Harry Potter and Home Alone Join US Christmas Ice Line-Up

By Ivan PetrenkoJul 25, 2026 21:33 PMNews
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Visitors exploring hand-carved ice sculptures at Gaylord Rockies
Visitors can explore more than ten hand-carved ice scenes at each ICE! resort, kept at 9°F and created by over 300 artisans from Harbin. Source: Christmas at Gaylordopryland

Gaylord Hotels is expanding its ICE! Christmas attraction to eight US resorts for the 2026 holiday season, with first-time editions in California and Arizona. The line-up also adds three new themes based on Harry Potter, Home Alone and Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Tickets and early-booking hotel packages are already on sale, although activities and booking conditions differ between resorts.

2026–27 ICE! Locations, Themes and Dates

  • Resort group: Gaylord Hotels, with select JW Marriott resorts
  • Chula Vista: A Charlie Brown Christmas, 20 November–3 January
  • Phoenix: Elf, 18 November–3 January
  • Nashville: Home Alone, 6 November–2 January
  • Aurora: The Nightmare Before Christmas, 20 November–3 January
  • Grapevine: Harry Potter, 13 November–3 January
  • National Harbor: How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, 14 November–3 January
  • Kissimmee: The Polar Express, 13 November–3 January
  • San Antonio: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, 23 November–3 January
Children walking through a colourful Christmas ice tunnel
Gaylord Hotels’ ICE! attraction returns for Christmas 2026 with eight themed editions, including Harry Potter, Home Alone and The Nightmare Before Christmas. Source: Christmas at Gaylordopryland

Each attraction uses more than two million pounds of ice, cut into 60,000 blocks and shaped by over 300 artisans from Harbin, China. The work takes about 40 days and creates more than ten story-led scenes at each resort. Visitors move through full-height sculptures, tunnels and passageways, with two-storey ice slides included. Temperatures stay at 9°F, and blue parkas are provided.

The expanded line-up gives visitors more choice across the country, with ICE! now available at eight resorts in seven states. New locations in Chula Vista and Phoenix bring the attraction to California and Arizona for the first time, while returning editions cover Nashville, Aurora, Grapevine, National Harbor, Kissimmee and San Antonio. The wider footprint makes it easier to find an event within an existing winter trip.

Visitor riding an ice slide at the ICE! Christmas attraction
ICE! will expand to eight US resorts for Christmas 2026, with themed ice scenes, two-storey slides and new locations in California and Arizona. Source: Christmas at Gaylordopryland

With eight themes spread across seven states, travellers can choose the story that fits an existing US trip instead of treating ICE! as a destination on its own. Separate admission tickets mean an overnight resort stay is not essential, but dates differ and some activities may not be offered everywhere. Anyone booking should compare the full programme, ticket terms and blackout dates for the chosen property before paying.

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