Our family cherished memories at Silver Dollar City’s Old Time Christmas

When my family suggested we skip the summer weekend at the lake and enjoy Silver Dollar City during the Christmas season, I didn’t hesitate.

This wasn’t just any theme park to me—it was a piece of our family’s lore. We used to bring the kids here every year when they were little through their college years. When they were young, life was a bit simpler and the biggest decision of the day was whether we started with rides or Fanny’s Famous Funnel Cakes. Now the kids are grown, with busy work and travel schedules or families of their own, but stepping into Silver Dollar City always feels like turning back the clock.

From the moment we walked in, I was struck by the sheer magic of the place.

From the moment we walked in, I was struck by the sheer magic of the place. The park is draped in 6.5 million twinkling Christmas lights—a number so staggering it’s hard to wrap your head around. Every tree, building, and lamppost seemed to sparkle, and when we wandered into Midtown, the canopy of lights was so breathtaking in the evening I had to stop and just take it in. Anita squeezed my hand and said, “This is exactly how I always remember it.” No wonder it has again been named the nation’s best Christmas-themed park this year.

The rides, of course, were calling. We’ve always loved Fire in the Hole and this year, it had been completely redesigned and moved to a much larger space. It’s still got that nostalgic charm but it’s larger, with more scenes of Baldnobbers and firefighters and you still get the iconic conversation between Sadie and her husband Red. “Red Flanders,” she says as the house burns, “you come back in here and put on your pants.” Red responds as you see his long legs in red longjohns sticking out a window as he escapes on a ladder, “Well Sadie, I ain’t got no pants no more. The dang Baldmobbers stole em’!”  That always makes me chuckle.

But some things on the attraction have changed. The coaster is smoother, a bit faster, and more immersive. Our family doesn’t just ride it once, we ride it multiple times! Each time is an opportunity to catch something new—a sound effect, a flicker of fire, or a twist we didn’t expect. One thing we did expect is the big drop at the end and the splash of water. My daughter Emma exclaimed it’s better than ever.

My daughter Hannah, who was my rollercoaster “buddy” on this trip, dared me to try the Time Traveler again—“For old times’ sake,” she said. I know I had ridden it before when she was young but I had forgotten the coaster thrill it provided. Halfway through the biggest drop, I thought maybe I was getting too old for that kind of excitement. As the wind pelted our faces, I turned and yelled, “I don’t remember thiiiiiiiis,” as we continued to plummet laughing all the way.

When I got off, wobbling like I had just found my legs, Hannah was laughing and asking “Do you remember it now, Dad?” After that, Hannah and I tried several others. The experience was similarly thrilling on Powder Keg and we were the last group to ride before the incoming misty weather caused it to be paused for a few hours.

As we strolled through the park we caught the mid-afternoon production of A Dickens’ Christmas Carol, and let me tell you—this wasn’t your average theme park show. The sets were stunning, with intricate details that transported us straight to Victorian England. The singing? Broadway quality. And the acting was so good that you feel you’re a part of the story. Anita whispered that it could rival any touring production, and I had to agree. At the end of the show, we experienced our first snowfall of the season–inside. We both walked out humming Christmas carols. We were officially in the season!

Nearby is the 51-year-old Frontier Fa-La-La Follies in the Silver Dollar Saloon and it never disappoints. I was excited for our little grandson to see it because I knew he could easily handle its 30-minute length. The show is extremely popular with families and kids of all ages. As the cast recreates their 1880-themed saloon with Bart and the girls bantering back and forth, hilarity ensues. The end is touching, as the real meaning of the season is clearly shared with the audience.

Other productions in the park include “Christmas to Remember,” featuring the Spoken 4 Quartet singing stirring melodies. Another is “Coming Home for Christmas” with a young ensemble of 14 singers and dancers and a 4-piece band. I was particularly moved by the performance of Nadia Cole in the Gazebo next to the towering Christmas tree. She’s an international gospel/R&B recording artist with a powerful voice jazzing up the place with classic Christmas favorites. You can catch her at one of six times each day.

In the evening, as the Christmas lights became dazzlingly bright throughout the park we hopped on the Frisco Silver Dollar Train, which was more my speed. The conductor made sure to stop where “grandpa” shared the nativity story in a way that reminded me of when our kids would sit wide-eyed, soaking in every word. Heck, I was hanging on his every word. Our three-year-old grandson was mesmerized by the illuminated and intricately painted nativity figures, some of which were 12 feet tall.

After our ride through the park and the wildness that surrounds it, we returned to the train station. We made our way to the giant Christmas tree, an 8-story masterpiece that’s the heart of the celebration in Towne Square. Every 20 minutes, it puts on a light and music show that’s so well-choreographed it could compete with anything you’d see at Rockefeller Center. When they played Silent Night, I’ll admit, my eyes got a little misty. Anita and our family didn’t say anything—she just smiled knowingly and nudged me. I’m known in the family for being very sentimental.

Crowds lined Main Street from one end of the park to the other for two scheduled Christmas parades. Kids were awed by this musical procession of costumed characters and illuminated floats. It takes place twice daily at 6 and 8pm.

But don’t think you have to enjoy rides to enjoy Silver Dollar City. The place is filled with craftsmen and women at work making amazing things. You can watch candy being made (and sample it fresh), lathe and woodworking experts and glass blowers, candle makers, leather workers, and potters. I always enjoy the Wildnerness Road Blacksmith shop and demonstrations. Prices are reasonable and you can take something personalized home that day.

Of course, no visit to Silver Dollar City is complete without indulging in the food. From pizzas the size of a hubcap to skillet bowls and kettle chips and creamy hot cocoa, you won’t be disappointed.  My go-to is the pork rinds. These days, they can come drizzled in cheese. Yum.

A few tips for anyone planning a trip before the season ends Dec. 30: The park isn’t too busy right when it opens, so it’s a great time to hit your favorite rides without long waits. But the real magic happens after 5:30 p.m. That’s when the coming dusk is accentuated by the beauty of the lights. After 8:30 pm, the crowds thin and you can practically walk onto the rides. We rode Fire in the Hole again just before closing and it was like having the park all to ourselves.

By the end of the night, we found ourselves standing under the canopy of lights in Midtown.

By the end of the night, we found ourselves standing under the canopy of lights in Midtown. The glow of those millions of twinkling bulbs surrounded us, just like it had all those years ago. I turned to Anita and said, “This is exactly what we needed.” We had had a busy fall taking a group of people to Greece and Turkey on a tour and catching up with work afterwards. She knows I love Christmas so she laughed in her Anita laugh and replied, “But we’re not decorating for Christmas until after Thanksgiving.”

On the drive back, I couldn’t stop thinking about the memories we’d made here—then and now with our family back together, including our sons-in-law Mason and Justin and grandson. Silver Dollar City and its Old Time Christmas isn’t just a theme park; it’s a time capsule. Every visit takes me back to those years when the kids were small, life was loud and messy, and every moment felt like an adventure.

Even now, with our kids creating traditions of their own, it still feels like magic. And yes, I’d do it all over again—even the Time Traveler.

–Dwight Widaman is editor of Metrovoicenews.com

Thanks to SDC for providing complimentary tickets this year.