Gaylord Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy, has announced the long-awaited return of ICE!, the brand’s legendary Christmas marquee experience. After a two-year hiatus, ICE! will once again bring its mammoth holiday-themed, immersive ice displays to life at all five Gaylord properties in Tennessee, Texas, Florida, Colorado, and Maryland.
As part of the brand’s much-adored Christmas at Gaylord Hotels celebration, this signature experience will be complemented by an exciting and original live entertainment experience, CIRQUE: Spirit of Christmas, at select resorts and the brand’s bundle of festive holiday programming.
ICE! Returns to Gaylord Hotels
Since its inception more than two decades ago, ICE! has been a longtime tradition. This festive season will return with Gaylord Hotels’ signature, larger-than-life ice installations comprised of more than 33,500 large blocks of ice weighing over 10 million pounds at each resort. Kept at a chilly 9 degrees, this one-of-a-kind holiday attraction will breathe life into the beloved scenes and characters from classic Christmas films with beautiful sculptures and slides. Ice carvings range in size from details as tiny as a coin to soaring installations over 30 feet tall. The magical spectacle will be created by 40 specialised ice artisans, using skills passed down from generation to generation and following a 300-page design book over six weeks.
Each resort will showcase a different theme. This year’s experiences will offer:
- ICE! Featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer at Gaylord Opryland
- ICE! Featuring The Polar Express at Gaylord Texan
- ICE! Featuring “How The Grinch Stole Christmas!” at Gaylord Palms
- ICE! Featuring “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at Gaylord Rockies
- ICE! Featuring A Christmas Story at Gaylord National
Original Production: CIRQUE: Spirit of Christmas
A highlight of the 2022 festive season is an original production of CIRQUE: Spirit of Christmas performed at Gaylord Rockies, Gaylord Palms, and Gaylord National. This one-of-a-kind, Cirque-styled live show will include dazzling acrobatics, feats of flexibility, and high-flying stunts. The Broadway-style spectacle will follow the story of Noel - a child dismayed and distressed by the hustle and bustle of the holidays, who is visited by spirits who try to recapture her lost love of the season.
CIRQUE: Spirit of Christmas will be a 75-minute show at Gaylord Rockies, while Gaylord Palms and a 35-minute show at Gaylord National. There will also be an exciting lineup of additional signature live performances across the five resorts, with more details to be announced.
Gaylord Texan will also present a dedicated Cirque: Winter Wonderland performance with an action-packed fusion of theatre and cirque features.
Wintertime Activities for All Ages
With an abundance of festive activities, events, holiday meals, attractions, and dazzling decorations there is plenty for families and guests to look forward to. During the holidays, each of the five resorts' expansive atriums will transform into a breathtaking winter wonderland with millions of lights, themed Christmas trees, thousands of ornaments, and miles of garland.
Guests can anticipate the brand's festive holiday programming from tried-and-true favourites, including snow tubing, ice skating, carolling, gingerbread decorating, and adventurous scavenger hunts, to captivating atrium light shows, character dining, visits from Santa and Mrs. Claus, and much more. Highlights will include the Christmas Tree Trail at Gaylord Palms to explore and take an "elfie" with eight decorated holiday trees throughout the atrium and Carriage Rides at Gaylord Opryland, featuring a private horse-drawn ride. Additional experiences will include the Christmas Carousel at Gaylord Texan, a timeless, family-friendly ride offering endless spins and fun; a festive Campfire & S'mores experience at Gaylord Rockies; and live performances, including The Greatest Story Stage Show at Gaylord National and Gaylord Palms, a musical stage show and multicultural celebration of six international storytellers following the story of the birth of Jesus Christ.
