Gaylord Opryland’s 39th A Country Christmas in Nashville

Gaylord Opryland’s 39th annual A Country Christmas event is open now through January 1, 2023, offering a full lineup of holiday cheer and entertainment for the entire family!

A Country Christmas is the longest running holiday attraction in Tennessee with both  locals and tourists alike flocking to the iconic resort for the season. This year, the resort displays more festive décor than ever before and invites guests to experience new attractions, fan favorite activities, along with ICE! featuring Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

A Country Christmas

The 2,888-room resort has been transformed into a winter wonderland displaying 5 million holiday lights, which is 1 million more than last year. Elaborately themed Christmas trees are displayed throughout the  property including a fully adorned 48-foot tree, 15,000 poinsettias, 15 miles of green garland and 10 miles of hand-tied ribbon. In addition to ICE! featuring Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, guests can also enjoy  a variety of indoor activities along with exciting experiences at Pinetop, an outdoor Appalachian-esque village. 

Here’s a rundown of the activities, holiday meals and exciting attractions taking place now at Gaylord  Opryland: 

ICE! Featuring Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer 

After a two-year hiatus, ICE! has returned as the resort’s signature Christmas attraction. Guests will  venture through 12 scenes from the 1964 animated television special, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,  all carved out of two million pounds of ice, with sculptures ranging in size from details as tiny as a coin to  20 feet tall. 

Coming face to face with characters like Clarice, Hermey the Elf, Bumble, Yukon Cornelius and Rudolph  the Red Nosed Reindeer, guests will feel as though they have been transported into the classic tale.  Guests can also take rides down four two-story-tall ice slides and traverse through ice tunnels and  arches. The experience concludes in a separate area dedicated to a beautiful Nativity scene, meticulously  carved and shaped in a dramatic display of crystal-clear ice. 

The environment is kept at a chilly 9 degrees Fahrenheit by a state-of-the-art chilling system which  maintains and preserves the ice. The 9-degree temperature inside of the attraction may be one of the  coldest spots in Nashville, but guests partaking in the experience are provided Gaylord Opryland’s  signature blue parkas to keep them warm and toasty.

The 17,000 square foot attraction is brought to life by 40 artisans who traveled from Harbin, China to  hand carve the attraction for 33 days. Starting with more than 6,200 massive ice blocks – created by  three different ice manufacturers because of the sheer amount needed – the artisans tally more than  12,000 manhours on the project. The artisans use skills passed down from generation to generation along with tools like chisels, chippers, tongs, handsaws, grinders and even chainsaws while following a  300-page design book to create the spectacle. Many of the artisans also work on the Harbin Ice Festival,  the world’s largest annual ice and snow sculpting festival. 

Unique Holiday Dining Experiences 

The Oak Ridge Boys “Christmas in Tennessee” Dinner Show 

GRAMMY® Award-winning, Country Music Hall of Fame and Grand Ole Opry members, The Oak Ridge  Boys, are back to spread holiday cheer with a 32 day-show residency at the resort beginning on  November 23rd through December 25th. Keeping the musical tradition alive, the Christmas in Tennessee”  dinner show will feature a delicious holiday meal prepared by the resort’s culinary team followed by the  legendary band performing Christmas classics, new favorites, and timeless hits. 

Rudolph’s Holly Jolly Breakfast 

The resort’s restaurant, Ravello, is hosting an interactive breakfast experience the whole family will love.  Children and adults alike can look forward to a delicious breakfast while getting up close and personal  with Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and other characters from the beloved holiday classic

General Jackson Showboat’s Christmas Cruises 

Guests can hop aboard Nashville’s famous 300-foot paddlewheel riverboat 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. The holiday cruises will begin November 17th and will run through December 25th. 

Frosty’s Pub 

The resort’s holiday eatery, Frosty’s Pub, features over-the-top seasonal décor, festive dishes, and  naughty or nice cocktails with a touch of cheer. 

A Country Christmas

Outdoor Thrills at Pinetop 

Snowball Build & Blast 

In this brand-new attraction, guests can take their best shot with real snowballs at interactive targets  created by Santa’s Elves. 

Ice Skating 

Enjoy a yuletide glide, day or night, on the resort’s 9,000 square foot skating rink made with real ice.  Guests can also hone-in on their skating skills with ice-skating lessons. 

Christmas on Ice Skating Show 

Experience an all-new, awe-inspiring live ice-skating show featuring champion skaters, big jumps, fast  spins and mesmerizing throws and lifts. Guests can purchase tickets in advance for reserved seating. 

Ice Tubing 

Guests looking for thrills can enjoy all the fun of sledding with the added speed of ice on a 15-foot high,  four-lane ice tubing hill. 

Bumper Cars 

Enjoy classic bumper car rides in the great outdoors. Get ready to slide and glide during this action packed experience.

Live Musical Performances 

Guests can get into the holiday spirit while enjoying live holiday tunes performed on the Pinetop stage. 

