NATIONAL HARBOR, MD. (November 1, 2023) - Travelers seeking the ultimate holiday getaway to the Washington D.C. region will find something for the whole family at the nearly 2,000-room, AAA-Four Diamond Gaylord National Resort, located in National Harbor, Maryland. Considered the largest resort and convention center on the East Coast, the monumental resort goes supersize during its most celebrated event of the year, Christmas at Gaylord National. Guests will discover a winter wonderland complete with a 55-foot Christmas tree suspended from its 19-story atrium; indoor snowfall; 2 million twinkling lights; more than 100 elaborately themed Christmas trees; more than 10,000 ornaments; festive holiday dining; an entire Christmas Village filled with family-friendly activities; and its signature, award-winning attraction, ICE!, presented by Pepsi, showcasing larger-than-life, colorful ice sculptures and interactive ice slides themed to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Christmas at Gaylord National runs from November 19 through December 31 and includes:

ICE! featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™

Guests can explore the incredible artistry of more than 2 million pounds of colorful ice carved into beloved scenes from the classic 1964 animated television special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Featuring favorite characters including Clarice, Bumble, Sam the Snowman, Hermey the Elf, and of course, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer himself, the attraction includes 13 scenes from the television special. ICE! also offers thrilling two-story-tall ice slides, ice tunnels, a meticulously carved Nativity scene made from crystal clear ice, and a Carver's Showcase to see firsthand how the incredible sculptures come to life. ICE! guests receive a parka to keep them warm when traveling through the 9-degree attraction, but additional winter attire is encouraged.

Inspired by Rudolph's journey to embrace what makes him different and shine bright, Gaylord National launched the Spread Kindness & Shine Bright initiative to encourage others to spread joy, be kind and inclusive, and shine bright this holiday season. Guests who visit during the holidays are invited to fill out a Shine Bright Star and add it to the Spread Kindness & Shine Bright display, which will be located in the hall leading to ICE! and the Christmas Village entrance. Additionally, Gaylord National will donate $1 from every ticket sold on Twinkle Tuesdays, November 21, 28, December 5 and 12, up to $10,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs across Maryland to spread the message of unity throughout the year.

Pricing: Tickets start at $39.99 for guests ages 12 and older; $29.99 for guests ages 4 to 11; and free for kids ages 3 and younger.

Christmas Village

A portion of Gaylord National's convention center transforms into a Christmas Village, a bustling, holiday hamlet with Bavarian-style village storefronts, complete with family-friendly activities. Guests visiting the Christmas Village can choose from a variety of joy-filled attractions including racing down icy slopes in inner-tubes at Snow Flow Mountain; practicing their snowball throwing skills at Snowball Build & Blast; enjoying a sing-a-long, story, and milk and cookies at Mrs. Claus' Christmas Traditions; showcasing their decorating abilities at the Gingerbread Decorating Corner; meeting the "Big Guy" himself during Photos with Santa; creating the perfect take-home gift at the Build-A-Bear Workshop®; and participating in an augmented reality experience presented by bubly™, Wildlife Rescue. Each attraction is priced separately.

More Family-Friendly Holiday Fun

Guests will be able to enjoy a perfect day or evening under the stars while taking a yuletide glide on the resort's outdoor ice skating trail at Winter Square. The trail is made with real ice, offering an authentic wintertime experience. Additionally, Rudolph fans can work together to solve clues through the resort's Reindeer Games™ Scavenger Hunt featuring Rudolph and the Misfit Toys.

Live Holiday Entertainment and Shows

In the center of the resort's 19-story atrium, guests can watch a variety of heartwarming shows designed to give viewers a little extra Christmas spirit. #LIT Light Show, presented by Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, puts the resort's suspended 55-foot Starlight Christmas Tree center stage with an animated, high-energy light show, synchronized to a seasonal soundtrack with indoor snowfall. For a Broadway-style show featuring high-flying stunts, acrobatic feats, elaborate staging and a dramatic musical score, guests can view the Gaylord Hotels original production, Cirque: Spirit of Christmas. For guests seeking a show that celebrates the true meaning of the season, The Greatest Story Stage Show is a multicultural musical celebration that tells the story of the birth of Jesus Christ through the eyes of six international storytellers.

