Silver Dollar City Presents Cowgirls, Crafts, Music, Majestic Birds & Missouri’s Best For the National Harvest Festival - September 12 – October 31

(Branson, Mo. 7/09) Trick riding Cowgirls, over 100 of the nation’s top craftsmen, award-winning musicians, and Missouri’s Best from majestic native birds to exhibits spotlighting the state’s most famous citizens -- all come together for Silver Dollar City’s National Harvest Festival. Within the setting of harvest-time activities in the 1880s-style theme park, the Ozarks’ premier fall festival features new events, shows and fall specialty foods, September 12 – October 31.

New this year, the festival presents a special September feature: A Salute to the Great American Cowgirl, September 12 – 27. Featured performers are the All American Cowgirl Chicks equestrian drill team, bringing precision trick riding, daring stunts and expert horsemanship to Silver Dollar City’s arena. The show includes a variety of riding tricks atop, astride and even under the galloping horses, demonstrating the talent and synchronization between these world-famous riders and their horses. The Salute to the Cowgirl also includes trick ropers, juried cowgirl artists and an exhibition of turn-of-the-century rodeo photographer R.R. Doubleday’s cowgirl photographs.

Then new for October, the National Harvest Festival presents Missouri’s Best, featuring the Wings Over Missouri birds-of-flight show, presenting the state’s most majestic birds in soaring flight, from Bald and Golden Eagles to Great Horned Owls. The park’s biggest showcase ever of Best of Missouri Hands juried artists includes crafts such as copper work, wood furniture making and pewtersmithing. Special exhibits spotlight famous Missourians including Mark Twain, Laura Ingalls Wilder, George Washington Carver and Thomas Hart Benton. Missouri’s Best is featured September 30 - October 31.

Long known as “The Home of American Craftsmanship,” SilverDollarCity showcases fine craftsmanship during the National Harvest Festival, widely recognized as the region’s foremost event for fine craftsmanship and the nation’s largest gathering of demonstrating craftsmen. The festival features handcrafted jewelry, bronze sculpture, basket weaving, pottery and stained glass, with more than 100 visiting artists demonstrating their art.

Entertainment includes hundreds of musicians on stages throughout the park, performing western, country, bluegrass and gospel music.  Plus, the original musical production Headin’ West is featured, telling the story of the American pioneer spirit in the 1870s west. The production comes to life with elaborate sets, surround-sound, and special effects from deep cave prospecting to white water rafting. A talented cast of 14 actors performs, with live music enhanced with an original orchestra score. Headin’ West runs through October 25.