. The Enchanted Village of Lights is spread over 27 acres of the fairgrounds in Laurie and is open from 5 p.m. until  9 p.m. on weekdays and until  10 p.m. on weekends. Also in Laurie is the  Festival of Lights at the Shrine of St. Patrick Catholic Church, which opens on Thanksgiving Day. The Festival of Lights is open from 5 -10 p.m. throughout the holiday season. The  Unity Circle of Lights in Versailles is open from dark until  midnight, beginning November 29. And, on November 30, the Osage Beach City Park gets dressed in the holiday spirit and is open from 5-9 p.m. daily. Admission to all four light parks is free, but donations are welcome. For more information about the light parks, visit  FunLake.com. 

There will be many parades, holiday open houses and other festive fetes taking place in the different Lake of the Ozarks communities. The Laurie Lighted Christmas Parade takes place December 5 at 6 p.m. and winds through downtown Laurie; Camdenton's Christmas on the Square, which features a parade, 5K/10K run, choir performances and games and activities for children, takes place December 7 beginning at 10 a.m. in downtown Camdenton; on December 14, the city of Lake Ozark hosts its annual Christmas parade at 1 p.m. on Bagnell Dam Boulevard. Also on December 14, the city of Eldon hosts a lighted Christmas parade and the lighting of the "Magic Tree" in Rock Island Park. There also will be holiday music performed by the Eldon High School Choir and s'mores and hot chocolate will be available. And, of course, Jolly Ol' Saint Nick will be making an appearance at each event for the enjoyment of the young ones in attendance.  For a complete list of holiday open houses, Christmas parades, musical performances, plays, pageants and other activities, visit the event calendar at FunLake.com.

A favorite holiday tradition is cruising on the Celebration II luxury yacht for the annual Christmas on the Lake events. On Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from November 22 through December 28, vacationers can take in the spectacular sights of lakefront homes and businesses strewn up with colorful lights from the decks of the Celebration II while enjoying plated appetizers and live musical entertainment on a 2.5-hour cruise. The Celebration II docks at 1006 Bagnell Dam Boulevard and begins boarding at 5:30 p.m. For more information, or to make reservations, visit CruiseLakeoftheOzarks.com.

It wouldn't be the holiday season at the Lake of the Ozarks without the " Christmas on Main Street" musical variety show at the Main Street Music Hall, located at The Landing in Osage Beach. Holiday carols, gospel hymns, musical impersonations and comedy are all included in a great, family-friendly seasonal show offered by the cast of talented singers and musicians of the Music Hall family.  The Christmas on Main Street show kicks off on Friday, Nov. 29 and runs through Sunday, Dec. 22. Evening shows start at 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and there's a 3 p.m. matinee show on Sundays. For more information, including show dates, times and ticket prices, or to make reservations, call the Main Street Music Hall box office at  800-348-9501 or visit LakeMusicHall.com.

The Lake of the Ozarks also is an ideal shopping destination for marking items off Christmas gift lists of any length. The Lake is home to Osage Beach Outlet Marketplace, one of the largest brand-name factory outlet mall in Mid-Missouri, and The Landing on Main Street, a beautiful Victorian-themed village with over 20 boutique shops offering everything from home decor to chic clothing, kitschy souvenirs to homemade confections. There are also many antique shops around the Lake area and many unique shops and boutiques along the historic Bagnell Dam Strip in Lake Ozark. And, to make the deals even sweeter, m any of the Lake area lodging properties offer "Shop and Stay" or "Shop 'til You Drop" packages that include coupon books to the outlet mall worth hundreds of dollars in savings. Some lodging properties even throw in a pre-paid gift card for up to $50 for the outlet mall. To plan your Christmas shopping trip to the Lake of the Ozarks, visit FunLake.com and click on "Shopping" in the drop-down menu under the "Things to Do" tab on the website.

The holiday season reaches its climax with New Year's Eve. Visitors can ring in the New Year in style at many Lake of the Ozarks resorts and restaurants. Camden on the Lake, The Lodge at Four Seasons, The Lodge at Port Arrowhead, Margaritaville Lake Resort, The Regalia Hotel and Conference Center and Old Kinderhook, to name just a few, are all offering special New Year's dinners, dances, parties and/or special New Year's Eve lodging packages. For a list of resorts and restaurants offering New Year's specials, visit the event calendar at FunLake.com.

