Sep 17, 2024
NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (September 3, 2024) - Since 2008, Gaylord National has been dedicated to celebrating the true spirit of the season with its annual Christmas at Gaylord National celebration and renowned tradition of ICE!. The annual event honors the holiday's religious significance with one-of-a-kind experiences.
Year after year, talented artisans from Harbin, China, are invited to carve breathtaking, walk-through displays out of ice, capturing the magic and beauty of the season. The finale of each ICE! exhibit is always a meticulously carved Nativity scene, which serves as a powerful reminder of the profound meaning of Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ.
The Nativity scene fills an entire room and is made of 250 clear ice blocks weighing 300 pounds each. Every ice block is specially made using a patented five-day freezing process that inhibits the formation of ice crystals, creating ice as clear as glass. The Nativity scene takes between 10 and 12 days for the artisans to carve once the ice is made and is touched up daily to ensure a pristine appearance. Baby Jesus is at the center of the scene, surrounded by Mary, Joseph, the Three Wise Men, a Sheppard, four sheep, two goats, a camel, donkey, and cow. Each figure is carved with meticulous detail, from the hands on the Sheppard down to the eyelashes on the camel. The tallest figure in the scene is an angel, who stands at 12 feet tall with a wingspan of 8 feet.
This year's ICE! experience will be open from Nov. 15 through Dec. 28. Tickets for ICE! are now on sale at ChristmasatGaylordNational.com.
In addition to ICE!, the resort offers So. Much. Christmas. for families to enjoy. Each night, a brand-new laser light show, Here We Glow A Caroling, will highlight the tradition of caroling door-to-door and take guests through a musical time warp. Holiday favorites such as Hark the Herald Angels Sing, O Christmas Tree and Jingle Bells will resonate throughout the 19-story Atrium.
The Cirque: Spirit of Christmas Show will also take place each night, adding a spectacular dimension to the holiday celebration. This live stage performance features dazzling acrobatics and high-flying stunts that bring to life the four pillars of Christmas: fantasy, wonder, fun, and hope. Through this breathtaking show, guests are invited to experience a joyful celebration that aligns with the true meaning of Christmas, reflecting the season's deeper spiritual and emotional significance.
While the true meaning of Christmas and Nativity scene are at the centerpiece of every Christmas at Gaylord National, there are other holiday-themed attractions and events for families and people of all ages to enjoy. These include:
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 the attraction. 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. Details on overnight packages for additional savings can be found at christmasatgaylordnational.com .
Located just steps away from National Harbor, guests can enjoy all the holiday activities and entertainment in this waterfront destination. Check out the D.C. and Arlington skyline from the top of the Capital Wheel, and choose from a variety of shops and fun, free activities like movies and concerts on the pier. Guests of the resort can ride the National Harbor Circulator bus to visit Tanger Outlets or MGM Resort, as well.
To learn more about Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center and book an overnight stay, room package, meeting, or event, please visit christmasatgaylordnational.com or call 301-965-4000.
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.
Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center is the largest, non-gaming hotel and convention center on the east coast, located along the banks of the Potomac River in National Harbor, Maryland, and part of Marriott International, Inc. Opened in April 2008, Gaylord National is an AAA-Four Diamond resort that is only eight miles from Washington, D.C. The resort offers nearly 2,000 rooms including 110 suites; a 19-story atrium; 600,000 square-feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space; acclaimed restaurants including Old Hickory Steakhouse; and Pose Rooftop Lounge.
