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Branson was the host for the annual Shriner convention in 1998, and the group is back again this year. Jeremy Elwood has the story.
The city of Branson will host this year's Central States Shrine Association
convention September 3rd through the 7th. The Shriners work to raise money to
run more than a dozen children's hospitals across the country that provide
free medical care for children who can't afford it.
The convention, as coordinator Keith Frazier says, is the group's chance to
get together to enjoy themselves. They have several different groups,
including bands and horse riders, that compete for prizes.
The group will be sending about 12,000 people to Branson for the event,
including the Shriners and their families. For most cities, that many people
could be overwhelming. But Ross Somers from the Branson chamber of commerce
says Branson is a different type of city. He says the group will add to the
traffic, but the city is well equipped to handle that.
The centerpiece of any Shriner convention is, of course, the parade, and
Frazier says this year's parade, taking place on Saturday the 6th, is no
different. He encourages everyone to come out and see the four hour parade,
which begins at the Grand Palace and ends in the parking lot of White Water.
With the size and scope of the parade, Somers says the city has had to take
some unusual steps to accommodate the event. Part of Highway 76 will be shut
down to allow the parade to proceed, but he says the city has already made
plans to divert traffic during that time.
While the choice of Branson as the host site for the convention may give the
Shriners an opportunity to enjoy the Branson shows and entertainment, Somers
says it has big benefits for the city as well. Each person can be expected to
spend $55 to $60 a day during their stay.
The Central States Shrine Association convention runs September 3rd through
7th. For more information on the convention, visit their website at
csasmc.org.
Jeremy Elwood, KSMU News.