There are plenty of fun things to do to get into the holiday spirit at the Lake of the Ozarks.
In the weeks leading up to Christmas, the community will enjoy Christmas light displays, parades, concerts, plays, community festivals, a ballet, a children’s Christmas movie, musicals, cookie sales and more…
Lake Ozark Christmas Parade
The Lake Ozark Christmas Parade is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 10 on Bagnell Dam Blvd. in Lake Ozark. For information call 573 365-2460 or visit lakechristmasparade.com.
Laurie
The Enchanted Village of Lights
The City of Laurie will present the Enchanted Village of Lights display every evening from 5 to 9 p.m. through Sunday, Jan. 1 (10 p.m. on the weekends) in the Laurie Fairgrounds. Almost 20,000 people visited this 27 acre free drive-through light park last year. For information call 573 374-8776 or visit cityoflaurie.com.
St. Patrick’s Festival of Lights
St. Patrick’s Festival of Lights is lit from 5 to 8 p.m. every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Sunday, Jan. 1 around the sculpture of Mary and reflecting fountains, at the Shrine of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church off Highway 5 in Laurie.
The Festival of Lights at the Shrine of St. Patrick is the oldest light park in the area. It was started in 1981 with hundreds of lights decorating the buildings and grounds and has continued to grow each year. With 4,000 strings of lights, over 60 automatic timers and more than 350 extension cords, the Festival of Lights has turned into one of the major places to see during the holidays. Instead of animated displays, the focus is on the true meaning of Christmas, Jesus and His Mother, Mary. There is no charge for this beautiful light display. The Gift Shop will be open to welcome guest and will be serving hot chocolate and hot cider every 5 to 8 p.m. every Thursday through Sunday. The Gift Shop also offers inspirational gifts for all ages with a large assortment of Children’s Christmas books at fifty percent off the retail value. For information call 573 374-7855 or visit stpatrickcatholicchurch.org.
Osage Beach Holiday Lights
The Osage Beach Holiday of Lights will light up the night 5 to 9 pm., every Wednesday, through Sunday, Thursday, Dec. 1 through Saturday, Dec. 31 in the Osage Beach City Park. For information call 573-302-2000 extension 297 or visit www.osagebeach.org.
Versailles Unity Circle Of Lights
The Versailles Unity Circle of Lights is scheduled Thursday, Dec. 1 through Sunday, Jan. 1 at the Versailles City Park in Versailles. For information call 573 378-4634 or visit cityofversailles.org.
Deck the Docks Festival of Lights
The Sixth Annual Deck the Docks Festival of Lights continues at the Lake! The Celebration Yacht will embark on a cruise each Wednesday, Friday and Saturday to tour sparkly docks and lakefront homes decorated for the holidays. Tickets are $25 each and benefit the Dogwood Animal Shelter. Advance reservations are required and may be purchased through Celebration Cruises by calling 573 480-3212 or on the website at www.cruiselakeoftheozarks.com. The Celebration Yacht is located at 5085 Davis Drive Osage Beach, Mo. 65065.
Free Christmas Workshop and breakfast
All children are invited to a free craft workshop and free gift store (for children only) from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Westlake Christian Church on Route O in Laurie. Children can choose and wrap a gift for their parents or caregivers.
All children and adults are also invited to a free breakfast of biscuits and gravy breakfast or juice and cereal for children, if they prefer on the same morning.
Nativities from around the world will also be on display. For information call 573 374-0647. No reservations are required.
Bluegrass Martins Christmas Concert
The Bluegrass Martins Christmas Concert is scheduled at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11 at the Royal Theater in Versailles. For information call 573 378-6226 or visit theroyaltheatre.com.
Polar Express and Santa Claus
A screening of the Polar Express and a visit with Santa Claus starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Wehrenberg Theater in Lake Ozark. Doors open at 9 a.m. and the movie begins at 10 a.m. The cost is $5 per child and $10 for adults. Children may join in the fun and wear their pajamas. Call 573 964-6366 for more information.
Candlelight and Carols
The Greater Lake Area Chorale will present Candlelight and Carols Winter Concert Series at the following locations:
2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11 at the New Life Nazarene Church on Bear Paw Road in Camdenton.
7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 12 at the United Methodist Church in Versailles.
Lake Area Community Orchestra Winter Concert Series 2016 Schedule:
7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11 at the Royal Theater in Versailles.
7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 13 at the Lake Ozark Christian Church in Lake Ozark.
There is no admission charged, however donations are welcome. For information call Leonard Vader 573 644-4801.
A Mall and the Night Visitor children’s play
The Sunrise Beach Little Theatre will present its Children’s Christmas production “A Mall and The Night Visitor” at 2, 3 and 7 p.m. every Friday and Saturday night in December at the Sunrise Beach Community Center on Highway 5 in Sunrise Beach. The play is written by Kristin Ettinger and Shubert Fendrich and directed by Linda Neff and Josh Crane.
In this sweet and memorable holiday story, the high school’s student council charity drive is getting the cold shoulder. Until, the mall Santa sees the students efforts and suggests they create a wishing tree, where they hang their special Christmas wish of the gift they would give to someone else if they could, and soon the little tree is covered with envelopes full of wishes for others and the students learn that it is “not the gifts” but the thought that goes into them that is the most important part of Christmas. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for 12 and under. Concessions are available and reservations are not required. For more information call Linda at 573 374-2070.
Christmas on Main Street
The Main Street Music Hall will present Christmas on Main Street through Sunday, Dec. 18 at the Main Street Music Hall in Osage Beach. For information call 573 348-9500 or visit lakemusichall.com.
Christmas Musical “Gift of Heaven”
The Christmas Musical “Gift of Heaven” will be presented on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Camdenton, located at 186 S. Business Rt. 5 in Camdenton. The musical will present the Biblical Christmas story in song by their choir, and will also feature live drama in costume, along with video effects Admission is free. For information call 573 346-3355 or visit fbccamdenton.org.
Toys for Kids Toy Giveaway – Gravois Mills and Camdenton
The Toys for Kids Christmas Toy Giveaway provide free Christmas toys for children in need noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10 at the Morgan County VFW on Troutdale Road in Gravois Mills and from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17 at the Mid County Fire Protection District Fire Station in Camdenton.
Toys for Kids is a non-profit organization that collect toys and donations all year to help provide Christmas to children in need. To help, contact them at 573 363-5433 or mail a toy or donation to 25 Baptist Street Macks Creek, Mo. 65786. They also have donation boxes set up at several business in the area where toys can be dropped off.
Christmas Cookie Sale
A Christmas Cookie Sale is scheduled from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10 at the St. Anthony Catholic Church in Camdenton. A variety of cookies will be sold by the pound. For information call 573 434-0896.
Old Time Christmas In Linn Creek
An Old Time Christmas in Linn Creek is scheduled from 9 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17 at the Camden County Museum and throughout the town of Linn Creek. For information call 573 346-7191 or visit camdencountymuseum.com.
