Friday, July 25, 2025
ICE! – the popular holiday tradition. is returning for the 2025 season to six Gaylord Hotels properties in the United States. Guests staying at Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee, Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora, Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine and JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa will experience this year’s themes titled “I Love Christmas Movies”; “Mission: Save Christmas featuring Elf”; “Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas!”; “Ice Precipitation” and “Twas the Night Before Christmas.” This year, ICE!, set to be bigger and better than before, with a collection of immersive and family-friendly festive activities, featuring the very best of Christmas magic, cultural artistry, and holiday cheer.
For the uninitiated, ICE! is an ICE! frozen wonderland with more than 2 million pounds of hand-carved ice sculptures in iconic Christmas story scenes that run floor-to-ceiling. As soon as you enter the icy wonderland, the rich hues and details of the ice sculptures transport visitors to beloved holiday tales. Familiar depictions include A Charlie Brown Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, The Polar Express, Elf, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas! —hand-made by 40 artisans, artists from Harbin, China, who chisel and shape new groomed snow every night.
The Magic of ICE! and What’s New This Year
This year’s ICE! The event introduces a brand new artistic performance and experiences, complementing our well-loved icy masterpieces. Each destination will feature new and unique holiday magic, such as new Broadway-style Cirque extravaganzas, holiday-themed character dining, and fanciful interactive entertainment that casts a spell on holiday spirit.
For example, at Gaylord Opryland Resort, guests will experience POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance and an all-new holiday show combining spellbinding grace and daredevil athleticism into a stunningly beautiful visual extravaganza. Cirque: Spirit of Christmas will take over Gaylord Palms, providing performances designed to thrill and prepare families at the edge of their seats. From the live shows to the amazing ice sculptures, there is an air of joy that you won’t find anywhere else, wowing guests of all ages.
ICE! Highlights at Each Resort
Each resort adds its little twist to the holiday experience. For example, in Nashville, Gaylord Opryland will present A Charlie Brown Christmas, inviting attendees to stroll through scenes from the classic story with beloved Peanuts characters and learn the true meaning of the holiday. At Gaylord Palms in Kissimmee, Florida, guests can “experience” the tale of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer with more than 2 million pounds of ice carved into colorful and chilling sculptures paying homage to the holiday favorite.
Meanwhile, at Gaylord National Resort in Maryland, families can experience The Polar Express, complete with a larger-than-life ice sculpture of the North Pole and a ride aboard its magical train. In Colorado for the holidays? Then check out How the Grinch Stole Christmas! in Gaylord Rockies, including elaborate carvings of the Grinch’s heartwarming metamorphosis. Finally, Gaylord Texan and JW Marriott San Antonio will host the magic of the holidays with Frosty the Snowman and Elf, which feature larger-than-life ice sculptures of characters from the classic tales.
Family-Friendly Activities and Experiences
In addition to ICE!, every Gaylord Hotels destination presents enormous, interactive holiday events, spotlighting unique local traditions from each property. Ice Tubing: An activity available at all the resorts, families can enjoy racing down icy lanes during this gripping winter activity. Snowball Build & Blast invites guests to play in real snow where they can deform snowballs and blast ‘em at targets throughout the exciting attraction, available at Gaylord Palms, Gaylord Texan, Gaylord National, and JW Marriott San Antonio.
For the smaller set, there’s the Elf Training Academy at Gaylord Palms and Gaylord Texan, where kids can unlock the mysteries of how to perform magical gift-giving and create crafts. Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Traditions, an intimate experience complete with stories and cookie decorating, is offered at Gaylord Palms, Gaylord Texan, Gaylord National, Gaylord Rockies, and JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country.
The festive fun does not have to stop there; there are also magical Holiday Atrium Light Shows at Gaylord Palms, Gaylord Texan, Gaylord Opryland, and Gaylord National. Visitors to these choreographed light displays, accompanied by joyful music, are awed by the show.
Special Packages and Offers
Gaylord Hotels authorizes these packages to make the holidays even more enchanting—these packages are your ticket to getting the most out of ICE! experience. Overnight packages come with exclusive perks, like front-of-the-line access to the ICE! exhibits with the Chill Pass. For those looking to celebrate in style, including early bird packages, which offer unique discounts on tickets to the most convenient parties.
Whether you’re a local and you’re looking for a staycation, or you’re traveling from across the country, these limited-time, exclusive packages make the Gaylord the perfect destination for a holiday season getaway. Also, each resort features a little something extra for overnight guests, making their visit even more special with the opportunity to enjoy special experiences and behind-the-scenes tours.
An Ageless Tradition for Young and Old
Gaylord Hotels’ ICE! One of the most loved traditions for millions of visitors in previous years, what new and thrilling rides will we see in 2025? The wonder at the frozen sculptures, the heat from the live performances, and the fun of family skate nights make for memories that will last a lifetime. Visitors of all ages are welcome to come experience the holidays like never before by creating new family memories that will last a lifetime.
With ICE! The return to six Gaylord Hotels resorts across the United States is a chance for families, friends, and solo travelers to get caught up in the enchantment and wonder of Christmas. No, whoever your local miners are, the magic of wandering through a kingdom of ice carvings, light displays, and festive fun is sure to stick with you long after the snow melts.
(Source: Gaylord Hotels, U.S. National Park Service)
