The Capital Region’s largest resort holiday celebration, Christmas On The Potomac, presented by FUJIFILM INSTAX®, will shine a little brighter this year at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center. The nearly 2,000 room hotel is showcasing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer carved in colorful ice sculptures at its popular ICE! attraction. The annual celebration kicks off November 18 and is promising more thrills and chills for its daily holiday line-up.
Visitors will be captivated by stunning, larger-than-life vignettes that bring to life the beloved 1964 TV classic, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, in ICE!, presented by Pepsi®. The 9-degree walk-through attraction features 13 scenes of more than two million pounds of hand-carved ice sculptures including everyone’s favorite characters – Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster and more. Guests also can enjoy the thrill of sliding down two-story tall ice slides in the Island of Misfit Toys. The attraction concludes with a breathtaking Nativity scene carved from crystal ice and set behind a twinkling light curtain.
Check out our ICE! Review/Tips & Tricks from last year!
ICE! is open daily from November 18, 2017 through January 1, 2018. Tickets cost $32* for adults ages 12 and older and $24* for children ages 4 to 11 on value days; $38* for adults and $31* for children on general admission days; and $39* for adults and $32* for children on peak days. Kids 3 and younger are free. Military and group ticket pricing is available. Hours vary and can be found at www.ChristmasOnThePotomac.com.
If ice sculptures weren’t enough, the resort also has transformed itself into a Christmas wonderland. Featuring more than two million lights, a suspended 55-foot tall Christmas tree, a 20-foot wide Washington, D.C. gingerbread display and a magical Christmas Village, families and friends will be filled with holiday spirit when enjoying the resort’s plethora of activities.
Upon entering the Christmas Village, guests will delight in discovering a new ice skating attraction, carousel and train rides, Cookies with Mrs. Claus, photos with Santa and a Gingerbread Decorating Corner presented by Hallmark Channel’s Countdown to Christmas. To enjoy several of these attractions at a reduced rate, the resort has created Play and Save packages starting at $29.45*.
The resort also offers a Build-A-Bear Workshop® experience where guests make their very own furry winter friend – a cuddly, cute polar bear plush, designed exclusively for Gaylord Hotels that can be personalized with cozy winter clothing and accessories. For even more fun, families can work together to solve the Build-A-Bear Workshop® Scavenger Hunt to gain a “beary” special prize.
New this year, Gaylord National also is introducing a live entertainment show, JOY – A Holiday Spectacular, set within the resort’s stunning 19-story atrium. Visitors can enjoy the rich harmonies of classic and modern songs that celebrate the joy of the holiday season performed by Gaylord National singers. Tickets start at $11.99* for all ages. Military pricing is available.
The show is immediately followed by a free Tree Lighting Show that includes laser lights, a dancing water fountain, indoor snow flurry and holiday music – all centered on the resort’s suspended Starlight Christmas Tree.
Visitors also can delight in a new family breakfast featuring Rudolph, the star of ICE! Rudolph’s Holly Jolly™ Breakfast is a one-of-a-kind interactive character breakfast experience with table side visits by Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster and Clarice. Children of all ages will enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet, play games and sing-a-long to favorite music from the beloved television special. Rudolph’s Holly Jolly Breakfast is offered on select days and costs $39.99* for adults ages 12 and older and $26.99* for children ages 4 to 11. Kids 3 and younger are free.
For visitors 21 and older, Gaylord National’s beverage director has created a Mistletoe Mixology class designed to teach participants the basics of cocktail making. The 90-minute hands-on class includes crafting three unique holiday cocktails paired with hors d’oeuvres provided by the resort chef. The class costs $29.00* and is available select dates during Christmas On The Potomac.
To experience the best of Christmas in the Washington, D.C. area, the resort offers two overnight packages including unlimited priority entry to ICE!Packages include:
ICE! Is Nice Package
- One night room accommodations
- Unlimited, priority entry tickets to experience ICE! featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Package starts at $219** for two people.
Christmas On The Potomac Package
- One night room accommodations
- Unlimited, priority entry tickets to experience ICE! featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
- $100 resort credit per night for hotel dining and Relâche Spa services
- One (1) complimentary souvenir ICE! photo
Package starts at $279** for two people.
For more information on Christmas On The Potomac at Gaylord National Resort and to book a package or tickets to ICE! and other holiday attractions, visit www.ChristmasOnThePotomac.com, call 301-965-4000 and follow Facebook.com/GaylordNationalResort.
My family and I cant wait to check out the Holiday fun at the Gaylord National!
