Experience the Classic West At Silver Dollar City’s Festival of American Music & Crafts
Presenting a ‘Salute to the Great American Cowboy’
September 14-October 28 (Wednesday through Sunday)

Experience the legend and lore of the classic West when Silver Dollar City presents the Salute to the Great American Cowboy within the Festival of American Music & Crafts. Trick riding and roping, western entertainment, bluegrass stars and the nation’s top craftsmen are featured during the festival which runs September 14 – October 28 at the Branson, Missouri theme park.

The entertainment lineup includes a special concert by country star Mark Chesnutt on Sept. 23, and special western shows with Grammy-winner Riders In The Sky and the popular Sons of the San Joaquin. Six-time IBMA* Female Vocalist of the Year and Grammy nominee Rhonda Vincent headlines the bluegrass entertainment with special concerts Oct. 4 and 5, and hundreds of musicians perform throughout the festival.

Widely recognized as the premier event for fine craftsmanship, the festival features stone carvers, copper sculptors, silversmiths and stained glass artists, part of more than 125 visiting artists from across the country who fill booths lining the streets of the theme park with their colorful handwork. Best of Missouri Hands juried artists are spotlighted with crafts including handcrafted pewterware, bent-willow furniture, blown glass art and stoneware pottery.

A special showcase of western crafters features custom-made leather hats, Navajo jewelry, western art, bronze sculpture, hat making and saddle and tack making. Guests can vote for their favorite custom-made cowboy boots as boot makers from around the country compete in the new Best of American Boot Makers Competition.

The tastes of the fall harvest are served up throughout the park, with smoked turkey legs, roasted corn on the cob and hearty skillet meals cooked on open grills. For a full festival feast, guests can dine at Tastes of America in the Red Gold Heritage Hall, featuring barbecued ribs, roasted prairie chicken, southwestern tacos or buffalo chili, and desserts from blackberry cobbler and peach pie to hot apple dumplings, while trick riders, ropers and rodeo stars perform in the Red Gold Arena.

Cowboy Features

Meet some of television’s top western heroes when Gunsmoke’s Buck Taylor hosts stars of classic American Westerns such as Clint Walker and James Drury, and catch performances by Waddie Mitchell and other Western Heritage Cowboy Poets. Dancers can kick up their heels at the country barn dance.
Performers include:
Roy Rogers, Jr. Les Gilliam and the Silver Lake Band Sourdough Slim
Red Steagall Sons of the Silver Dollar R.W. Hampton
Pake McIntyre Syd Masters and the Swing Riders Bill Barwick

Bluegrass & Traditional Music

Along with bluegrass star Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, national touring bands and rising bluegrass stars perform at stages throughout the park.
Performers include:
The Biscuit Burners Old School Bluegrass Hit & Run Bluegrass
Special Consensus Midnight Flight Southern Drawl
Nothin’ Fancy The Boohers 3 Fox Drive

The sounds and smells of the fall harvest fill the Silver Dollar City Square, where guests can see sorghum making, demonstrations of cow milking with the turn-of-the-century dairy equipment, and street shows with a stagecoach that is a replica of the historic Butterfield Stage Line. A cast of talented singers and dancers perform in Classic Country Nights at Echo Hollow Amphitheatre each evening.

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