Thanksgiving in Branson 2026: What's Open, Where to Eat & Stay
David Slone • October 8, 2026
Quick answer: Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 26, 2026, and Branson is open for it. Silver Dollar City runs 4 to 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day with An Old Time Christmas already lit, Branson Landing's restaurants and holiday tree show keep going, and dinner shows like Dolly Parton's Stampede and the Showboat Branson Belle run Thanksgiving seatings. Book lodging and dinner early, because that week fills up.
Thanksgiving week is when Branson flips from fall to Christmas. Ozark Mountain Christmas starts November 1 and runs through January 7, 2027. Silver Dollar City's An Old Time Christmas opens November 7 with more than 6.5 million lights. Branson Landing switches to its holiday fountain schedule on November 7, and Sight & Sound's Miracle of Christmas runs November 3 through December 31. So a Thanksgiving trip gets you the turkey and the lights in the same long weekend. We have spent a lot of Novembers here, and this is the guide we would want: what is open, what needs a reservation, and how to handle the big meal.
Silver Dollar City over Thanksgiving weekend 2026
Silver Dollar City keeps holiday hours Thanksgiving week, and they change day to day, so plan around them:
Sunday, Nov. 22: 1 to 9 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 23: 1 to 9 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 24: Closed
Wednesday, Nov. 25: 1 to 9 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving): 4 to 10 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 27: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 28: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 29: 1 to 9 p.m.
The 4 p.m. opening on Thanksgiving is the detail that makes the day work. Eat your big meal early in the afternoon, then drive over as the sun goes down and the lights come on. The park's Thanksgiving buffets at Molly's Mill, Lucky Silver Mine and Reunion Hall open at 2 p.m., but you need park admission or a season pass to get to them. Confirm hours and tickets at silverdollarcity.com before you go, since the park adjusts its calendar.
One tip from experience: Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving run 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., which is the longest stretch of the weekend. If you only have one full park day, make it one of those two and arrive early. The Cliffs Resort sits 4 minutes from the park, so you can go back for a nap and a warm meal and still catch the lights.
Where to eat Thanksgiving dinner in Branson
You have three real options, and the right one depends on the size of your group.
Cook it yourself. For most families this is the whole reason to rent a home instead of hotel rooms. Thanksgiving is the one meal people want at their own table, with their own stuffing recipe and leftovers for Friday. Plan your grocery run for Wednesday. Last Thanksgiving, Walmart and Target in Branson were closed on the day itself, and the stores that did open kept shorter hours.
A dinner show. Dolly Parton's Stampede serves its four-course meal with the Christmas show on Thanksgiving Day, and the Showboat Branson Belle runs Thanksgiving dinner cruises on Table Rock Lake. The Showboat has departures every day from November 24 through 29. Both sell out, so buy tickets well ahead.
A buffet or brunch. The Keeter Center at College of the Ozarks is the most sought-after Thanksgiving table in town. Its Thursday brunch was already full as of October 1, 2026. A second brunch on Saturday, November 28 was still taking reservations, at $70 for adults, $35 for children 4 to 12, and free for children 3 and under. Last year the Thanksgiving buffets at Big Cedar Lodge, Top of the Rock and Chateau on the Lake all required reservations, so expect the same this year and call early.
Hosting the whole family this year? Our larger homes give you room for everyone under one roof: a home that sleeps 30 with a theater and game room, a home that sleeps 22 with game rooms and pools, and a home near Thunder Ridge that sleeps 20.
Shows and attractions open on Thanksgiving Day
Branson does not shut down for the holiday. These were listed as open on Thanksgiving Day 2026:
Dinner shows: Dolly Parton's Stampede and the Showboat Branson Belle
Christmas shows: Hughes Family Christmas Show, Legends in Concert Christmas Spectacular, Grand Jubilee, Sanders Family Christmas and Christmas Wonderland
Titanic Museum Attraction: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
WonderWorks: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Aquarium at the Boardwalk: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Shepherd of the Hills Inspiration Tower: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Show times and holiday hours shift, so check each venue's site the week before. A morning attraction, an early dinner, then Silver Dollar City at 4 p.m. is a full and very doable Thanksgiving Day.
