Story by Sarah Wyatt. Photographs by Darrell Scattergood.
Two unlikely contenders enter the ring: Gaylord Opryland in Nashville and Gaylord Palms in Orlando, Florida. Who will prevail in the smackdown of holiday awesomeness this year?
Freezing in Florida
Representing the Sunshine State is Gaylord Palms in Orlando. The resort honors its ice artisans every November with a standing ovation and Chinese-themed lobby celebration.
This longtime central Florida holiday tradition will highlight a brand-new theme this holiday season when ICE! – Gaylord Palms Resort’s frozen yuletide attraction – debuts giant sculptures and scenes, hand-carved from 2 million pounds of ice, featuring New Line Cinema’s popular
holiday film, “Elf.”
The attraction features Will Ferrell’s lovable character, his family, and fellow elves. Ice carvings range in size from details as tiny as a coin, to soaring scenes measuring nearly 30 feet tall.
The workers, who begin work in August every year, carving away in sub-freezing temperatures for nearly three month. Guests are invited to “freeze the day” this holiday season as this hotel’s longtime holiday tradition, ICE!, continues through January 4, 2025.
Using more than 1,000 tons of ice, the classic Jon Favreau story and animated special, Elf, was brought to life by a team of 40 ice artisans who worked approximately 12 weeks to create the nearly 20,000-square-foot, frozen attraction.
Starting with more than 6,700 massive ice blocks – created by three different ice manufacturers because of the amount needed – carvers tally more than 12,000 man-hours. The artisans, using skills passed down from generation to generation, follow a 300-page design book to create the display. Carvers use tools of all shapes and sizes, including chainsaws, chisels, tongs, handsaws, hand tools and grinders, to bring “Elf” to life. The colored ice is created by a chemist who mixes special food colorings to ensure the ice maintains its vivid hue the entire season.
The environment is kept frozen in the warm Florida climate by a state-of-the-art chilling system that maintains the temperature at a frosty 9 degrees Fahrenheit. Guests are provided Gaylord Palms’ signature blue parkas to keep them warm and toasty while in the attraction.
Colored ice, clear ice and LED lights are all used throughout the display, as the frozen fun follows Elf’s journey from his mountaintop cave to the North Pole. It turns out that hauling ice is science and art. The Gaylord’s supply is created annually by a chemist who mixes special food colorings to ensure sculptures maintain their bright colors the entire season. This is the first time Elf has been featured at any Gaylord.
“We’re excited to be chosen as the first Gaylord resort to debut the Elf story,” said Gary Buchanan, media manager of Gaylord Palms Resort. “Since debuting here, ICE! has always been a favorite for guests and employees.”
The gifted carvers who create this arctic artwork travel more than 7,000 miles from their homes in Harbin, China, to Florida. In addition to seeing characters from the Jon Favreau tale, guests can also take rides down two-story-tall ice slides, explore ice tunnels and arches, and visit Carver’s Showcase to see live sculpting demonstrations. The ICE! experience concludes in a separate area dedicated to a Nativity scene, meticulously carved and shaped in a dramatic display of crystal-clear ice.
Known as “Ice City,” Harbin is no stranger to elaborate ice carvings – it’s home to the world’s largest annual ice and snow sculpting festival in the world. At Gaylord Palms, some of the same artisans who create the Harbin festival will carve 300-pound blocks of ice into the larger-than-life, whimsical scenes. Carvers will use chisels, chippers, tongs, handsaws, grinders and chainsaws to bring Elf and the residents of North Pole to life. The artisans from Harbin have created ICE! for Gaylord Hotels for many years.
A couple of months after arrival, the Chinese master ice carvers were thanked by the Gaylord Palms employees with a short ceremony and entertainment from Orlando’s Wah Lum Temple. After the ceremony, we will enter the attraction and see the carvers at work as they start to create this year’s holiday attraction, which is themed to the popular holiday film, “Elf.”
And snow much more
While ICE! is the signature attraction for the 2025 Christmas at Gaylord Palms celebration, there are plenty more festive events, attractions and dazzling decorations throughout the 64-acre resort. The entire resort transforms into a holiday wonderland with more than three million lights, elaborately themed Christmas trees all throughout the garden atrium and convention center, more than 20,000 ornaments and miles of garland. Christmas shows and activities are presented in the atrium, while parts of the convention center transform into a bustling, holiday hamlet with Bavarian-style village storefronts, live shows, characters, a concession stand, and at Christmas shop.
