Dates: November 19, 2009 through January 10, 2010.
What is Gaylord National’s ICE!?
At the Gaylord National Resort at National Harbor, visitors step inside a winter wonderland created entirely of 5,000 BLOCKS of ice weighing 1.5 MILLION POUNDS! hand-sculpted by 40 international artisans and kept at a chilling nine degrees Fahrenheit. Produced exclusively for Gaylord Hotels, the attraction is fully interactive, allowing guests to roam inside, around and on-top of holiday scenes. For example, guests can walk across an ice bridge over a river of ice set amidst a snow forest. Or, they can sit inside a full-sized ice horse and sleigh for a one-of-a-kind photo opportunity. There’s even a Christmas Castle scene featuring two-story-tall slides made completely of ice, designed for kids and big kids (adults!) to race down.See Photos of ICE! at the Gaylord National Resort
ICE! will feature ten different, larger-than-life scenes, including:
- Victorian-style winter forest featuring a horse and sleigh
- South Pole igloo with dancing penguins
- A Christmas Castle featuring thrilling, two-story-tall ice slides
- Santa¹s Toyland, featuring the bearded-one himself created in ice
- And, a breathtaking, life-sized Nativity scene with a 25-foot ice angel
History & Artistry
The master artisans who created Gaylord National’s ICE! are from Harbin, China ¬ a city in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province that is world-famous for its annual Harbin International Snow and Ice Festival. Every winter, more than 2,000 sculpture artists carve a massive, 100-acre walk-through Ice Park and a full-size Ice City from blocks of ice taken from the nearby Songhua River. Gaylord National Resort brought 40 of Harbin's most talented master artisans to the U.S. to showcase their amazing talents in creating this one-of-a-kind attraction. They arrived in mid-October, staying onsite for more than 30 days, to build and hand-carve the attraction in time for its debut.Hours: Open daily, November 19, 2009 through January 10, 2010 (hours will vary)
Tickets: Adults $19.99 Mon-Thurs before 4 p.m., $24.50 after 4 p.m. and all day Fri-Sun., Seniors $18, Ages 4-12 $13.00, Ages 3 and under are free. Walk-up ticket sales will be available during the attraction's regular operating hours, however, visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets online (in advance) as many days are expected to sell out. Visit www.ChristmasOnThePotomac.com or call (877) 352-3629.
Discounted Tickets on Toys for Tots Tuesdays: Gaylord National Resort is teaming up with Toys for Tots this holiday season. Bring a new, unwrapped toy on Dec. 1, 8 or 15 and receive one adult ICE! ticket for only $20. For every Toys for Tots adult ticket sold on those dates, Gaylord National will donate $2 directly back to The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.
Location: Adjacent to the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at National Harbor.
See a map and directions.
Kick-Off Celebration of Christmas on the Potomac: November 19, 2009 at 7 p.m. Gaylord National Resort Atrium. The event will feature spectacular fireworks, musical performances, an indoor snowfall, laser light show and many other surprises.
Nightly Entertainment at the Gaylord National Resort
- Nightly Tree Lighting - Every evening kicks off at 6 p.m. as our Atrium comes to life with a nightly Tree Lighting extravaganza. The delightful show features Christmas music, a light show, and a dancing fountain that shoots 60-feet high!
- Indoor Snowfall – It’s always 72 degrees in our atrium, but you won’t believe your eyes as it snows inside! Snow falls twice nightly in the atrium.
- Voices of Gaylord National Christmas Choir – This joyous presentation of classic Christmas music is performed by a 75-voice choir.
- Brightest Star Fountain Show – A heartwarming narration of the classic Christmas story, choreographed with dancing water and special effects.