A Country Christmas

Classic Outdoor Activities 

Nightly Tree Lighting 

Step outside of the resort to watch the resort’s giant trees light up while Dicken’s Carolers serenade  guests with favorite Christmas carols. 

Carriage Rides 

Experience a private horse-drawn carriage ride while marveling at the sparkling Christmas lights. 

Outdoor Nativity 

Experience special lighting effects and an audio rendition of the beloved biblical story outside, surrounded  but millions of twinkling lights. 

Warm Up with These Indoor Adventures during A Country Christmas

Parade of Trees 

For a second year, Universal Music Group Nashville hosts Parade of Trees, a free self-guided tour  featuring some of country music’s biggest names and showcasing the artist’s uniquely themed Christmas  trees on display in the resort’s Garden Conservatory and Cascades Atrium. While visiting the 13 trees or  viewing them online, guests will have the chance to donate to win “Once in a Lifetime VIP Experiences”  donated by the artists, to benefit scholarship and mental health programs provided by charitable  beneficiary First Responders Children’s Foundation, including a new collaboration with Children’s Miracle  Network Hospitals® for the local Monroe Carell Jr Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Universal Music Group  Nashville artists participating include Alan Jackson, Brad Paisley, George Strait, Jon Pardi, Jordan Davis  Kacey Musgraves, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, Luke Bryan, Maddie & Tae, Reba McEntire, Sam Hunt,  and Tyler Hubbard.

Photos with Santa by DEI 

Meet Jolly Old St. Nick in person and capture the amazing memory with a picture. 

Delta Riverboat Christmas Cruise 

Hop aboard the resort’s Delta riverboat for a festive-themed cruise down the winding quarter mile long  Delta River. 

Gingerbread Decorating Corner 

Decorate your dreamhouse or delicious cookies with a variety of sweet treats. Guests can also visit the Gingerbread Bakery for even more tasty treats. 

Build-A-Bear Workshop® 

Guests can bring imagination to life and create their very own furry friend with personalized outfits,  accessories, scents, and sounds. 

Reindeer Games Scavenger Hunt featuring Rudolph and The Misfit Toys 

Guests of all ages can embark on a riveting scavenger hunt to find the lost misfit toys around the resort. 

Christmas Fountain Shows 

Watch in awe as the dancing fountains are synchronized to holiday music and bright lights. 

Winter Relaxation 

For the holiday season, Relâche Spa at Gaylord Opryland is featuring Winter Wonderland massage,  facial and pedicure treatments, highlighting the benefits of eucalyptus. The aromatic plant is known to be  high in antioxidants, to promote relaxation and reduce pain.

Year-Round Fun 

In addition to a full lineup of special events, attractions and activities during A Country Christmas, guests  can enjoy many year-round amenities. The resort features three atriums spanning over nine acres full of  plants, flowers, waterfalls, streams, and fish. Also inside the atriums, a delicious selection of  dining options await, including authentic Italian cuisine at Ravello, gourmet steaks and an award-winning  wine list at Old Hickory Steakhouse, Mexican fare and signature Margaritas at Solario Cantina, and and  array of classic dishes, fresh sushi, and a variety of cockatils at Cascades American Cafe.   

Even during the holiday season, guests who reserve designated packages can visit Gaylord Opryland’s  upscale aquatic adventure, SoundWaves, which fuses music and water to create a modern-day oasis  featuring lazy and rapid rivers, a family mega-raft ride, four thrilling tube and body slides, a multi-level play  structure and toddler water play area, a FlowRider® Double and an adults-only pool and bar. Additionally,  the water attraction features an arcade with virtual reality games, a rock-climbing wall, game tables and  more. The only guaranteed way to visit SoundWaves is by booking an exclusive holiday package including wristbands or the SoundWaves Experience Package. Seasonal specials and Tennessee resident package rates are available. Visit for more information or to book a package. 

Resort Access Information 

For capacity management and to ensure an enjoyable environment, resort access will be guaranteed after 2pm CT for overnight guests and indoor/outdoor ticket reservation holders only on November 18-29,  December 3-5, December 9-11, and December 16-31, 2022. Visitors without room reservations or  ticketed event reservations should arrive on site prior to 2pm CT on these dates and are welcome to  enjoy the rest of the afternoon and evening on property. 

Visitors without room reservations or ticketed event reservations can also visit anytime on November 11-17, November 30-December 2, December 6-8, December 12-15, 2022, or January 1, 2023. 

Packages and Tickets 

Overnight packages including holiday events are available. The ICE! Signature Package includes one  night room accommodations and ICE! tickets, along with an option to include wristbands to SoundWaves.  Additional Country Christmas packages are offered which include ICE! and other holiday activities with  two- or three-night accommodations. 

For guaranteed access to Gaylord Opryland Resort during the holidays, purchase event tickets or holiday  packages including room accommodations, tickets to ICE! and more here.

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