Discover Gaylord National: The Ultimate Christmas Destination

It’s the most exciting time of the year — the Capital Region is bursting at the seams with holiday cheer and Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor is your one-stop-shop for the ultimate yuletide celebration.

Don’t miss these top 10 attractions to fill your soul with Christmas cheer.

A boy pops out of Snoopy's Doghouse at Gaylord National Resorts ICE! Holiday Celebration.

1. Freeze the Date – ICE! Is back

Gaylord National Resort’s favorite Arctic holiday event returns November 15 - December 28 with the beloved TV special, “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. 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 display is kept at a frosty 9 degrees Fahrenheit, but don’t worry, guests are provided with the resort’s signature blue parkas to keep them warm and toasty.

Snoopy and Friends pose inside the Atrium at Gaylord National Resort.

2. Snoopy & Friends Holiday Treats

Enjoy treat-making and photo opportunities with Snoopy and friends! Guests get to meet and greet some of their favorite characters in person, customize sweet treats, and create timeless holiday memories with family.

A girl in a yellow sweater and jeans is smiling while tubing down a snowy track at Gaylord National.

3. Snow Flow Mountain’s Tubing Adventure

Experience the thrill of flying down four multi-story slides made of ice on this indoor tubing track!

Performers on stage during Cirque Spirit of Christmas at Gaylord National

4. Cirque Show with Dazzling Acrobatics

Prepare to be wowed as the Cirque: Spirit of Christmas show features high-flying acrobats and stunts that will make not only your jaw drop, but your heart skip a beat too.

Lit up Christmas tree with lights and decorations in the atrium at the Gaylord National

5. Laser Light Show

The brand new Here We Glow A Caroling laser light show celebrates the tradition of caroling door-to-door, spreading Christmas cheer. With thousands of glowing lights and a custom score, each stop on the caroling journey takes the audience through a musical time warp without having to move an inch.

Four kids throw snowballs at the build and blast snowball-making station at the Gaylord.

6. Snowball Build and Blast

Make snowballs and test your strength by throwing them to boost the power of the snowmaking machines, helping maintain the resort's status as a winter wonderland.

Santa and a girl sit side by side in a huge red chair, talking to one another, at the Gaylord National Resort.

7. Meeting the Big Man and his Wife

Don’t miss your chance to tell Santa your Christmas wishes in person and capture a keepsake photo! Then, visit the house next door in the Christmas Village and enjoy storytime with THE Christmas Queen herself as she reads ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas alongside Santa’s favorite dessert, Christmas cookies.

A festive drink surrounded by greenery, cranberries, and ornaments sits atop a piece of wood.

8. Holiday Drink Specials and Dinners

With a variety of restaurants to experience at Gaylord National, you don’t have to worry about cooking this holiday season. Come hungry, come merry, and come ready to taste the holiday spirit in every bite! Enjoy holiday cocktails and special holiday meals this Thanksgiving and Christmas at Old Hickory Steakhouse.

The interior of a Christmas Dreams Suite at the Gaylord National Resort with a lit-up Christmas tree, garland, and ornaments decorating the room.

9. 8 Magical Christmas Dreams Suites

Gaylord National is the only place in the region where you can stay in a Christmas Suite. These spectacular suites are filled with Christmas lights, stockings, a Christmas tree, and more! This is the perfect place for a family to celebrate their time together. Plus, enjoy a fresh plate of holiday sweets made by resort chefs as part of your overnight experience. There is limited availability and suites sell out quickly–book your Christmas getaway today!

A shot taken from the interior of an Atrium View room at the Gaylord National Resort with a laser light show displayed out on the balcony and a massive Christmas Tree.

10. Get the VIP treatment

Overnight guests at the resort enjoy exclusive benefits that are not available to day guests. As an overnight guest, you get to bypass the line for ICE! with a chill pass or get exclusive access to ICE! during “Extra Cool Hour” before opening to the public. Overnight guests also get priority reservations at the resort’s restaurants and exclusive access to restaurants on prime days. Of course, when you book one of 407 Atrium view rooms, you can enjoy spectacular views of the decked-out Starlight Christmas Tree and enjoy the nightly light show without leaving your room.

Embrace enchantment and let the spirit of the season surround you at Gaylord National, where cherished memories and holiday wonders await. Learn more about the 2024 Christmas celebration at Gaylord National and purchase tickets to this year’s ICE! and other attractions today!

*This blog post is sponsored by the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center

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