Doug Scaletta
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and Gaylord Opryland Resort is decking the halls for the return of one of Nashville’s most beloved holiday traditions, A Country Christmas.
Running November 10 through January 1, the hotel transforms into a true winter wonderland with an assortment of seasonal events and activities to get the whole family in the holiday spirit. Among the seasonal programming is the resort’s signature attraction and crowd favorite, ICE!, which debuts a brand-new theme this year: The Polar Express. Based on the beloved holiday film and book of the same name, ICE! brings this magical story of friendship, bravery, and the true spirit of Christmas to life using more than 2 million pounds of ice. The attraction features nine scenes from the movie and takes guests on an unforgettable journey to the North Pole through each scene depicted in magnificent, hand-carved ice sculptures.
In addition to the incredible creations from The Polar Express, guests can also traverse through ice tunnels and arches and check out the carver showcase to watch artisans perform live carving demonstrations. And for the first time ever, the attraction will boast five, two- story interactive ice slides. ICE! also features a separate area dedicated to a stunning Nativity scene, meticulously carved of crystal-clear ice.
Hailing from Harbin, China—home to the world’s largest annual ice and snow sculpting festival—a team of 40 expert ice artisans made the trip to Music City to create this extraordinary display utilizing a combination of colored ice, clear ice, and LED lights. Over the course of six weeks, the artisans transformed more than 6,000 massive ice blocks into the 17,000-square-foot frozen attraction with ice carvings ranging in size from details as tiny as a coin to soaring scenes more than 30 feet tall. And to keep guests warm as they embark on their adventure through ICE!, Gaylord Opryland offers its signature blue parkas to bundle up in.
But the merriment doesn’t stop there, Gaylord Opryland plays host to an abundance of festive events and dazzling décor all season long. During A Country Christmas, the resort radiates holiday cheer with 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.
Get the family together for the Merry Snoopy Christmas Scavenger Hunt, in which guests venture through the resort to help Snoopy prepare his house for the Doghouse Decorating Competition. Or visit with Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Snoopy from the Peanuts gang over a delicious meal at the Breakfast with Charlie Brown & Friends. And because there is no shortage of exceptional dining experiences at Gaylord Opryland, be sure to check out this year’s new Christmas dinner show, Darryl Worley & Friends: Home for the Holidays. The three-course dinner is prepared by the resort’s award-winning chefs and is followed by live entertainment from Darryl Worley and friends.
Other seasonal activities include gingerbread decorating; photos with Santa; a themed Delta Riverboat Christmas cruise; and classic holiday traditions hosted by Mrs. Claus such as readings of ’Twas The Night Before Christmas, sing-alongs to favorite holiday songs, and warm, freshly baked cookies with milk (Santa-approved).
The festive fun continues outside with the resort’s outdoor Appalachian-inspired village, Pinetop. Featuring a 15-foot-high, four-lane ice tubing hill; bumper cars; an ice-skating rink; and the Snowball Build & Blast, where guests can hurl handmade snowballs at interactive targets, there’s an activity for every winter- loving adventure seeker. And don’t miss the Merry & Bright Skating Spectacular, a live show in which champion skaters wow crowds with awe-inspiring jumps, spins, and lifts.
When the sun sets, Gaylord Opryland’s Magnolia lawn comes to life beneath millions of twinkling lights and a magical nightly tree lighting. There are also Dickens carolers and carriage rides throughout the property that set a whimsical scene straight out of a Hallmark holiday movie. Indoors and out, Gaylord Opryland Resort captures all the joy of the holiday season with a ho-ho-whole lot of family-friendly fun.
(2800 Opryland Dr., 615-889-1000; gaylordopryland.com)