Updated December 20, 2022. ICE! has returned to Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center after a two-year hiatus, and it includes a range of experiences designed to expand your social network. The events, which are family-friendly, include Christmas-themed, Instagram-able pop-ups, workshops, and activities.
Activities include Snow Flow Mountain, a family-friendly indoor tubing experience. There’s also ice skating, and the Snowball Build and Blast — and indoor snowball-throwing challenge.
The Ice Bumper Cars are back in action for a second year in a row, and take riders on a circuit around the ice to bump and slide into each other. The course includes eight cars that use mechanics and propulsion to move back and forth, perfect for parents and kids over 42 inches tall. The activity is located outdoors in the Winter Square location, where guests can take in the views of the Potomac River and The Capital Wheel.
Other new activities this year include several additions to the annual event like Shine Light Show, Cirque: Spirit of Christmas show, and a Christmas-themed pop-up bar. There are also seasonal spa treatments and scavenger hunts.
The Christmas Tree Farm Bar, the ’70s themed pop-up bar, is serving holiday milkshakes and cocktails that pair perfectly with the aesthetic. Gaylord National’s resort chef leads the interactive Holiday Hosting 101 cooking class, where you can enjoy a drink as you learn how to cook three different types of hors d’oeuvres. Other dining options include The Old Hickory Steakhouse, which is serving a four-course, prix fixe menu featuring a holiday version of the meal for December 24 and 25.
Another new addition to this year’s activities is the Shine Light Show, in which the 55-foot suspended Starlight Christmas tree is the centerpiece for the magical holiday spectacle full of dancing lights and a seasonal soundtrack.
As a way to welcome back the resort’s annual ICE! display, Gaylord National brought the scenes of A Christmas Story to life. With 10 iconic scenes from the beloved holiday flick, guests will be able to interact with various moments from the movie including the infamous pink bunny suit, leg lamp, and more.
Feature image courtesy of Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center
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