Here’s a rundown of the events, live entertainment, hands-on activities, holiday meals, exciting attractions and notable news taking place this holiday season in Orlando at Gaylord Palms:
Shows and Live Entertainment Highlight the Holidays
Yule Be Amazed
A Gaylord Hotels original production, “Cirque: Spirit of Christmas” features high-flying stunts, acrobatic feats, elaborate staging and a dramatic musical score. Returning after its successful debut in 2021, this Cirque-style show centers on Noel, a child dismayed by the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Throughout the 30-minute atrium show, Noel is visited in dreamlike chapters by trapeze artists, acrobats, aerial silk performers and others who help rekindle the Christmas spirit.
A Musical, Storytelling Celebration
The birth and life of Jesus Christ has been called “the greatest story ever told.” Guests can experience it through the eyes of six international storytellers in “The Greatest Story,” a musical stage show and multicultural celebration of everlasting faith, hope and love.
Ready, Set, Glow!
The skies above the Gaylord Palms atrium burst in a spectrum of animation in Shine. Vivid LED curtains suspended from the ceiling come to life in a light show that features an original musical score, dancing spotlights and a Christmas tree bathed in an ever-changing array of colors.
Winteractive Fun with the Adventure Kids
Adventure Kid Sophie joins her best friends Ava the Alligator and Seth the Sea Turtle for yuletide fun in Adventure Kids: Wonders of Winter. The trio stars in this interactive stage show that teaches young adventurers about the environment, wildlife and the world around them.
Journey of the Three Kings
Guests experience The Journey of Los Tres Magos, a live stage production that honors the Three Wise Men. Told through story and song, the show commemorates the Christian tradition celebrated in Latin America, Spain and around the world.
A Holiday Escape
Guests test their winter weather wits inside the Naughty or Nice Escape Room. Yuletide trickster Jack Frost is back with his icy antics and has added new names to Santa’s infamous Naughty List. But Jack has a deal to make – if guests can sneak into Santa’s office and solve a series of puzzles, their names will disappear from the Naughty List. Guests need to put on their holiday thinking caps, solve the mystery, and then dash away, dash away, dash away all!
Best in Snow
A snowy play space awaits guests in the Snow Factory, along with ice tubing and snowball throwing. After climbing Snow Flow Mountain, guests hop in inner-tubes and speed down atop real ice. Admission allows unlimited ice tubing rides on the date specified on the ticket. After the need for speed is satisfied, guests can head over to Snowball Build & Blast. Conveyor belts deliver tubs of real snow to guests who race to make snowballs and toss them at targets. Also inside the Snow Factory is Snow Bar, a themed pop-up bar serving cocktails and mocktails.
Believe in Your Elf
Guests can learn the secrets of being a part of “Team Santa” in Elf Training Academy. One of Santa’s top toy makers teaches the secrets of becoming one of St. Nick’s helpers and leads new “students” as they create a special keepsake gift or craft to take home for someone special.
Make a Date to Decorate
In the Gingerbread Decorating Corner, guests let their Christmas creativity run wild while they adorn gingerbread treats. After they’ve reached confection perfection with their edible art, they can enjoy a sweet meet-and-greet and photograph with Nutmeg the Gingerbread Man.
A Very Beary Christmas!
Also in Alpine Village, guests can experience Build-A-Bear Workshop. Guests make their own furry friend, take part in the iconic Heart Ceremony, and personalize them with seasonal outfits, accessories, sounds and scents.
A Tree-mendous Holiday
In all, there are more than 3 million holiday lights sparkling at Gaylord Palms. More than 100 Christmas trees – with more than 20,000 ornaments -are on display, including a centerpiece, 60-foot-tall tree in the main atrium. Beautiful trees will also be suspended from the ceiling in the Everglades atrium and placed on floating islands in the Key West Lagoon. Another guest favorite, the Christmas Tree Trail, will once again wind through the atrium and feature elaborately themed trees for picture-perfect, family photo moments.
Rooms with a Yuletide View
There’s never a better time for guests to book a room with an upgraded atrium view. With balconies that overlook acres of Christmas décor, guests can immerse themselves in the festive surroundings. Select rooms even provide prime balcony viewing for atrium shows such as “Cirque: Spirit of Christmas,” “Shine,” “The Greatest Story” and “The Journey of Los Tres Magos.”
