Christmas In Silver Dollar City

If you read yesterday's post you know that AD, G2 and I went to the Dixie Stampede on Saturday morning and then went to Silver Dollar City later in the day.

We arrived about 3:30 and it was pretty cold. The picture above was taken just after we went through the turnstile and just before you enter the "City." It's one of my favorite picture spots. G2 took the photo because he didn't want his picture taken.

I headed straight to the back of the park to see if there was a chance I could get in to see Silver Dollar City's production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol while AD and G2 went to see what rides were open. (Like I said, it was cold and sometimes rides will be shut down due to the temperature.)

The theater or Opera House, as it's called, holds lots of people and the next show was at 3:45. From past experience I really knew I didn't have a chance of getting a seat 15 minutes before the show. And I was right. This is one of the most popular shows at Silver Dollar City and there's ALWAYS a line.

The line for the 5:45 show was already forming although some people thought they were still in line for the one at 3:45. Silly people! So as the word started getting around that there would be a 2 hour wait - in the cold - for the next show, the line started to shrink putting me closer and closer to the head of the line.

I've seen the production many times (in fact one year I actually stood in line to see it twice in one day) but it's just so outstanding - in my opinion and the opinion of many others - that it's well worth the wait.

You meet some really nice people standing in line and this time was no exception. As the temperature dropped and the wind picked up we passed the time talking about lots of things. The people I happened to be talking to had tried to get in to see the show last year but wasn't able to stand in line so they were determined to see it this year. I told them they wouldn't be disappointed. I didn't see them after the show so I don't know what they thought but I can't imagine them thinking they'd wasted their time.

This is my favorite part of the whole show. The Ghost of Christmas Present is a hoot! She's not the original Ghost but her performance was every bit as good as her predecessor's.

Once inside the theatre I discovered the battery was low on my camera. Ugh! So I limited myself to only a few photos. You have no idea how hard that is for me! Flash photography is strictly prohibited so I did the best I could.  (And it does "snow" inside the theatre at the end of the show.")

I immediately saw this sight as I came out of the theatre. I wish my photo did the scenery justice. Silver Dollar City decorates with millions of lights - and that's not an exaggeration.

At the front of the park there's a huge tree that is lit every night starting at 6:00. Music plays and the lights dance up and down the tree to the music. It's quite a sight to behold.

There's also a short parade a couple of times a night. We really weren't planning to stay for the parade because of the cold but as we were trying to leave the park we were told we couldn't go "up the hill" because the parade was coming. G2 said we might as well stand there and watch it.

Santa Claus always leads the parade.

And it always ends with a float that is entitled "The Greatest Gift of All." Very appropriate in my opinion.

AD and G2 did ride the big roller coaster called Wildfire earlier in the day but when the temperature dropped and the the wind really began to howl the big, outdoor rides were shut down. They rode a few "inside" rides and even stopped into the Carousel Barn where Santa visits with all the children. They stopped in to warm up but said they didn't stay long. The barn was packed with kids waiting to see the jolly old elf.

We really wanted to ride the Christmas "Sing-a-Long" train but we just couldn't stand the cold any longer. It's a great train ride. The train ride is always in the park but at Christmas it turns into the "Sing-a-Long" train. Christmas music plays while everyone sings along to old, familiar Christmas songs. As it makes its way around the park there are many light displays to see.

Then about half-way through the ride, the train stops at "Grandpa's house" and he's there, sittin' on the porch rockin' in his chair. He greets everyone and then proceeds to tell the story of the very first Christmas. It brings tears to my eyes just typing this.

Once the story is told the train proceeds on its way back to the train station with everyone singing along again to the music.

So that was our day at Silver Dollar City. If you've never visited the City and you're ever in the area, it's a fun time. Lots of things to see and do. They have a saying there - "You've got a great past ahead of you."