Christmas on the Potomac - Maryland’s Largest Holiday Event –
Opens November 15 at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center
Indoor and Outdoor Experiences Highlighted by 2 million pounds of ICE!
New Attractions include ICE! Featuring Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Ice Tubing and Winter Square
(National Harbor, MD – September 16, 2019) – Holiday cheer returns on November 15 when Christmas on the Potomac opens with more Christmas per square foot than any other attraction in the Washington, DC region. The nearly 2,000-room resort offers a holiday tradition that is open to both hotel guests and the public with miles and miles of activities for all ages including the incredibly popular ICE! indoor walk through exhibit fashioned from more than 2 million pounds of sculpted ice.
Exclusive to Gaylord hotels, ICE!, presented by DEI, is famous for photos of those cozy blue parkas guests don before entering the colorful wonderland of sculptures, scenes, and slides all hand carved by artisans from Harbin, China. This year’s installation is bigger than ever as the 15,000 square foot “cold room” welcomes the classic holiday story, Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! featuring scenes from the heart-warming holiday tale including The Grinch lurking through the chimneys of Who-ville homes, The Grinch’s heart growing three sizes after realizing Christmas means a little bit more, and sitting down at the Who’s feast where The Grinch carves the roast beast.
Also new in 2019, The Grinch fans will have the opportunity to meet the star of the show at the resort’s Feast with The Grinch breakfast. Diners can enjoy a buffet of Who-ville inspired items, table-side visits with The Grinch and Max, plus special touches Dr. Seuss fans are sure to adore. There’s even a new adventure inviting kids to follow clues through the resort looking for riddles and puzzles dreamed up by The Grinch as he attempts to steal Christmas. In The Grinch’s Wonderful Awful Idea Scavenger Hunt, solving clues leads to a grand prize
and a change of heart for The Grinch.
Christmas Village is just a quick sleigh ride from the North Pole where Santa waits for the Big Day welcoming children to share their Christmas wishes and take souvenir photos. A long list of activities for children of all ages includes an all-new adventure even Santa’s reindeer will love. The new Reindeer Rush Ice Tubing Hill offers all the fun of sledding with the added speed of ice.
The new outdoor Winter Square overlooking the Potomac River will brighten holiday spirits with twinkling lights and festival decorations that include an outdoor Ice-Skating Rink and Tinsel Tavern, a new, over-the-top ugly sweater themed bar. Adult beverages and hot chocolate add to the cheer at this warm and cozy outdoor space.
Inside the artfully lit Garden Atrium, revelers will be dazzled by the 55-foot suspended Starlight Christmas tree and nightly Christmas Miracles laser, light and music show magically reminding us that miracles live in all of us if we believe – and believe we will when snow starts to fall indoors! The Garden Atrium is also home to the newest version of Cirque Dreams Unwrapped, a spellbinding production of seasonal dreams combining breathtaking choreography, music and showmanship from around the world. This intimate extravaganza on the stage and in the air will have guests on their feet and at the edge of their seats.
The list of fun at Christmas on the Potomac is so long, even Santa will have to check twice to be sure not to miss a thing! Individual attraction tickets and flexible discount bundles including multiple attractions and experiences, along with hotel packages, are available on the resort’s website at www.ChristmasOnThePotomac.com
Christmas on the Potomac
- ICE! presented by DEI featuring Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
An indoor walk-through experience created by skilled artisans from Harbin, China. More than 2 million pounds of ice are carved into displays, giant structures, walk-through carvings and even ice slides! Guests are given blue parks to keep them warm in the 9-degree building specially built just for ICE!
Pricing: Tickets starting at $33 for guests 12 and over, $25 ages 4-11, 3 and under are free
- NEW Feast with The Grinch
Interactive breakfast buffet featuring Who-ville inspired items and table-side visits with The Grinch and Max.
Pricing: $40 guests 12 and over, $27 ages 4-11
- NEW The Grinch’s Wonderful Awful Scavenger Hunt
Guests follow along an interactive, indoor scavenger hunt discovering clues and puzzles along the way, helping The Grinch find a holiday change of heart. Solve all the clues and win a prize.
