What a Country (Festival)! - April 8, 2008

Branson, Missouri! The very name is enough to send the hearer into either paroxysms of delight or to the dregs of despair. For those in the former category, this week brings joy unconfined, as the annual BransonFest kicks off at Dick Clark's American Bandstand Theater. Branson has long been known as a family-friendly mecca; as Bart Simpson put it, "it's like Vegas -- if it were run by Ned Flanders." But there's more to the town than bland, middle-of-the-road entertainment (though there's plenty of that). The lucky thousands who troop into the southwest Missouri hamlet will enjoy Ozark crafts and cuisine, and can delight in shows by more than 50 of Branson's top acts. Imagine: Jim Stafford, Andy Williams, Mel Tillis, and Shoji Tabuchi all under one tent roof! (And don't forget The Baldknobbers and Yakov Smirnoff!) If that weren't temptation enough, don't forget that the prestigious American Bus Association has listed BransonFest as one of its Top 100 events in North America, competing with such must-sees as the Shediac Lobster Festival, Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, and the Florida Strawberry Festival. Truly, BransonFest is a spectacle to make any American proud, for in the words of no less than Abraham Lincoln, "People who like this sort of thing will find this is the sort of thing they like." Suggested Sites... Branson.com - calendar, events, artists, and more! American Bus Association Events - all the most interesting bus-related action! Explore Branson - 52 theaters, three lakes, twelve golf courses. If you can't find something to do there, you're dead. Branson.com: Shows - the official list of shows and performers.