GAYLORD OPRYLAND’S A COUNTRY CHRISTMAS EVENT OPENS TODAY WITH THE RETURN OF ICE! FEATURING RUDOLPH THE RED NOSED REINDEER
Tennessee’s Longest Running Holiday Attraction Including More Than 17 Combined Hours of Seasonal Entertainment
NASHVILLE, TN (November 11, 2022) — Gaylord Opryland’s 39th annual A Country Christmas event opens today and runs through January 1, 2023, offering a full lineup of holiday cheer and entertainment for the entire family. A Country Christmas is the longest running holiday attraction in Tennessee with both locals and tourists alike flocking to the iconic resort for the season. This year, the resort displays more festive décor than ever before and invites guests to experience new attractions, fan favorite activities, along with ICE! featuring Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.
The 2,888-room resort has been transformed into a winter wonderland displaying 5 million holiday lights, which is 1 million more than last year. Elaborately themed Christmas trees are displayed throughout the property including a fully adorned 48-foot tree, 15,000 poinsettias, 15 miles of green garland and 10 miles of hand-tied ribbon. In addition to ICE! featuring Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, guests can also enjoy a variety of indoor activities along with exciting experiences at Pinetop, an outdoor Appalachian-esque village.
Here’s a rundown of the activities, holiday meals and exciting attractions taking place now at Gaylord Opryland:
ICE! Featuring Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
After a two-year hiatus, ICE! has returned as the resort’s signature Christmas attraction. Guests will venture through 12 scenes from the 1964 animated television special, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, all carved out of two million pounds of ice, with sculptures ranging in size from details as tiny as a coin to 20 feet tall.
Coming face to face with characters like Clarice, Hermey the Elf, Bumble, Yukon Cornelius and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, guests will feel as though they have been transported into the classic tale. Guests can also take rides down four two-story-tall ice slides and traverse through ice tunnels and arches. The experience concludes in a separate area dedicated to a beautiful Nativity scene, meticulously carved and shaped in a dramatic display of crystal-clear ice.
The environment is kept at a chilly 9 degrees Fahrenheit by a state-of-the-art chilling system which maintains and preserves the ice. The 9-degree temperature inside of the attraction may be one of the coldest spots in Nashville, but guests partaking in the experience are provided Gaylord Opryland’s signature blue parkas to keep them warm and toasty.
The 17,000 square foot attraction is brought to life by 40 artisans who traveled from Harbin, China to hand carve the attraction for 33 days. Starting with more than 6,200 massive ice blocks – created by three different ice manufacturers because of the sheer amount needed – the artisans tally more than 12,000 manhours on the project. The artisans use skills passed down from generation to generation along with tools like chisels, chippers, tongs, handsaws, grinders and even chainsaws while following a 300-page design book to create the spectacle. Many of the artisans also work on the Harbin Ice Festival, the world’s largest annual ice and snow sculpting festival.
Unique Holiday Dining Experiences
The Oak Ridge Boys “Christmas in Tennessee” Dinner Show
GRAMMY® Award-winning, Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry members, The Oak Ridge Boys, are back to spread holiday cheer with a 32 day-show residency at the resort beginning on November 23rd through December 25th. Keeping the musical tradition alive, the “Christmas in Tennessee” dinner show will feature a delicious holiday meal prepared by the resort’s culinary team followed by the legendary band performing Christmas classics, new favorites, and timeless hits.
Rudolph’s Holly JollyTM Breakfast
The resort’s restaurant, Ravello, is hosting an interactive breakfast experience the whole family will love. Children and adults alike can look forward to a delicious breakfast while getting up close and personal with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and other characters from the beloved holiday classic.
General Jackson Showboat’s Christmas Cruises
Guests can hop aboard Nashville’s famous 300-foot paddlewheel riverboat 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. The holiday cruises will begin November 17th and will run through December 25th.
Frosty’s Pub
The resort’s holiday eatery, Frosty’s Pub, features over-the-top seasonal décor, festive dishes, and naughty or nice cocktails with a touch of cheer.
Outdoor Thrills at Pinetop
Snowball Build & Blast
In this brand-new attraction, guests can take their best shot with real snowballs at interactive targets created by Santa’s Elves.
Ice Skating
Enjoy a yuletide glide, day or night, on the resort’s 9,000 square foot skating rink made with real ice. Guests can also hone-in on their skating skills with ice-skating lessons.
Christmas on Ice Skating Show
Experience an all-new, awe-inspiring live ice-skating show featuring champion skaters, big jumps, fast spins and mesmerizing throws and lifts. Guests can purchase tickets in advance for reserved seating.
Ice Tubing
Guests looking for thrills can enjoy all the fun of sledding with the added speed of ice on a 15-foot high, four-lane ice tubing hill.
