I always refer to Silver Dollar City as "the Happiest Place in the Midwest." To me, it is. I didn't have a particularly happy childhood, but the Branson, Mo., theme park is among my best memories. And that's remained true throughout my adult life. Dan and I always loved taking Amanda there. Larry and I celebrated our engagement there. My sisters and I have had a blast every time we've gone. And a couple of weekends ago, I got to take the folks I call "my Little Rock family" there for the last season of World-Fest, which ends May 1.
My 9-year-old niece, Kathleen, and her buddy, Dirk, who is 12, let me see the park through children's eyes for the first time in a very long time. (Dirk would tell you he's not a child, but for our purposes, he counts as one!) And we also had four adults, Jon and Victoria and Scott and Teresa, one new, three who hadn't been there in years, who were perfectly willing to act like kids with me.
The day started with the World-Fest parade, introducing the seven countries represented by singers, dancers, drummers and acrobats, some of whom have been on hand for most of the festival's history. The crowd on the square couldn't have been more delighted to welcome the performers -- and they couldn't have been more delighted to be welcomed. Cameras were abundant in everyone's hands, taking "selfies" and shots of the crowd, and then the performers grabbed onlookers to create a circle of friendship "around the world" while Louis Armstrong's What a Wonderful World played. The kids -- all of them -- loved it.
One of the big kids -- my "sister" Teresa -- loves rides and came off of even the twistiest roller coasters grinning from ear to ear. (She doesn't get queasy either. Kind of hate her for that!)
Jon wanted to see the new Eastern European song and dance ensemble Slask -- pronounced something like "slonkz" -- and we all enjoyed the fancy footwork and gorgeously embroidered costumes.
It was his wife Victoria's first visit -- and we almost lost her not far inside the park. She was mesmerized by the glass blower, something veteran Silver Dollar citizens might take for granted. She enjoyed the full experience, purchasing the piece she saw being made.
And the kids?
Dirk loved the roller coasters and matched Teresa ride for ride. I think the only one they missed was Outlaw Run -- because they rode some kind of big scary swing right before it and right after lunch.
Kathleen loved the merry-go-round -- me too! -- Fire in the Hole and shopping. Of course.
I was sure everyone would have a good time, but I didn't realize until we talked later that we all had the same good time. We all treasured seeing the joy on the faces of our weird extended family.
"I went to Silver Dollar City the first time when I was 12, and I took my son who is 12 now for his first time," Jon said in answer to my question about the day's best moments. "Twenty-five years have passed, and my favorite part was being able to share the same experiences that I had when I went as a child -- like Fire in the Hole, the Flooded Mine ride and the shows."
His favorite part? I asked my friend Scott. "Watching V's interaction with the glass blower."
"For me, it was watching the kids and riding the roller coasters with Dirk," Scott's wife Teresa said. "Even though riding the barn swing with V was up there really high as well" -- no pun intended.
And most of all I loved seeing all their laughing faces. We walked 11 miles. I hurt all over. But I will treasure the memories for the rest of my life!
I can tell you everyone's least favorite part, too, but it had nothing to do with Silver Dollar City. After a really amazing night on the Showboat Branson Belle -- maybe a third of the audience was there for prom, and their enthusiasm was so much fun to share -- we rolled out on Sunday morning intent on doing little more than eating and shopping.
So after a hearty, home-style breakfast -- which we all agreed wasn't as good as what Scott makes, but nothing is -- we started our antiquing adventures. They ended abruptly, however, when Kathleen fell and broke her arm.
Then we got to visit Cox Medical Center in Branson. The result was one brave girl, one awesome mom to keep her calm and one hot pink cast later in the week in Little Rock. But we all agreed that even after that, Silver Dollar City remains the Happiest Place in the Midwest.
NAN Our Town on 04/21/2016