Despite zero signs of the heat wave relenting any time soon, my family decided to go to the summer celebration at our local amusement park. Any Ozarker worth his weight knows that summer isn’t complete without at least one visit to Silver Dollar City, or as the locals lovingly refer to it, Steal Your Dollar City.

I have been visiting the park since childhood and it brings all of the warm nostalgia to heart. The rides, the food, the craftsmen; I love it all and I especially love seeing it all again through the eyes of my son.

During summer fest the park extends its hours until 10:00pm and Mark and I thought it would be a fun way to celebrate our twelfth marriage anniversary. We bought a couple cold brew coffees and strolled around in the dark enjoying the park lights and music. There a multiple stages scattered through the park where you can catch a musical performance featuring local musicians and if you’re lucky maybe some bluegrass!

The boys hit up a few rides and then we went to the plaza for the live music. The plaza has been newly expanded and there was quite the crowd gathered to hear the band. I didn’t catch the name of the group performing but God bless them it must have been hot up there under those stage lights! They did great job!

Before the park closes they have a drone and firework show to end the evening. The kids were so excited for it! We started to make our exit as the fireworks began so we could beat the crowd to the parking lot and I think we actually ended up with the better view than where we were in the plaza.

It was a sweet way to enjoy a summer evening and celebrate our anniversary. If you have never been to Silver Dollar City it is a great family friendly park with awesome rides and plenty of fun shopping for mom too! Have a great week friends! Squeeze out every last drop of leisure before that school bell rings!