Bumper Cars
Enjoy classic bumper car rides in the great outdoors. Get ready to slide and glide during this action- packed experience.
Live Musical Performances
Guests can get into the holiday spirit while enjoying live holiday tunes performed on the Pinetop stage.
Classic Outdoor Activities
Nightly Tree Lighting
Step outside of the resort to watch the resort’s giant trees light up while Dicken’s Carolers serenade guests with favorite Christmas carols.
Carriage Rides
Experience a private horse-drawn carriage ride while marveling at the sparkling Christmas lights.
Outdoor Nativity
Experience special lighting effects and an audio rendition of the beloved biblical story outside, surrounded but millions of twinkling lights.
Warm Up with These Indoor Adventures
Parade of Trees
For a second year, Universal Music Group Nashville hosts Parade of Trees, a free self-guided tour featuring some of country music’s biggest names and showcasing the artist’s uniquely themed Christmas trees on display in the resort’s Garden Conservatory and Cascades Atrium. While visiting the 13 trees or viewing them online, guests will have the chance to donate to win “Once in a Lifetime VIP Experiences” donated by the artists, to benefit scholarship and mental health programs provided by charitable beneficiary First Responders Children’s Foundation, including a new collaboration with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® for the local Monroe Carell Jr Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Universal Music Group Nashville artists participating include Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Jon Pardi, Jordan Davis Kacey Musgraves, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Maddie & Tae, Reba McEntire, Sam Hunt, and Tyler Hubbard. To visit the trees online, visit www.CharityStars.com/ParadeOfTrees.
Photos with Santa by DEI
Meet Jolly Old St. Nick in person and capture the amazing memory with a picture.
Delta Riverboat Christmas Cruise
Hop aboard the resort’s Delta riverboat for a festive-themed cruise down the winding quarter mile long Delta River.
Gingerbread Decorating Corner
Decorate your dreamhouse or delicious cookies with a variety of sweet treats. Guests can also visit the Gingerbread Bakery for even more tasty treats.
Build-A-Bear Workshop®
Guests can bring imagination to life and create their very own furry friend with personalized outfits, accessories, scents, and sounds.
Reindeer GamesTM Scavenger Hunt featuring Rudolph and The Misfit Toys
Guests of all ages can embark on a riveting scavenger hunt to find the lost misfit toys around the resort.
Christmas Fountain Shows
Watch in awe as the dancing fountains are synchronized to holiday music and bright lights.
Winter Relaxation
For the holiday season, Relâche Spa at Gaylord Opryland is featuring Winter Wonderland massage, facial and pedicure treatments, highlighting the benefits of eucalyptus. The aromatic plant is known to be high in antioxidants, to promote relaxation and reduce pain.
Year-Round Fun
In addition to a full lineup of special events, attractions and activities during A Country Christmas, guests can enjoy many year-round amenities. The resort features three atriums spanning over nine acres full of plants, flowers, waterfalls, streams, and fish. Also inside the atriums, a delicious selection of dining options await, including authentic Italian cuisine at Ravello, gourmet steaks and an award-winning wine list at Old Hickory Steakhouse, Mexican fare and signature Margaritas at Solario Cantina, and and array of classic dishes, fresh sushi, and a variety of cockatils at Cascades American Cafe.
Even during the holiday season, guests who reserve designated packages can visit Gaylord Opryland’s upscale aquatic adventure, SoundWaves, which fuses music and water to create a modern-day oasis featuring lazy and rapid rivers, a family mega-raft ride, four thrilling tube and body slides, a multi-level play structure and toddler water play area, a FlowRider® Double and an adults-only pool and bar. Additionally, the water attraction features an arcade with virtual reality games, a rock-climbing wall, game tables and more. The only guaranteed way to visit SoundWaves is by booking an exclusive holiday package including wristbands or the SoundWaves Experience Package. Seasonal specials and Tennessee resident package rates are available.Visit SoundWavesGO.com for more information or to book a package.
Resort Access Information
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 on November 18-29, December 3-5, December 9-11, and December 16-31, 2022. Visitors without room reservations or ticketed event reservations should arrive on site prior to 2pm CT on these dates and are welcome to enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening on property.
Visitors without room reservations or ticketed event reservations can also visit anytime on November 11-17, November 30-December 2, December 6-8, December 12-15, 2022, or January 1, 2023.
Packages and Tickets
Overnight packages including holiday events are available. The ICE! Signature Package includes one night room accommodations and ICE! tickets, along with an option to include wristbands to SoundWaves. Additional Country Christmas packages are offered which include ICE! and other holiday activities with two- or three-night accommodations.
For guaranteed access to Gaylord Opryland Resort during the holidays, purchase event tickets or holiday packages including room accommodations, tickets to ICE! and more at ChristmasAtGaylordOpryland.com.
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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.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and all related elements © & TM under license to Character Arts, LLC. © Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