Festive Food and Drink

From a 320-square-foot Gingerbread display featuring colorful fairy tale-inspired creations from every season to an assortment of edible meals and treats found throughout the resort, guests will be able to eat, drink and be merry during the celebration. The newly renovated Old Hickory will feature a special menu filled with seasonal winter dishes, while Harbor Social offers gourmet sliders including an ICE! turkey slider featuring roasted turkey breast, gravy sauce and cranberry mayo on a Hawaiian bread roll. Guests can sip on delicious holiday-themed cocktails throughout the resort's venues, including a Kringle Old Fashioned made with bourbon, cinnamon whiskey and simple syrup. Plus, The Holiday Sweet Shoppe will return with its decadent hot chocolate and eggnog drinks, as well as an impressive selection of chef-prepared desserts.

Cozy Holiday Treatments

The resort's luxury spa, Relâche Spa, is celebrating the most wonderful time of the year with seasonal treatments designed to add a bit of comfort and joy for guests, available from November 18, 2023 through January 15, 2024. Treatments include a massage, facial, body treatment, manicure and pedicure, and the ultimate holiday pampering service called Dreams Do Come True, including an aromatherapy steam session, hot stone massage, nourishing foot treatment and scalp massage.

Overnight Stays and Packages

The best way to experience all the magic of the holiday season during Christmas at Gaylord National is through an overnight stay. There are a number of resort-only benefits when guests stay overnight including the Extra Cool Hour and Chill Pass, which allow overnight visitors early admission into ICE! and the Christmas Village, as well as front-of-the-line access to ICE!. Overnight guests also receive priority access to the resort's restaurants without reservations.

For the best view within the resort, guests can choose from 407 guest rooms and suites that overlook the resort's decked-out atrium and Starlight Christmas Tree. Plus, the resort offers eight Christmas Dreams Suites, complete with lights, stockings, a Christmas tree and sweet holiday treat for the perfect home away from home holiday experience. Gaylord National offers a variety of overnight packages for additional savings including the following (to name a few):

ICE! featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™ Package

• Overnight accommodations.
• Two to four tickets to ICE! (one per person, per stay).

Available on select dates only. Rates start at $326 including the resort fee.*

More Christmas ICE! Package

• Two-night stay that includes 20 percent off the ICE! featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Package™.
• Overnight accommodations.
• Two to four tickets to ICE! (one per person, per stay).
• $25 food and beverage credit per stay.

Rates start at $549 for two nights ($274.50 per night) including the resort fee.*

Located in National Harbor, Maryland, guests can extend their holiday stay by exploring the picturesque waterfront destination, which offers more than 40 restaurants, 160 shops (including Tanger Outlets), and entertainment including MGM National Harbor and The Capital Wheel, a 180-foot-tall observation wheel. The destination will light up the skies with a firework show every Saturday beginning November 11 through December 30, as well as offer a nightly tree lighting show with snowfall every half hour from sunset until 9 p.m.

To learn more about Gaylord National Resort and book an overnight stay, room package, meeting, or event, please visit ChristmasAtGaylordNational.com or call 301-965-4000.

 

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*Ticked events are one per person, per stay unless otherwise noted. Rates are based on availability and subject to blackout dates. Price is per room, per night. Tax and parking are not included. Offer cannot be combined with any other promotion. Package pricing, components, show schedule and entertainment is subject to change without notice. Other restrictions may apply.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and all related elements © & ™ under license to Character Arts, LLC. All rights reserved. © Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved. © 2023 bubly and the bubly Designs are trademarks of Portfolio Concentrate Solutions UC.

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