Exclusive Access for Overnight Guests
This year, Gaylord Palms is offering benefits and special access to overnight resort guests so they can wait in line less and enjoy more. These benefits include:
“Chill Pass” privileges to ICE!, offering front-of-line access and shorter wait times for this year’s signature attraction. “Chill Pass” is free for eligible overnight guests. Attraction tickets are required and sold separately, in advance.
An invitation to “Extra Cool Hour,” which provides early entry into ICE! and Alpine Village one hour before it opens for day guests. “Extra Cool Hour” is free for eligible guests. Attraction tickets are required and sold separately, in advance.
Exclusive access to reserve seating at four popular holiday dining experiences -Thanksgiving Dinner, The Feast with Elf character breakfast, Christmas Dinner, and New Year’s Eve Buffet. Overnight resort guests staying on the dates of these meals are the only guests eligible to book tables and make reservations.
There’s More in Store with Elf!
Annually, Gaylord Palms offers additional thematic experiences, such as a character dining experience and a family scavenger hunt. For overnight guests, The Feast with Elf character breakfast is a buffet with lots of Christmas flavor to savor, with special appearances by Elf.
Elf also has hidden clues about his latest mischief. He challenges guests to find these clues in Elf’s Wonderful Awful Idea Scavenger Hunt. Guests try to solve riddles and thwart his plans, with those completing the quest receiving a special stocking stuffer.
The 20,000-square-foot arctic attraction is the centerpiece of the annual Christmas at Gaylord
Palms celebration taking place at the 65-acre resort through Jan. 4, 2025.
Each year, ICE! features meticulously carved frozen sculptures and scenes from popular holiday
classics. The attraction made its Gaylord Palms debut in 2003 (coincidentally, the same year “Elf”
premiered in movie theaters) and is featured, with different themes, across six locations nationwide. This
is the first time “Elf” will be featured in any ICE! attraction.
Tickets and special room and ticket packages are now on sale and available at ChristmasAtGaylordPalms.com. Tickets to ICE! start at $29.99 for adults and $17.99 for children. Guests
staying at Gaylord Palms during the holidays receive special perks including front-of-line access, early
entry, and the ability to book special dining experiences.
Inside ICE! guests will experience approximately a dozen different scenes, some soaring as high
as 30 feet, as they follow Buddy the Elf’s journey from the North Pole to New York City. Along the way,
they’ll encounter favorite characters from the film including Papa Elf, Mr. Narwhal, Jovie, Walter Hobbs,
and of course, Santa Claus. Several frozen scenes feature seating areas where guests can insert
themselves into the story to create one-of-a-kind photo moments. For example, guests can join Buddy the Elf in his North Pole school classroom or sit next to him as he gets a shoeshine in New York City.
While experiencing the attraction, guests can see live carving demonstrations in the Carver’s Showcase, where a master artisan carves throughout the day to showcase the craft. ICE! concludes in a separate area dedicated to a Nativity scene, carved in a dramatic display of crystal-clear ice. Creating ICE! each year is a team of nearly 40 world-renowned carvers that travel more than 7,000 miles from Harbin, China, to Kissimmee, Fla. Known as “Ice City,” Harbin is no stranger to elaborate ice carvings – it’s home to the world’s largest annual snow and ice carving festival.
Each year, ICE! instantly becomes the coldest spot in the Sunshine State, as a state-of-the-art chilling system keeps the attraction at a frosty 9 degrees Fahrenheit. Guests are provided winter parkas
to keep them warm inside the attraction, but additional clothing like hats and gloves are suggested.
“ICE! is a favorite tradition of many of our guests here at Gaylord Palms and we are excited to introduce them to the beloved world of ‘Elf’ this Christmas,” said Ross Barker, the resort’s general manager. “The 9-degree attraction provides a one-of-a-kind experience for friends and family to enjoy together, and complements the many other family friendly activities, events, live shows and dining experiences we have planned this holiday season.”
Snow Much More!
In addition to the ICE! attraction, a sleigh-full of events and activities will be featured across the
65-acre resort. Christmas shows and activities are presented in the 4.5-acre garden atrium, while areas of the convention center transform into Alpine Village, a bustling, holiday hamlet with Bavarian-style
storefronts, immersive activities and one of Florida’s largest annual Christmas shops.
Here’s a rundown of the sleigh-full of events and programs.
