Contact: Martha Hoy Bohner, Silver Dollar City, 417-338-8207, 417-338-8210, [email protected]

Photo: Dove Award Winners The Crabb Family

BRANSON, Mo., Aug. 22 /Christian Newswire/ -- Southern Gospel, known for its strong American roots, is said to be music that moves the soul.  In recognition of a resurgence of the music’s popularity, Silver Dollar City is celebrating two great traditions in an all-new festival: Southern Gospel Picnic brings together the rich harmonies of America’s heartfelt music with the home-cooked spread of an old-fashioned gathering. More than 500 performances will resound throughout the park with Southern Gospel Picnic running August 31-September 10. 

Presenting gospel music 7 days a week for 11 straight days, performers range from the traditional to the contemporary including Grammy nominees and Dove Award winners The Crabb Family, Jeff & Sheri Easter, The McKameys, The Kingsmen and The Perrys. 

Southern Gospel Nights literally envelop a star-studded stage with an outdoor presentation each evening in Echo Hollow Amphitheater. Performers include The Florida Boys of the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame, Grammy nominees Dixie Melody Boys and Dove Award winners Gold City.

In honor of another southern tradition, the festival presents The House of Chicken & Fixin’s featuring Applewood Smoked Chicken with all the picnic-style fixings such as fried green tomatoes, fried apples and au gratin potatoes.  An array of desserts will complete the picnic with a variety of pies and cakes that are long-time favorites at church socials and family reunions.    

“With this new festival Silver Dollar City is promising a glorious gathering of food, friends and great harmonies,” said SDC entertainment coordinator, D.A. Callaway. “We’ll host the top names in gospel music in a setting promising to be the largest ‘picnic on the grounds’ in our history.”

Silver Dollar City, an 1880s-style theme park located near Branson, Missouri, presents six world-class festivals from April through December.  The park also features over 20 rides and attractions including the all-new Grand Exposition with 10 new family rides in an all-new area of the park.

Throughout the Southern Gospel Picnic festival, the park is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (9:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sunday, Sept. 3).  For festival and ticket information, call 1-800-831-4FUN. Information/schedules can be found at www.silverdollarcity.com.