NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nashville’s most extraordinary frozen holiday attraction, ICE!, announces its 2024 return with the holiday classic, Frosty the Snowman™, as part of Gaylord Opryland Resort’s 41st Annual A Country Christmas event, beginning Nov. 8, 2024, through Jan. 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! featuring Frosty the Snowman, 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.
Starting with more than 6,000 massive ice blocks, the carvers work approximately six weeks–more than 12,000 man-hours–to create the nearly 17,000-square-foot frozen attraction. The artisans, using skills passed down through generations, follow a 300-page design book to create the ice spectacle. Ice carvings range in size from details as tiny as a coin to soaring scenes. The attraction is kept at a chilly 9 degrees Fahrenheit to preserve the intricate, frozen detail. To stay warm, guests will don the attraction’s signature blue parkas.
The carvers will travel more than 6,400 miles from their homes in Harbin, China, to Nashville, Tenn. Known as the “Ice City,” Harbin is home to the world’s largest annual ice and snow sculpting festival. At Gaylord Opryland, some of the same artisans who create the Harbin festival will carve 300-pound blocks of ice into larger-than-life, whimsical scenes. Carvers will use chisels, chippers, tongs, handsaws, grinders, chainsaws, and hand-made tools to bring the winter wonderland to life.
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.
Here is a listing of other events, live entertainment, hands-on activities, and exciting attractions taking place at the resort this holiday season:
- This year’s “A Country Christmas Dinner Show” will begin November 23 and run through Christmas Day. It will feature two different shows including Terri Clark’s “It’s Christmas…Cheers!” (November 23-24, and 27-30; & December 1, 4-6, and 17-22) and The Frontmen’s “Holidays & Hits” (November 25-26 & December 2-3, 15-16, and 23-25). The unforgettable experience highlights classic and original holiday music plus favorite country hits, paired with a festive meal crafted by the resort's award-winning chefs.
- Join the jolliest hostess for a brand-new experience, 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 will feature 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.
Beginning today, 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/Sunday beginning November 15 plus daily Nov 25-28 and Dec. 19-31, 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.
About Gaylord Opryland
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, located at 2800 Opryland Drive in Nashville, Tenn., is the flagship property of Gaylord Hotels, part of the Marriott portfolio of brands. The 2,888-room hotel offers “everything in one place”— SoundWaves upscale indoor/outdoor water attraction, diverse dining options, a full-service spa, top-notch entertainment, on-site shopping, an award-winning golf course and more. For more information, visit www.GaylordOpryland.com.
About Build-A-Bear
Build-A-Bear is a multi-generational global brand focused on its mission to “add a little more heart to life” appealing to a wide array of consumer groups who enjoy the personal expression in making their own “furry friends” to celebrate and commemorate life moments. More than 500 interactive brick-and-mortar experience locations operated through a variety of formats provide Guests of all ages a hands-on entertaining experience, which often fosters a lasting and emotional brand connection. The brand’s newest communications campaign, "The Stuff You Love," commemorates more than a quarter-century of creating cherished memories worldwide. The Company also offers engaging e-commerce/digital purchasing experiences on www.buildabear.com including its online “Bear-Builder” as well as “HeartBox” and its age-gated adult-focused “Bear Cave.” In addition, extending its brand power beyond retail, Build-A-Bear Entertainment, a subsidiary of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., is dedicated to creating engaging content for kids and adults that fulfills the Company’s mission, while the Company also offers products at wholesale and in non-plush consumer categories via licensing agreements with leading manufacturers. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE: BBW) posted total revenues of $486.1 million for fiscal 2023. For more information, visit the Investor Relations section of buildabear.com.
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