- Yule Be Amazed
“Cirque: Spirit of Christmas” features high-flying stunts, acrobatic feats, and an original musical
score. The show features Noel, a child trying to rediscover holiday cheer. Noel is visited in dreamlike chapters by acrobats, aerial performers and others who help rekindle the Christmas spirit. - Storytelling Celebration, Set to Song
Guests can experience a retelling of the birth of Jesus Christ through the eyes of six storytellers in “The Greatest Story,” a musical stage show and celebration of faith and everlasting love. - Dreaming of a Bright Christmas
The skies above Gaylord Palms’ atrium come alive in the “Here We Glow A-Caroling Light Show.” Suspended light curtains and the 60-foot-tall atrium Christmas tree come to life in this animated show, accompanied by a soundtrack of favorite Christmas carols. - St. Nick Takes ‘Santa’ Stage
Guests can chat with the jolly old elf himself, Santa Claus, to make sure they’ve secured a spot on his prestigious Nice List. Santa will meet guests inside Alpine Village from Nov. 15 through Dec. 24, before he heads back to the North Pole for his annual, gift-giving journey. - A Round of Applause for Mrs. Claus
The jolliest hostess of all stars in Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Traditions. Mrs. Claus entertains guests in Alpine Village with a sing-along and storytelling of the Christmas tale, “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.” She also shares Santa’s favorite snack – milk and cookies – with guests. - Mistletoe Melody Makers
Guests can enjoy the sounds of the season with the Dickens Carolers, who will be strolling and singing Christmas classics at various times and locations throughout the celebration. - Wintertime Animal Wonders
Guests can get up-close to some of Florida’s famous animals in Wintertime Animal Encounters and learn how wildlife in the Sunshine State adapts to the colder temperatures and contributes to the ecosystem during the winter months.
Tons of Fun at Interactive Attractions
- Snow Much Fun
A snowy play space awaits guests in the Snow Factory. After climbing Snow Flow Mountain, guests hop in inner-tubes and speed down atop real ice. Admission allows unlimited ice tubing rides on the date on the ticket. Guests can also head over to Snowball Build & Blast, where conveyor belts deliver tubs of real snow for guests to make snowballs and toss them at targets. - A Holiday Escape
Guests test their wintry wits in the Naughty or Nice Escape Room. Trickster Jack Frost has added new names to Santa’s Naughty List. However, if guests can sneak into Santa’s office and solve a series of puzzles, Jack will remove their names from the Naughty List, allowing them to escape.
Hands-On Holiday Fun
Dough-licious Decorating
In the Gingerbread Decorating Corner, guests let their Christmas creativity run wild while they adorn gingerbread treats. After they’ve reached confection perfection, they can enjoy a meet-and-greet and photograph a sweet character, Nutmeg the Gingerbread Cookie.
Have Your Elf a Merry Little Christmas
Guests can get crafty in Elf Training Academy. One of Santa’s toymakers leads the fun as guests put their creativity to work and make a special keepsake gift to take home.
A Very Beary Christmas!
Build-A-Bear Workshop has been adding a little more heart to life for more than 25 years! Visit Build-A-Bear to experience the fun of personalizing furry friends and taking part in our one-of-a-kind Heart Ceremony. Add adorable outfits, sweet scents and fun sounds to make any furry friend the perfect gift or a cuddly Christmas keepsake.
Seasonal Scavenger Hunt Fun
Families can work together to find all the clues hidden in the Gaylord Palms atrium in the Elf Days of Christmas Scavenger Hunt. With a little elf magic, guests can find all the hidden surprises and solve the puzzles in their booklet.
Overnight Stays Sweeten the Holidays
- Rooms with a Yuletide View
There’s never a better time of year for guests to book a room with an upgraded atrium view. With balconies that overlook acres of Christmas décor, guests can immerse themselves in the festive surroundings. Select rooms even provide prime balcony viewing for atrium shows. - Ready, Set, Glow!
The night will light up at Gaylord Palms with more than 3 million sparkling, holiday lights. In total, more than 100 decorated Christmas trees will be on display, including the 60-foot-tall tree in the main atrium, and elaborately themed trees along the atrium’s Christmas Tree Trail. - Early ICE! and Alpine Village Access for Overnight Guests
Gaylord Palms offers perks and special access to overnight resort guests, so they can wait in line less and enjoy more. These perks include:- “Chill Pass” privileges to the ICE! attraction, offering front-of-line access and shorter wait times. “Chill Pass” is free for eligible overnight guests. Attraction tickets are required and sold separately, in advance.