Anyone wishing to escape to the Lake for the holidays will find an ample selection of accommodations to fit families and friend groups of all sizes and budgets. Guests can choose from resorts, cabins, condos, vacation homes, hotels, motels and bed and breakfasts. Some offer special winter and holiday lodging rates where travelers can save as much as 40 percent off in-season rates.

To discover more ways to have fun at the Lake of the Ozarks and to get information on additional events, year around attractions, and available lodging and dining options, visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau's award-winning website, www.FunLake.com, or call 1-800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253).

Make Central Missouri’s Lake Of The Ozarks Your Home-Away-From-Home For The Holidays

With many fun and festive events, spectacular shopping, impressive holiday light parks, delectable dining, entertaining musical shows and the entire community dressed up for the season, Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks is the perfect home-away-from-home this holiday season.

The festive season at the "Best Recreational Lake" in the Nation begins on Thanksgiving but holiday visitors can get a head start on the festivities as early as Friday, Nov. 16 with the lighting of the Enchanted Village of Lights. This 27-acre drive-through light park is located at the Laurie Fairgrounds in Laurie on the westside of the Lake of the Ozarks and is open through January 1, 2019. Over 8,160 vehicles and 25,600 people visited the Lake's most popular light park last year. The Enchanted Village of Lights is open from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. on weekdays and open until 10 p.m. on weekends. Admission is free to the light park, though donations are welcome as they go toward maintaining and expanding the light displays for future years.

In addition to the Enchanted Village of Lights, the Lake of the Ozarks' three other light parks open Thanksgiving weekend. Vacationers can experience the glow of holiday lights at the Osage Beach City Park, the Festival of Lights at St. Patrick's Shrine in Laurie, and the Unity Circle of Lights in the Versailles city park at the junction of Highways 5 and 52. Admission to all light parks is free but donations are welcome. For more information about the light parks, including hours of operation, visit www.FunLake.com/lake-holiday-light-parks.

Thanksgiving also marks the opening of Old Kinderhook's annual Christmas Village and The Ice, Central Missouri's only outdoor ice rink. The resort's annual Christmas Village opens on Friday, Nov. 23, featuring visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, elves, carolers, ginger bread house-making stations, horse-drawn carriage rides, and more. The Christmas Village will take place every weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) until Christmas Eve. The Ice at Old Kinderhook will also be open for the season for casual holiday skating sessions and a "pond hockey" league. The hours for The Ice are from 1-10 p.m. Thanksgiving weekend. The rest of the winter, The Ice is open from 5-10 p.m. on weekdays and 1-10 p.m. on weekends. For more details, visit www.OldKinderhook.com.

Another longstanding Lake of the Ozarks holiday tradition kicks off on Friday, Nov. 23. Christmas on Main Street, at the Main Street Music Hall at 5845 Osage Beach Parkway in Osage Beach, features holiday carols, gospel hymns, comedy and musical impressions. The Christmas on Main Street shows take place at 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 3 p.m. on Sundays, from November 23 through December 22. For more details, including show dates, times and ticket prices, or to order tickets, call the Main Street Music Hall box office at 800-348-9501 or visit www.LakeMusicHall.com.

Visitors can take in the spectacular sights of lighted lakefront homes and boat docks during the Deck the Docks holiday dinner cruises aboard The Celebration motor yacht from November 24 through December 29. The Deck the Docks cruises feature dinner and live musical entertainment and occur on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Boarding for these two-hour cruises begins at 5:30 p.m. at 5085 Davis Drive at the west end of the Grand Glaize Bridge in Osage Beach. Proceeds from these holiday dinner cruises go to benefit the Dogwood Animal Shelter. For additional details on different cruises, prices or how to book a reservation, visit www.CruiseLakeOfTheOzarks.com.

In addition to the events and attractions listed above, there are many festive events taking place throughout the month of December at the Lake of the Ozarks. For a complete list of holiday open houses, Christmas parades, musical performances, plays, pageants and more, visit the event calendar at www.FunLake.com.

