MAKE HOLIDAYS MORE MEMORABLE AT THE LAKE OF THE OZARKS

Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. - Pack up the family and create new holiday memories this year by heading to Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks.

The festive season at the "Best Recreational Lake" in the Nation begins in earnest with Thanksgiving, though visitors can get a head start on the holidays as early as Friday, Nov. 17. 

The weekend of November 17 marks the opening of the Enchanted Village of Lights in Laurie, the Lake of the Ozark's largest drive-through light park.  The Village of Lights  is spread across 27 acres of the fairgrounds in Laurie and is open from 5 p.m. until  9 p.m.  on weekdays and until  10 p.m.  on weekends. Admission to the light park is free, though donations are welcome.

	The holiday marketplace at Camden County Museum in Linn Creek features many handmade winter- and Christmas-themed arts and crafts.

At the Camden County Museum in Linn Creek, the Holiday Marketplace occurs on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 17 and 18 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. This local history museum is transformed with many booths of different vendors selling handmade Christmas-themed arts and crafts. Lunch is available for a small donation. And, Victoria Station, a local boutique shop in Osage Beach, celebrates its 32nd annual Christmas open house from Friday morning through Sunday evening, inviting visitors to experience the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the holiday season. The shop will be dressed up with numerous Christmas trees, lights and garland with the season's newest merchandise on display and for sale. Holiday snacks and beverages will be served.

	Enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving meal without all the hassle of cooking and cleaning up at several Lake of the Ozarks restaurants.

For Thanksgiving, many resorts and restaurants in the area offer all the comforts of home but without the messy clean-up. These businesses go out of their way to ensure a memorable Thanksgiving holiday with meals for their guests. J. Bruner's Restaurant in Osage Beach offers diners a savory menu of roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry salad, candied yams and delectable desserts. H. Toad's Bar & Grill at Camden on the Lake Resort and Marina and HK's Restaurant at The Lodge of Four Seasons in Lake Ozark, The Inn at Grand Glaize and Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach and The Trophy Room at Old Kinderhook in Camdenton are offering Thanksgiving buffets with multiple entree options and all the trimmings for their guests. Reservations are suggested for all restaurants. And, nearly all of these restaurants also feature ample TVs for watching the big game as well, so visitors can relax, enjoy the food, their family and friends and the comfortable atmosphere. For more details on the menu and hours of the Thanksgiving dinners at J. Bruners, visit www.JBruners.com; for H. Toad's at Camden on the Lake, check out www.HToads.com; for The Lodge of Four Seasons, go to www.4SeasonsResort.com; for the Inn at Grand Glaize, visit www.InnAtGrandGlaize.com; for Tan-Tar-A Resort, head to www.Tan-Tar-A.com, and for Old Kinderhook, visit www.OldKinderhook.com. 

Aside from a Thanksgiving meal, Tan-Tar-A will be serving up many Christmas-themed activities during its Winter Holiday Festival, taking place throughout the long weekend. Festival activities include visits with Santa and his elves, bonfires, sing-alongs, a comedy show and the lighting of the resort's holiday lights on Thanksgiving day. On Friday, shoppers can take advantage of Tan-Tar-A's Black Friday deals in its various retail stores located on the property. Younger guests can enjoy cookie decorating stations, a "hot chocolate social," storytelling with Santa, as well as a Duck Drop race at Tan-Tar-A's Timberfalls, the Lake's only indoor waterpark. On Saturday, there will be face painting, pop-a-shot contests in the arcade, story telling with Santa, bowling and s'mores making stations. Holiday light tram tours, letter writing to Santa, coloring contests and "selfies with elfies" will be offered everyday throughout the weekend. For more details on Tan-Tar-A's Winter Holiday Festival and to make reservations, visit www.Tan-Tar-A.com.

	The Ice at Old Kinderhook, the only outdoor ice rink in Central Missouri, opens for the season during the resort's annual Christmas Village events, beginning Friday, Nov. 24.

At Old Kinderhook, the resort's popular annual Christmas Village opens on Friday, Nov. 24. The Christmas Village features games and activities for children and adults alike, including visits with Santa and his elves, singing of Christmas carols, gingerbread house-making stations and horse-drawn carriage rides around the resort property. The Christmas Village events will take place Thursday through Sunday from Thanksgiving until Christmas. Thursdays are "community night," featuring special performances by local dance troupes and choirs. The Ice at Old Kinderhook, the Lake's only outdoor ice skating rink, will open for the winter season Thanksgiving weekend for casual holiday skating sessions and a "pond hockey" league. The hours for The Ice are 5-9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 5-10 p.m. on Fridays, 1-10 p.m. on Saturdays and 1-9 p.m. on Sundays. For more details, visit www.OldKinderhook.com. And, check the resort's Facebook page for special openings of The Ice during school dismissals.