Pricing: $9.99 all ages
- Gingerbread Masterpiece
The pastry team at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center spends nearly 1,000 hours creating an original 1.5 million calorie gingerbread masterpiece on display in the hotel’s main lobby. This year’s whimsical Tree House Village will top all other gingerbread displays with a centerpiece tree approximately 9 feet tall. The surrounding village forest is home to dozens of smaller houses, sprites and delectable confections.
- Christmas Corner
Stop in the Gaylord Post Office to write letters to Santa and drop them in the giant red mail box with special delivery to the North Pole. This cute little outpost in the hotel lobby offers everything needed to write a letter to Santa complete with cheerful paper, pens and pencils.
- Christmas Village
Home to all things holiday and just a short sleigh ride from the North Pole guests will discover a wonderland of Christmas cheer inside this indoor village.
- NEW Reindeer Rush Ice Tubing: Reindeer aren’t the only ones to soar around the North Pole, kids of all ages can feel the rush sliding down the new, 2-story Reindeer Rush Ice Tubing hill. $20.99 for unlimited rides on day of purchase.
- Santa Souvenir Photo: Capture that annual photo with Saint Nick; prices vary.
- Mrs. Claus’ Christmas Tradition: Join the jolliest hostess of all for Christmas traditions old and new. Delight in a retelling of the Christmas classic, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and sing holiday favorites while enjoying a fresh-baked cookie and ice-cold milk. $12.99
- Gingersnap’s Christmas Kitchen: A delicious holiday tradition in a delightful corner filled with the sights, smells and tastes of the season. Choose a gingerbread kit including a pre-built house, giant The Grinch cookie, or create your own gingerbread masterpiece. Be sure to share a hug with our resident gingerbread man, Nutmeg. Gingerbread House Kit $39, Gingerbread The Grinch Giant Cookie $34, Gingerbread Cookie Kit $30. More than 26 types of candy are available for purchase.
- Village Shoppe: Browse a variety of holiday gifts, décor and collectibles.
- Build-A-Bear Workshop: Choose a furry friend and make a wish on a heart at the Christmas on the Potomac Build-A-Bear Workshop featuring an exclusive Gaylord Hotels bear ready for sleep time in his comfy red pajamas.
- Village Express: Take a magical ride on the classic children’s train in the heart of Christmas Village (must be 52” and below). $4.99
- Cocoa Shop: Warm up after a trip through ICE! with a warm cup of hot chocolate in a souvenir cup.
- NEW Winter Square
Outdoor festival space overlooking the Potomac River draped in twinkling lights and holiday décor that includes toasty fire pits, an outdoor Ice-Skating Rink and new ugly seater bar, Tinsel Tavern. Adult beverages and hot chocolate served.
- Tinsel Tavern: Holiday themed cocktails and hot chocolate
- Ice Skating Rink: $16.99 for unlimited day-of skating, rental included
- Cirque Dreams Unwrapped Atrium Show
All NEW acts inspire a season of dreaming in this spellbinding production combining breathtaking artistry, music and showmanship from around the world. The 25-minute Christmas fable is performed on stage and in the air featuring spectacular costumes and soaring imagination.
Pricing: Stage Level Seating $19.99 all ages, Fountain Level Seating $17.99 all ages
- Christmas Miracles
Awe-inspiring laser light show choreographed to classic Christmas music combining tree lighting, lasers, a dancing fountain and indoor snowfall. Truly the stuff of miracles.
- Sounds of the Season
Special musical performances by regional ensembles. Check website for details.
- Winter at Relâche
Wine inspired seasonal spa treatments and packages.
Exclusive Activities for Hotel Guests Only (no additional charge):
- VIP Carver Showcase: Experience a private, live ice carving demonstration by artisans from Harbin, China. Hotel guests may ask questions about the tools, training and skill required to complete these artful masterpieces. Garden Atrium
- Silent Disco on Ice: Dance, twist, shout and skate to an array of holiday tunes delivered to personal, wireless headphones. Three music channels offer tunes for every taste with exclusive skate time just for hotel guests. Ice Skating at Winter Square
- Pajama Story Time with Snowflake the Elf: Hotel guests can join Snowflake the Elf in the living room at Mrs. