By Lani Gering

It may be hotter than the hubs of you know where here right now but this piece might put you in a “cooler” state of mind! While August might seem like a little early to think about the holidays, it’s never too early to get a preview of what is coming to the Gaylord during Christmas. I look forward to ICE! every year and those of you who have been reading this column know how much I love going down the two-story ice slide that is a main attraction! Thanks to Lex Juarez for the  following down low on what’s coming:

Christmas at Gaylord National is back with the highly anticipated D.C. region holiday favorite, ICE!, and this year will feature Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the Peanuts gang at the center of it all. The classic Christmas special, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” is the 2024 theme for the ICE! experience, open from Nov. 15 through Dec. 28. Overnight guests and visitors will rediscover the meaning of Christmas along with beloved Peanuts® characters who will come to life in more than 2 million pounds of colorful, larger-than-life ice sculptures hand-carved by over 30 artisans from Harbin, China. The long-standing holiday tradition, created by Gaylord Hotels, will be featured across six locations in 2024.

At Gaylord National, Chinese artisans will arrive in October to begin recreating the holiday favorite out of approximately 6,700 blocks of ice – each weighing 300 pounds. Anyone who visits ICE! will re-experience “A Charlie Brown Christmas” in a truly unique way. Inside the attraction, hearts will be warmed as people step into the Peanut’s world to see Charlie Brown, Lucy, Snoopy, Linus and more carved out of ice in the walk-through experience. While the frozen fun is kept at a crisp 9 degrees Fahrenheit in a state-of-the-art chilling system, guests will be provided a Gaylord National signature blue parka to keep warm.

If ICE! isn’t enough time with the Peanuts gang, Snoopy and friends costume characters will be around for holiday treat-making and photo opportunities. At Snoopy & Friends Holiday Treats, ticketed guests will meet and greet some of their favorite characters up close and in person, delight in customizing sweet treats and create unforgettable holiday memories for the family to treasure for years to come.

Tickets for ICE! are now on sale at ChristmasatGaylordNational.com. In addition to the ICE! attraction, the resort will be packed with events and activities for families and people of all ages to enjoy. These include:

• An immersive walkthrough Christmas Village where guests will be transported to the North Pole for family fun, holiday shopping and delicious hot chocolate.
• Photos with Santa, where the entire family can meet the big man himself, make sure everyone is on the nice list and capture the moment with a keepsake photo.
• Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Traditions featuring a retelling of the Christmas classic ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and Santa’s favorite holiday snack, Christmas cookies.
• The Snow Factory’s Snowball Build and Blast attraction allows guests to build and toss real snowballs to boost the power of the snowmaking machines.
• Snow Flow Mountain’s indoor snow tubing offers a thrilling ride down real frozen ice lanes.
• Cirque: Spirit of Christmas live stage show features dazzling acrobatics, feats of flexibility and high-flying stunts in a Broadway-style spectacle that fills the Atrium with energetic, dreamlike chapters each night.
• The all new Here We Glow A Caroling laser light snow celebrates and highlights the tradition of caroling door-to-door without moving a muscle. Through thousands of glowing lights and a custom score, each door created will take the audience through a musical time warp.
• A Merry Snoopy Scavenger Hunt gives families the chance to help Snoopy out by following clues to find the most festive décor for Snoopy’s doghouse.
• Holiday drink specials in the resort’s various restaurants, as well as special Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners at Old Hickory Steakhouse.
• Peace, Joy and Aromatherapy spa offerings at award winning Relâche Spa throughout the Christmas season including massages, facials and manicures/pedicures for seasonal relaxation.
• Build-A-Bear Workshop® has been adding a little more heart to life for more than 25 years! Visit Build-A-Bear® to experience the fun of personalizing furry friends and taking part in our one-of-a-kind Heart Ceremony. Add adorable outfits, sweet scents and fun sounds to make any furry friend the perfect gift or a cuddly Christmas keepsake!

The best way to experience all the magic of the holiday season during Christmas at Gaylord National is through an overnight stay. There are a number of resort-only benefits when guests stay overnight including the Extra Cool Hour and Chill Pass, which allow overnight visitors early admission into ICE! And the Christmas Village, as well as front-of-the-line access to the attraction. Overnight guests also receive priority access to the resort’s restaurants without reservations.

Please visit christmasatgaylordnational.com or call 301-965-4000 for details. Photos Courtesy of Gaylord National Harbor.