The Lake of the Ozark's other three lighted parks will illuminate the night when they open on Friday, Nov. 24. In addition to the Enchanted Village of Lights, visitors can explore the warm glow of festive lights and holiday displays at the Osage Beach City Park,  the  Festival of Lights  at St. Patrick's Shrine in Laurie, a nd the  Unity Circle of Lights  at the Versailles city park at the junction of Highways 5 and 52 . Admission to all light parks is free, however donations are welcome. For more information about the light parks, including hours of operation, visit www.FunLake.com/lake-holiday-light-parks.

	The talented and humorous cast of the Main Street Music Hall in Osage Beach entertains thousands of guests of all ages during its annual Christmas on Main Street show.

The day after Thanksgiving also marks the opening of Main Street Music Hall's " Christmas on Main Street" holiday-themed variety show. One of the Lake of the Ozarks' longest running holiday traditions, this humorous and family-friendly show features carols, gospel hymns, comedy routines and musical impersonations by the talented cast of singers, musicians and actors. Christmas on Main Street runs from November 24 through December 17 with shows beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays, with a 3 p.m. matinee show on Sundays. Main Street Music Hall is located at The Landing in Osage Beach.  For more information, including show dates, times and ticket prices, or to make reservations, call the Main Street Music Hall box office at    800-348-9501  or visit   www.LakeMusicHall.com .

	The lighted Christmas parade in Laurie provides a unique take on holiday processions.

On November 25, beginning at 6 p.m., visitors can watch a procession of fun floats decked out in lights during the 16th Annual Lighted Christmas Parade in Laurie. The parade begins at Central Bank and proceeds north along Missouri Highway 5 to the Terrace Mall, where Old Saint Nick will disembark from his float and spend time with the children inside the warmth of the mall. 

	The Steps Dance Studio presents the 18th annual performance of The Nutcracker Ballet November 25 and 26 in the Cummings Auditorium at the School of the Osage.

The Lake of the Ozarks' Steps Dance Studio presents its 18th annual performance of the world-famous Nutcracker Ballet on November 25 and 26 in the Cummings Auditorium at the School of the Osage in Osage Beach. Choreographed by Stacy Schrimpf and Shelly Schrimpf-Wells of the Steps Dance Studio, this lauded take on the classic Christmas tale features colorful, elaborate costumes and detailed sets. Young local dancers, ages three through 17, will perform alongside seasoned professionals from the Lake area to bring this story to life. Tickets for this popular performance run from $10 for general admission up to $15 for reserved seating.

Another musical local tradition is the Lake Area Community Orchestra's annual Winter Concert Series. The 2017 program, A Fireside Christmas, directed by Rose Adams, features many Lake-area musicians and takes place November 26, 28, December 3, 5, 10 and 12 at various venues around the Lake of the Ozarks. Admission is free, though donations are welcome. For details on the Winter Concert Series, including locations of concert venues, visit www.LakeAreaCommunityOrchestra.org.

On Saturday, Dec. 2, the city of Versailles hosts its annual " Christmas on the Square " in its historic downtown. This holiday celebration begins at 9:30 a.m. with "The Running of the Elves" 5K run/walk. Festivities begin at 10:30 a.m. and include fun games, ornament-making, a petting zoo and prize drawings. There also will be many craft and food vendors, live choir performances, horse-drawn carriage rides and a visit from Santa Claus. Guests can enjoy complimentary hot dogs, cookies and hot chocolate. The activities wind down at 1:30 p.m.

	The Christmas Magic parade in Lake Ozarks culminates with a bonfire and caroling with Santa Claus.

Additionally, the city of Lake Ozark hosts its 32nd annual " Christmas Magic " parade Saturday, Dec. 9, from 3-5 p.m. The parade travels along the historic Bagnell Dam Boulevard. Afterward, there will be a bonfire at Two-Bit Town where children will have the opportunity to visit with Santa and enjoy Christmas music and caroling. Hot chocolate, coffee and treats will be available to all at the bonfire. 

Other festive events in the area include a children's performance of "The Rented Christmas" by the Young Museum Players at the Camden County Museum in Linn Creek on Saturday, Dec. 9. A screening of Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" will take place on December 9 at the Wehrenberg Eagle's Landing Cine in Lake Ozark. In addition, there will be breakfast with Santa at Shawnee Bluff Winery in Osage Beach on December 10; performances of "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" at the Royal Theatre in Versailles December 15-17; and an Old Tyme Christmas celebration takes place at various locations throughout Linn Creek on December 16.  For more information on these and other holiday events around the Lake, visit the event calendar at  www.FunLake.com .

	Osage Beach Outlet Marketplace is one of the largest outlet malls in central Missouri and offers numerous top name-brand stores to search for the perfect gifts for everyone on a Christmas list.

For those looking to do a little - or a lot - of shopping for the people on their gift lists, the Lake of the Ozarks is a holiday shopper's paradise. With the largest premium outlet mall in central Missouri, as well as numerous boutique shops, antique stores and big box stores dotting the area, there is no shortage of great places to find the perfect gifts for loved ones. Many of the big-box stores also will have Black Friday deals on Friday, Nov. 24. A complete listing of stores in the area can be found at www.FunLake.com.

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