First Lutheran Church
The Great Passion Play and Queen Esther Eureka Springs, AK and Branson, MO
June 2nd-7th, 2024
Registrations Due April 15th
Jump on board the coach bus on June 2nd at 1:00PM to start our travels to Branson, MO where we will enjoy live entertainment watching The Great Passion Play, Queen Esther and more.
Our journey will start by leaving First Lutheran Church at 1:00 PM June 2nd. We will venture down to Des Moines, IA to spend the night. We will stop along the way for dinner. The bus will stop every 2-21/2 hours for a break to get out and stretch our legs and use the restroom.
Monday we will arrive at the Holiday Inn and Suites Branson,76 Central. After settling in our room we will head back out to the Branson Landing for the rest of the evening. Shops, restaurants and walk along the boardwalk. After dark find the perfect spot to sit and watch the light and water show.
Tuesday will be visiting the Christ of the Ozarks, tour the Holy Land, see the Tabernacle, and end the evening watching the live performance of The Great Passion Play. "The Great Passion Play in Eureka Springs, Arkansas is "America's #1 Attended Outdoor Drama" according to the Institute of Outdoor Theatre. Eureka Springs is just the place to relive The Greatest Story Ever Told! The Play at 8:30pm (7:30pm on Good Friday and Saturday and after August 17) is not the only thing to see and do though. The Christ of the Ozarks, the Holy Land Tour, Moses Tabernacle in the Wilderness, a section of the Berlin Wall, the Church in the Grove, the Bible Museum, the History Museum, and the Sacred Arts Museum, God with Us Movie, Noah's Ark Park Petting Zoo, Hiking Trails, and Mountain Bike Trails are also on the grounds and many attractions are open ALL YEAR LONG!" from www.greatpassionplay.org
Since we will be arriving back to the hotel late the night before, Wednesday morning will be on your own. There are many attractions close to the hotel. Branson's Wild World, the Branson Coaster, Branson Duck Tours, the Apple Tree Mall, and many more attractions close by. Around 3:30 we will head out to Shepherd of the Hills and have a dinner show. The Great American Chuckwagon Dinner Show consists of cowboy songs, duel fiddles, gun twirlin', and hilarious skits. Dinner will consist of potato soup, smoked brisket, bbq pulled pork, cowboy beans, whole-ear corn on the cob, peach cobbler, beverage and a dinner roll.
We will finish out Wednesday evening watching Queen Esther at Sight and Sound Theatre. "Set in the opulent yet perilous Persian Empire, QUEEN ESTHER is a captivating tale of beauty and bravery. Esther’s ordinary life changed forever when she was taken through the palace doors, entering a new world of royalty and risk. With a crown on her head and a secret in her heart, can she find the courage to trust in God’s plan and believe that she was made for such a time as this?
Experience one of the most riveting Bible stories of the Old Testament as it comes to life with magnificent sets, special effects, and live animals in this original stage production!" https://sight-sound.com/shows/branson/queen-esther/2024
Thursday morning we will pack up and start heading north. Our first stop will be at the Creation Experience Museum. The next stop will be for lunch at a fun experience cafe. After lunch we will stop in Springfield to tour the Fantastic Caverns. No need to worry about walking down steep steps as this is a drive through cave. Sit back and let the guides take you through to see the beauty of God's mysteries. We will finish our way back to Des Moines, IA for the eveing.
Arriving back to First Lutheran Church late afternoon, June 7th stopping for lunch on our way home.
The cost varies depending on age, but you can expect to pay around $1750 for two adults or $2,600 for a family of four. Any youth attending without their parents can expect to pay $650 per child. Please note that not all meals are included in the prices listed above. Cost includes room and board, transportation, all entry fees into parks and museums.
A deposit of $150 per person or $500 per family is due at the time of registration to hold your spot. Registrations are due no later than April 10th. The deposit is non-refundable unless we are able to fill your spot.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is included in the cost? Transportation, hotels, a few meals, and entry into the shows.
- What is not included in the cost? A few lunches and dinners are on your own.
- What does transportation look like? We are taking a coach bus that has large comfortable seats, a bathroom, luggage storage underneath, and two tv screens.
- Will we drive straight thru? No, we will stop every 2-2 1/2 hours to get up walk around or have lunch. There will be no driving overnight. We will stop and stay in a hotel.
- Will there be time to do what I want? In the evenings there will be time for you to socialize with whom you'd like or spend time by yourself. There are several restaurants near the hotels we will be staying at. Wednesday morning will be on your own as we will get back to the hotel late the night before.
- What ages can attend? Any age may go. Youth that are wanting to attend without their parent needs to talk with Jessica Pellinen first.
- I have friends and family that want to attend and they are not members of First Lutheran, can they go? Absolutely! We welcome the first 56 people that want to go.