'Holiday Magic' Returns With Drive-Thru Light Park
and More at Central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks

LAKE OF THE OZARKS, MO. --The holidays are set to sparkle all around Central Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks, starting Nov. 9 with the second year for the Holiday Magic Drive-Through Light Park. The fun continues with a wide array of seasonal activities and events across the Lake area through the end of 2006.
  
 “The holiday season is a fabulous time to visit the Lake of the Ozarks, thanks to the Holiday Magic Drive-Through Light Park and other seasonal attractions, plus great Lake-area lodging, dining and holiday shopping opportunities,” says Trisha Creach, executive director of the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce.
   
Due to the success of the Holiday Magic Drive-Through Light Park last year, “we’re building on that great response to make the light park even better this year,” says Mark Bowman, Holiday Magic co-chairman.  “It certainly brought more people to the Lake during November and December and we hope to increase those numbers.”  In 2005, Bowman notes, the park attracted more than 10,000 visitors.  “This year we’re expecting more than 20,000,” he says. “That’s great news for local businesses.”
  
The drive-through park, located just below Bagnell Dam, will be longer this year – more than two miles – and will feature nearly 90 lighted and animated displays, including charming animated scenes and dazzling lighted tunnels.  Among several new displays will be three based on winning designs submitted by seventh-grade art students at Camdenton, School of the Osage and Eldon middle schools, and fabricated by Midwest Displays, manufacturers of the light park displays.  The displays will be donated to the schools at the end of the holiday season.
   
The park will be open 5:00-10:00 p.m. on weekends, Nov. 9-23.  From Nov. 24 through Dec. 31, hours will be 5:00-9:00 p.m., Monday-Thursday, and 5:00-10:00 p.m., Friday-Sunday.  Admission will be $10 per car and $2 per person on tour buses. Several Lake-area businesses plan to offer discount coupons for admission to the park, and some resorts and hotels will include park tickets in specially priced holiday packages.
   
In addition to Holiday Magic, three other light parks will light up the Lake area throughout the season.  The 13th annual Enchanted Village of Lights, a mile-long drive-through park with nearly 100 lighted and animated displays, will open Nov. 23 in Laurie’s 27-acre Hillbilly Fairgrounds.  Last year, 2,169 cars, 7,089 people and 147 pets (mostly dogs) toured the popular park, according to Susan Huff, Laurie’s Parks and Events Coordinator.  Admission is by donation.
   
The Versailles Light Park, a tradition for 15 years, will open Nov. 26, illuminating the city park at the junction of Highways 5 and 52.  Admission is free.  “Each year we add new displays. It’s a quarter-mile of very interesting and beautiful lights,” says Mayor Terry Silvey.  “Our town square also is decorated for the holidays. It’s fun to drive up there too.”
   
The fourth and oldest area light park, dating to 1981, is the Festival of Lights at the historic Shrine of St. Patrick in Laurie, open Nov. 24-Jan. 1.  “The focus is on the true meaning of Christmas. There is no charge for this beautiful light display.  It is simply our gift to the community,” organizers say.
   
Holiday Magic, however, is more than light parks.  It’s the “umbrella” theme for all the Lake’s ongoing, family-oriented holiday festivities.  One of the most anticipated will begin on Nov. 18, when the 17th annual Lake Lights Festival marks the official start of the holiday season at the Lake of the Ozarks. That’s when Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive by boat and lead the Holiday Caravan along Highway 54 through Osage Beach and Lake Ozark to just below Bagnell Dam.  There, visitors can enjoy a bonfire, caroling, a patriotic salute, free refreshments and fireworks, followed by a spin through the Holiday Magic Drive-Through Light Park.  Those who bring donations of canned food will be admitted to the light park for free.
   
The charming Festival of Trees at the Camden County Museum in Linn Creek will be open to the public Nov. 28-Dec. 19.  The event will provide holiday magic with its beautiful display and silent auction of decorated trees and wreaths donated by area organizations and individuals.
   
The magic will continue with “Christmas on Main Street,” the Main Street Music Hall’s always-anticipated Christmas show.  The production will run from Nov. 24-Dec. 23 with show times at 8:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 3:00 p.m. Sunday.
    
In addition, the Lake area's two largest resorts will feature varied holiday festivities.  Tan-Tar-A Resort's Winter Holiday Lights Festival Celebration and Santa’s Arrival on Thanksgiving night, Nov. 23, will feature lighted displays and trees along the resort’s winding entryway.  The Lodge of Four Seasons will offer visitors a chance to have "Breakfast with Santa" on Saturday, Nov. 25, from 9:00-11:00 a.m.  Reservations are suggested; call The Lodge at 573-365-3000 to guarantee a seat for the popular Santa event.
   
The 2006 Lake of the Ozarks Christmas Parade will start at 1:00 p.m., Dec. 9, at the Baymont Inn on Business Highway 54.  Featured attractions will include the world famous Budweiser Clydesdales saluting the 75th anniversary of Bagnell Dam, the exciting Marching Cobras from Kansas City, the St. Louis Irish Pipes & Drums, the United States Marine Corps Color Guard from Fort Leonard Wood and a special appearance by Liberty Belle, the U.S. Marine Corps’ mascot bulldog.
   
Other seasonal activities will include concerts by the Lake Area Orchestra and Greater Lake Area Chorale, crafts shows, parades, theatrical performances and more.
   
And don’t forget the outstanding holiday shopping at the Lake of the Ozarks.  From the 110-store Osage Beach Premium Outlets (Missouri’s largest name-brand outlet center) to local shopping malls, art galleries, antique stores, craft shops and specialty boutiques, you’re sure to wrap up your Christmas gift list at the Lake.
   
For more information about the Holiday Magic Drive-Through Light Park – including a sneak peek at some of the displays – plus up-to-date listings of Holiday Magic events and activities, visit www.lakeholidaymagic.com.  And for more details about Lake-area shopping, lodging, dining and year-round fun at Central Missouri’s scenic Lake of the Ozarks, call the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau at 800-FUN-LAKE or visit www.funlake.com.