A Timeless Tradition

Gaylord Opryland’s 42nd Annual A Country Christmas

Gaylord Opryland Resort’s 42^nd Annual A Country Christmas, Nashville’s beloved Christmas celebration, runs through January 3^rd. In addition to the immersive ICE! Christmas Experience, the resort’s marquee attraction, a long lineup of extraordinary attractions awaits, including themed character dining, a variety of family-friendly experiences, plus the debut of a Broadway-style cirque show later in the month.    

ICE!

The long-standing ICE! tradition began in 2001 at Gaylord Opryland Resort and is now a holiday staple at select resorts nationwide. The larger-than-life frozen showcase features hand-carved ice sculptures, precisely crafted into vivid, floor-to-ceiling scenes from treasured Christmas classics. The walk-through masterpiece is a breathtaking display of artistry and imagination, transporting visitors of all ages into the season’s most memorable stories.    

Gaylord Opryland is thrilled to welcome back by popular demand “A Charlie Brown Christmas” as its ICE! theme, last featured at the resort in 2017. Carved from two-million pounds of ice, the iconic holiday special, based on the comics strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz which is celebrating its seventy-fifth anniversary this year, has been brought to life in frozen form. 

The attraction includes ice-sculpted, iconic characters like Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, and Linus, as well as twelve immersive walk-through scenes, a total of five thrilling two-story ice slides, including a slide for walking toddlers, and photo-worthy moments the entire family can enjoy. Guests can also get an up-close look at the carving process during live carving demonstrations. The experience concludes in a separate area dedicated to the Nativity scene, meticulously carved, and shaped into a dramatic display of crystal-clear ice. The ICE! experience is kept at a chilly 9 degrees Fahrenheit to preserve the intricate, frozen detail and all guests are given a signature blue parka to brave the temperature and stay warm with their personal hats and mittens.    

The carvers responsible for creating the extravagant attraction travel more than 6,400 miles from their homes in Harbin, China, to Nashville, TN. Known as the “Ice City,” Harbin is home to the world’s largest annual ice and snow sculpting festival in the world. Starting with more than 6,000 massive ice blocks, they work approximately six weeks, more than 12,000 man-hours, to create the 17,000 square foot frozen attraction. Using skills passed down through generations, the carvers follow a 300-page design book to create the ice display with the help of tools like chisels, chippers, tongs, handsaws, grinders, and chainsaws.

POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance

The resort’s 42^nd Annual A Country Christmas will also feature POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance, a new holiday show where the razzle-dazzle of Broadway meets the magic and spectacle of cirque. Following the whimsical journey of three best friends, Pomp, Snow, and Cirqueumstance, as they study music, magic, and circus arts at a secret university before sharing their remarkable talents and heartfelt holiday messages with the world. 

The show will open its exclusive residency in Nashville inside the resort’s Tennessee Ballroom Theater and run through December 31^st. 

The Resort

The Christmas magic doesn’t stop there! The entire resort has been transformed into a breathtaking holiday haven, brimming with festive fun and spectacular décor both indoors and out. Guests can wander through five million twinkling lights, admire elaborately adorned Christmas trees, and soak in the beauty of thousands of colorful poinsettias. The celebration continues outdoors at Pinetop, an Appalachian-inspired village where guests can enjoy exciting rides, seasonal treats, and even more merry moments.

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Endless holiday experiences await during A Country Christmas. For event tickets, or to book an overnight stay, and for more information, visit christmasatgaylordopryland.com.