- An invitation to “Extra Cool Hour,” which provides early entry into ICE!, the Snow Factory and select Alpine Village shows and activities one hour before they open to day guests. “Extra Cool Hour” is free for eligible guests. Attraction tickets are required and sold separately, in advance.
A Round of Applause for Santa & Mrs. Claus
Hostess with the Mostess
The jolliest hostess of all celebrates the season in Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Traditions. Mrs. Claus entertains guests in Alpine Village with a sing-along and story time with the Christmas tale, “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” She also shares Santa’s favorite snack – milk and cookies.
Christmas Merchandise & Spa Visits are Nice
One-Stop Christmas Shop
In Alpine Village, one of the largest holiday shops in the Sunshine State opens just for the Christmas at Gaylord Palms celebration. Market Square features wall-to-wall holiday gifts, collectibles, toys, plush, home décor, apparel, ornaments, branded merchandise and more.
‘Tis the Spa Season
Through Jan. 6, 2025, Relâche Spa at Gaylord Palms is featuring Winter Wonderland massage, facial and pedicure treatments, highlighting the benefits of eucalyptus. The aromatic plant has been known to be high in antioxidants, to promote relaxation and reduce pain.
In addition to the more than 15 special events, attractions and activities during Christmas at Gaylord Palms, guests can enjoy many of the year-round amenities. The resort features a 4.5-acre atrium with more than 500,000 plants, Florida wildlife and a 161,000-gallon lagoon. Cypress Springs Water Park is a water wonderland open exclusively to overnight guests, with seven water slides, a multi-level water playground, surf simulator, two pools and an action river. In addition, guests can enjoy a world of cuisine and fine dining at a variety of taste-tempting restaurants.
Packages and Tickets
Also being unwrapped this year: new Christmas at Gaylord Palms packages that include special room rates and admission to select events. Guests are encouraged to book their experiences early, as advance online reservations are required for all ticketed events. Admission is limited to many of the holiday experiences and showtimes. For tickets, more information, or to book an overnight stay, guests may visit www.ChristmasatGaylordPalms.com.
Gaylord Palms Resort features 1,718 guest rooms and more than 500,000 square feet of meeting space. Guests can explore the resort’s 4.5-acre garden atrium with its winding waterways, waterfalls, plants and Florida wildlife. Other resort features include gourmet dining, a full-service spa, the three-acre Cypress Springs Water Park and a host of special events during the year. The resort is located within minutes of the area’s world-famous theme parks and attractions.
Nashville is N’ice
Nashville’s most extraordinary frozen holiday attraction, ICE!, features Frosty the Snowman, as part of Gaylord Opryland Resort’s 41st Annual A Country Christmas event, through January 4, 2025. The long-standing ICE! tradition began in 2001 at Gaylord Opryland and is now a holiday staple at all five Gaylord Hotels properties.
When entering ICE!, Gaylord overnight and local day guests will embark on a magical journey alongside the famous snowman who came to life. The attraction includes 11 immersive walk-through scenes, larger-than life ice sculptures, awe-inspiring passageways, and photo-worthy moments the entire family can enjoy. This year the attraction will also feature more slides than ever before: 6 thrilling two-story ice slides, plus a kids’ peak-a-boo slide. Inside the attraction, guests can also visit an artisan performing live carving demonstrations. The ICE! experience concludes in a separate area dedicated to the Nativity scene, meticulously carved, and shaped into a dramatic display of crystal-clear ice.
Similarly to the Orlando carvers, the artists travel more than 6,400 miles from their homes in Harbin, China, to Nashville. While ICE! is the signature attraction of A Country Christmas, there are plenty more merry activities, events, and dazzling decorations, both indoors and outdoors. A true winter wonderland, the resort boasts more than five million twinkling lights, elaborately themed Christmas trees including a fully adorned 48-foot tree, 15,000 poinsettias, 15 miles of green garland, and 10 miles of hand-tied ribbon. Additionally, guests can experience exciting rides at Pinetop, an outdoor Appalachian-esque village, along with a variety of other experiences.
Below is a listing of other events, live entertainment, hands-on activities, and exciting attractions taking place at the Nashville resort this holiday season.
- Join the jolliest hostess for Mrs. Claus’ North Pole Breakfast. This one-of-a-kind dining and photo opportunity with Mrs. Claus includes a delicious breakfast to enjoy with friends and family.