Christmas lights on Thanksgiving night
If you skip the theme park, there is still plenty to see after dark. At Branson Landing, most shops close on Thanksgiving but the restaurants stay open, the 63-foot animated tree show runs every 20 minutes from dusk until 10:50 p.m., and the fountains play at the top of each hour, weather permitting. Our Branson Landing fountain show schedule has the full rundown.
For drive-through lights, Trail of Lights at Shepherd of the Hills, Let There Be Lights at Promised Land Zoo and Branson's Lights of Joy were all open Thanksgiving night. They are an easy way to keep the kids entertained in a warm car after a long meal. For the full holiday season, see our Branson Christmas 2026 guide.
Staying downtown? Roark Creek 106 is a walk from downtown and the Landing, so you can see the tree show without fighting holiday parking.
Things to do in Branson in November 2026
If you are planning around the whole month rather than just the holiday, here is how November lays out:
Nov. 1: Ozark Mountain Christmas begins, running through Jan. 7, 2027
Nov. 3: Sight & Sound's Miracle of Christmas opens, running through Dec. 31
Nov. 5 to 11: Veterans Homecoming Week
Nov. 7: Silver Dollar City's An Old Time Christmas opens, running through Jan. 2, 2027, and Branson Landing's holiday fountain schedule begins
Nov. 26: Thanksgiving
Dec. 6: Branson's Adoration Parade, 5 p.m.
The Adoration Parade lands the Sunday after the holiday week, on December 6, 2026 at 5 p.m. It starts in the Branson Convention Center south parking lot, runs through Historic Downtown Branson and finishes along Branson Landing Boulevard, according to the Branson Chamber. If you can stretch your trip, it is a lovely way to end it. Our Branson calendar of events 2026 covers the rest of the year.
Where to stay for Thanksgiving in Branson
Thanksgiving week is one of the harder weeks of the year to find a place, especially for big groups, so book as early as you can. Match the stay to your plans:
Silver Dollar City nights: Cliffs L-2, four minutes from Silver Dollar City, or Cliffs L-1-2, which sleeps 10
The whole extended family: the home that sleeps 30 or the home that sleeps 22
Downtown and the Landing: Roark Creek 106 or Roark Creek 104
An honest note: if it is just two of you staying one night, a hotel can be the simpler choice. A rental pays off when you have a group, stay several nights, or want to cook the meal yourselves. Our vacation rentals vs hotels comparison walks through the math.
Frequently asked questions
Is Silver Dollar City open on Thanksgiving 2026?
Yes. Silver Dollar City is open 4 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, November 26, 2026, with An Old Time Christmas running. It is closed Tuesday, November 24, and open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Is Branson Landing open on Thanksgiving Day?
Most shops at Branson Landing close on Thanksgiving, but restaurants stay open, the animated tree show runs every 20 minutes from dusk until 10:50 p.m., and the fountain show runs at the top of each hour, weather permitting.
Where can I eat Thanksgiving dinner in Branson?
Dinner shows like Dolly Parton's Stampede and the Showboat Branson Belle serve Thanksgiving meals, Silver Dollar City's buffets open at 2 p.m. with park admission, and resort buffets such as Big Cedar Lodge and Top of the Rock have required reservations in past years. The Keeter Center's Thursday brunch filled by October 1, 2026. Many families rent a home with a kitchen and cook the meal themselves.
When is the Branson Adoration Parade in 2026?
Sunday, December 6, 2026, at 5 p.m. It begins at the Branson Convention Center south parking lot, runs through Historic Downtown Branson and ends along Branson Landing Boulevard.
When do the Christmas lights start in Branson?
Ozark Mountain Christmas begins November 1, 2026. Silver Dollar City's An Old Time Christmas and Branson Landing's holiday fountain schedule both start November 7, so everything is lit by Thanksgiving week.
Keep planning: best time to visit Branson, Silver Dollar City 2026 festival schedule, and Branson on a budget.
About the author: David Slone
This guide was written by David Slone, founder of Aha Moments Property Management, who has spent more than 30 years immersed in Branson and the Table Rock Lake area. An Airbnb Superhost and VRBO Premier Host, David and his team manage vacation rentals across Branson and personally help guests plan unforgettable Ozarks trips. More about David Slone →
