Nashville’s frozen holiday attraction ICE! has officially announced its 2024 return with the holiday classic, Frosty the Snowman, as part of Gaylord Opryland Resort’s 41st annual A Country Christmas event, beginning Nov. 8, 2024, through Jan. 4, 2025.
When entering ICE! featuring Frosty the Snowman, overnight and local day guests will embark on a magical journey alongside the famous snowman who came to life. The attraction includes 11 immersive walk-through scenes with huge ice sculptures, passageways and photo-worthy moments.
This year the attraction will also feature more slides than ever before: 6 thrilling two-story ice slides, plus a kids’ peak-a-boo slide. Inside the attraction, guests can also visit an artisan performing live carving demonstrations. The ICE! experience concludes in a separate area dedicated to the Nativity scene.
Ice slides as part of the 2024 ICE! exhibit at Gaylord Opryland.
More about ICE!
Starting with more than 6,000 massive ice blocks, the carvers work approximately six weeks — more than 12,000 man-hours — to create the nearly 17,000-square-foot frozen attraction. The artisans, using skills passed down through generations, follow a 300-page design book to create the ice spectacle.
Ice carvings range in size from details as tiny as a coin to soaring scenes. The attraction is kept at a chilly 9 degrees Fahrenheit to preserve the intricate, frozen detail. To stay warm, guests will don the attraction’s signature blue parkas.
The carvers will travel more than 6,400 miles from their homes in Harbin, China, to Nashville. Known as the “Ice City,” Harbin is home to the world’s largest annual ice and snow sculpting festival. At Gaylord Opryland, some of the same artisans who create the Harbin festival will carve 300-pound blocks of ice into larger-than-life, whimsical scenes. Carvers will use chisels, chippers, tongs, handsaws, grinders, chainsaws, and hand-made tools to bring the winter wonderland to life.
More Programming for the 41st Annual A Country Christmas
While ICE! is the signature attraction of A Country Christmas, there are plenty more merry activities, events and decorations. Here’s what the resort has up its sleeves:
- This year’s “A Country Christmas Dinner Show” will begin November 23 and run through Christmas Day. It will feature two different shows including Terri Clark’s “It’s Christmas…Cheers!” (November 23-24, and 27-30; & December 1, 4-6, and 17-22) and The Frontmen’s “Holidays & Hits” (November 25-26 & December 2-3, 15-16, and 23-25).
- Join the jolliest hostess for a brand-new experience, Mrs. Claus’ North Pole Breakfast. This dining and photo opportunity with Mrs. Claus includes a delicious breakfast to enjoy with friends and family.
- Embark on a festive quest to find these scattered pieces and use them to design your very own snowman, bringing the Christmas spirit back to life during the Snowman Scramble Scavenger Hunt.
- Thrilling activities await outside at Pinetop including ice tubing down a 15-foot-high, four-lane ice tubing hill, a classic bumper car experience, Snowball Build & Blast where guests can throw real snowballs at interactive targets created by Santa’s Elves, ice skating or ice-skating lessons on a 10,000 square-foot rink, and the Merry & Bright Skating Spectacular live show featuring champion skaters, big jumps, fast spins and throws.
- The Very Merry Breakfast Show features a savory and sweet breakfast buffet and live holiday music by Ten Year Town.
- Guests can hop aboard Nashville’s famous 300-foot paddlewheel riverboat, the General Jackson Showboat, 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.
- Christmas creativity runs wild in the Gingerbread Decorating Corner. Achieve confection perfection by decorating your very own Gingerbread cookies or house.
- Mailing a letter to the North Pole is great, but nothing can beat a personal visit with Santa Claus to let him know what you want for Christmas and make sure you’re on his nice list. Guests can capture the moment with a keepsake photo during the Photos with Santa experience.
- Hop aboard the Delta Riverboat Christmas Cruise to explore A Country Christmas in the Delta Atrium while cruising down a quarter mile-long river inside of the Delta Atrium.
- Take in a breathtaking synchronization of light, water, and holiday music during a free fountain show inside of the Delta Atrium.
- Visit the Build-A-Bear Workshop to experience the fun of personalizing furry friends.
- Other outdoor activities include the resort’s millions of Christmas lights displayed on the Magnolia lawn, a nightly tree lighting, Dickens Carolers, carriage rides and a Nativity display.
- Relâche Spa inside the resort will feature Winter Wellness spa treatments like massages, facials, and pedicures for seasonal relaxation.
- The resort’s upscale water attraction, SoundWaves.
For capacity management and to ensure an enjoyable environment, resort access will be guaranteed after 2 p.m. for overnight guests and indoor/outdoor ticket reservation holders only, every Friday/Saturday/Sunday beginning November 15 plus daily Nov 25-28 and Dec. 19-31, 2024.
For event tickets, to book an overnight stay, and more information, visit ChristmasAtGaylordOpryland.com