- A frozen flurry has swept through the atrium, scattering vibrant clothing and accessories meant for decorating Christmas snowmen. Embark on a festive quest to find these scattered pieces and use them to design your very own snowman, bringing the Christmas spirit back to life during the Snowman Scramble Scavenger Hunt.
- Thrilling activities await outside at Pinetop including ice tubing down a 15-foot-high, four-lane ice tubing hill, a classic bumper car experience, Snowball Build & Blast where guests can throw real snowballs at interactive targets created by Santa’s Elves, ice skating or ice-skating lessons on a 10,000 square-foot rink, and the Merry & Bright Skating Spectacular live show featuring champion skaters, big jumps, fast spins and awe-inspiring throws and lifts.
- The Very Merry Breakfast Show features a savory and sweet breakfast buffet and live holiday music by Ten Year Town.
- Guests can hop aboard Nashville’s famous 300-foot paddlewheel riverboat, the General Jackson Showboat, for the Tennessee Christmas lunch cruise or the Music City Christmas dinner cruise while enjoying scenic views of the Cumberland River and Nashville Skyline. Guests can look forward to a delightful Southern meal and world-class live musical performances.
- Christmas creativity runs wild in the Gingerbread Decorating Corner. Achieve confection perfection by decorating your very own Gingerbread cookies or house.
- Mailing a letter to the North Pole is great, but nothing can beat a personal visit with Santa Claus to let him know what you want for Christmas and make sure you’re on his nice list. Guests can capture the moment with a keepsake photo during the Photos with Santa experience.
- Hop aboard the Delta Riverboat Christmas Cruise to explore A Country Christmas in the Delta Atrium while cruising down a quarter mile-long river inside of the Delta Atrium.
- Take in a breathtaking synchronization of light, water, and holiday music during a free fountain show inside of the Delta Atrium.
- Visit the Build-A-Bear Workshop?to experience the?fun of personalizing furry friends and taking part in our one-of-a-kind Heart Ceremony.
- Other outdoor activities include the resort’s millions of Christmas lights displayed on the Magnolia lawn, a nightly tree lighting, Dickens Carolers, carriage rides, and a stunning Nativity display featuring special lighting effects and an audio rendition of the beloved biblical story.
- Relâche Spa inside the resort features Winter Wellness spa treatments like massages, facials, and pedicures for seasonal relaxation.
- The resort’s upscale water attraction, SoundWaves, has an 84-degree, 110,000 square-foot inside area which is open year-round. Float down the lazy river, zip along the rapid river, jump aboard a mega raft ride, or take a stab at surfing on Nashville’s only double FlowRider. The attraction also features a restaurant, cabana rentals, multi-level play structures for kids, and an adult only pool and adult only bar. Downstairs, all hotel visitors can visit The Bass-ment, a full arcade room with a rock-climbing wall. Soundwaves is only available to guests who pre-purchase a SoundWaves package.
- Guests can book special early bird packages or tickets to receive a limited-time discount. Terms, conditions, and blackout dates apply. The resort is offering an ICE! Signature Package including one night room accommodations and ICE! tickets (plus a Chill & Thrill package option to also include SoundWaves). All overnight guests will enjoy additional perks including:
- Complimentary “Chill Pass” privileges to ICE! offering front-of-line access and shorter wait times.
- Complimentary “Extra Cool Hour,” which provides early entry into ICE! one hour before it opens to the general public.
For capacity management and to ensure an enjoyable environment, resort access will be guaranteed after 2pm CT for overnight guests and indoor/outdoor ticket reservation holders only, every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through December 31, 2024. For event tickets, to book an overnight stay, and more information, visit ChristmasAtGaylordOpryland.com.
About ICE!
The annual ICE! events bring to life beloved Christmas stories hand-carved by master artisans from Harbin, China at resorts around the United States. Created and designed by Gaylord Hotels, ICE! debuted at Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tennessee in 2001. ICE! has been visited by tens of millions of visitors who travel to each resort to see more than 2 million pounds carved into beloved scenes and characters, two-story ice slides, photo-worthy tunnels, and archways, and more. ICE! takes place at each Gaylord Hotels resort across the United States, including Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Md., Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tenn., Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee, Fla., Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora, Colo. and Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas. In 2024, ICE! makes its debut at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country in San Antonio, Texas. More information can be found at ICE.marriott.com.