Those looking to create a memorable holiday excursion to the Lake of the Ozarks can easily find the perfect accommodations for groups and families of all sizes. Accommodations at the Lake include resorts, cabins, condos, vacation homes, hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and RV parks. And, with special winter and holiday lodging rates, travelers can save as much as 40 percent off in-season rates. For all the different lodging options available around the Lake of the Ozarks, click on the "Places to Stay" tab at www.FunLake.com.

The holiday season at the Lake of the Ozarks concludes with several New Year's Eve celebrations at many resorts, restaurants and bars. There will be live music, dinner and at dancing Camden on the Lake, The Inn at Grand Glaize, The Lodge of Four Seasons, Old Kinderhook and Tan-Tar-A Resort, just to name a few. 

For other holiday attractions, events, as well as all dining and lodging options available at the Lake of the Ozarks, visit the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau's award-winning website, www.FunLake.com. Or, call 800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253).

2014 Holiday Events at Lake of the Ozarks

From the "gobble, gobble" of Thanksgiving to the "ho, ho, ho" of the Christmas season, Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks is the place to celebrate the holidays. For those who don't want to cook - but do want to eat - on Thanksgiving Day, a number of the Lake area's resorts and restaurants offer turkey and all the trimmings. Visit www.funlakeevents.com for a list of Thanksgiving buffets open around The Lake on November 27th. In addition to Thanksgiving meals, there are special activities to kick off the holiday season at two of the area's full-service resorts.  The Lodge of Four Seasons offers carriage rides through the resort to enjoy the festive holiday decorations. The carriage rides are available Nov. 27th–29th, December 5th & 6th and December 12th & 13th.  Breakfast with Santa on December 6th and 13th is another holiday treat at The Lodge.  Learn more at www.4seasonsresort.com.  Thanksgiving Day at Tan-Tar-A Resort will feature a Tailgate Party and a bonfire and sing-along before the lighting of the resort's Christmas decorations. And if you're feeling over-stuffed from your Thanksgiving feast, get out to burn some calories in Tan-Tar-A's Turkey Trot 5K on November 28th.  For more on Tan-Tar-A's festivities, visit www.Tan-Tar-A.com. Visitors can enjoy holiday lights throughout the Lake of the Ozarks area at several drive-through parks featuring lighting displays that encompass thousands of brightly burning bulbs. From November 17th to January 1st, the City of Laurie presents the Enchanted Village of Lights at the Laurie Fairgrounds. The Fairgrounds' 27 acres will be filled with displays, from small ones to towering displays over 30 feet high.  Six new displays will be added this year and LED lights make them shine even brighter than ever.  The smiles on the faces of the visitors shine the brightest, however, as they enjoy this holiday tradition. "Even a Scrooge smiles when he comes here," says Laurie's Events and Parks Coordinator Susann Huff. The Enchanted Village of Lights opens each day at 5:00 pm. The park will stay open until at least 9:00 pm on weekdays and 10:00 pm on weekends. There is no charge to drive through the village, but any donations will be put to use in refurbishing and preserving the displays for the future. More information about the event, including exact hours of operation, can be found at www.CityofLaurie.com/EnchantedLights. Also in Laurie, and opening Thanksgiving Day, The Festival of Lights at the Shrine of St. Patrick on Hwy. 5 is the oldest light park in the area. Started in 1981, the festival has continued to grow each year, with thousands of lights decorating the buildings and grounds. The site is also the home of the National Shrine of Mary, Mother of the Church, so this display focuses on Jesus and His mother, Mary. The St. Patrick Festival of Lights will be open daily from 6:00–10:00 pm from Thanksgiving through January 1st. There is no charge for the beautiful light display; it's simply a gift to the community. Learn more at www.ShrineOfStPatrick.org. Lights shine brightly in the City of Versailles, as well, with the city park aglow for the Unity Circle of Lights.  Beginning November 26th and continuing through January 1st, the holiday light park will feature approximately 40 glowing and animated holiday scenes. The light park is named for the "Unity Circle," a monument at the park entrance that shows cooperation among community members.  For more information, visit the website at www.CityOfVersailles.org. The day after Thanksgiving is the busiest shopping day of the year. The Lake's Osage Beach Premium Outlets mall offers extended hours and special savings on that day to make holiday gift-buying easier.  In addition, specialty shops around the area offer gifts for the home, unique clothing, jewelry and other personal items. Antique shops are packed with treasures from the past and handmade crafts.  For more information about shopping at the Lake, click on the "shopping" tab at www.FunLake.com. Thanksgiving weekend offers family fun in Versailles, which hosts Olde Fashioned Christmas on the Square on Saturday, November 29th, from 5:00–8:00 pm.  Vendor booths will line the historic Courthouse Square and the Versailles Choir will sing on the courthouse steps. Santa will arrive on the Versailles Rural Fire Department's fire engine then adjourn to the Royal Theater. His lap will be ready for sitting and his ears ready to hear children's gift requests. Guests can view and bid on silent auction items in the theater's Annex.  Learn more at www.VersaillesChamber.com/Christmas-on-the-Square. Also on November 29th, Laurie's 13th annual Lighted Christmas Parade begins at 6:00 pm at Central Bank, traveling north on Hwy. 5 to the Laurie Mall. Santa will ride on a float in the parade, then visit with the children inside the mall. The music of the holiday season is featured each year as Main Street Music Hall in Osage Beach presents Christmas on Main Street. Holiday carols, gospel hymns, musical impersonations and comedy are all included in a great show offered by Thom and Sandy Gumm, along with their cast of talented singers and musicians. The show is offered on weekends beginning November 7th and continuing through December 21st. For more information, including show dates and times, as well as ticket prices, call the Main Street Music Hall box office at 800-348-9501 or visit www.LakeMusicHall.com. Deck the Docks is back for 2014 to light up the Lake of the Ozarks waterfront. Climb aboard the Celebration Cruise Boat for a view of beautiful lakefront homes and docks decorated for the season. This is truly a memorable holiday experience that you can only find at Lake of the Ozarks. Cruises run every Friday and Saturday evening between November 28th through December 27th. Tickets must be purchased in advance for this one-of-a-kind attraction. As an added holiday bonus, a part of the proceeds go to support the Dogwood Animal Shelter. Visit www.cruiselake.com for more information or call (573) 480-3212 to reserve your tickets. The Lake of the Ozarks' newest winter attraction, an outdoor ice rink aptly named "The Ice," opens to the public on December 4th at Old Kinderhook Resort in Camdenton. And on December 5th, a 9:00 pm ceremony will feature the lighting of the grand Christmas tree on The Ice. The skating rink is located next door to The Lodge at Old Kinderhook, a new 84-room expansion at the resort, which is scheduled to open early in 2015. For more information, visit www.OldKinderhook.com. Camdenton offers a day of family fun at Christmas on the Square, December 6th. This all-day event features food, games, gifts and, of course, a visit from the season's guest of honor - Santa. For more information, visit www.CamdentonChamber.com. The 30th Annual Lake Ozark "Christmas Magic" Parade will be held on December 13th at 1:00 pm. The procession will line up at Hwy 242 starting at t he HH & Bagnell Dam Blvd. intersection in Lake Ozark, and will turn right to proceed down Bagnell Dam Boulevard to the Dam. The Parade will be lead by the Maine Corp League Honor Guard with the Grand Marshall and all parade participants following them. Again this year, Santa will be available immediately after the Parade at the White House on Bagnell Dam Blvd. for pictures with the children. Christmas Stockings, will be handed out to all the children who stop to see him, and hot chocolate and cookies will be served to all waiting in line to see Santa! Whether visitors are coming to the Lake to see the lighting displays, check items off the holiday gift list or just escape the demands of the season, the area's lodging properties offer the gift of off-season savings.  Winter and holiday-special lodging rates are some of the lowest of the year at Lake-area resorts, hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and RV parks.  In some cases, travelers can save as much as 40 percent off in-season rates and give themselves the gift of a good night's rest and relaxation. The Lake of the Ozarks is also the perfect place to ring in the New Year. Ask your favorite lodging establishment about their New Year's Eve specials.  For information about all events and activities at the Lake of the Ozarks, as well as information on dining and accommodations, visit our award-winning website at FunLake.com, or call 1-800-FUN-LAKE.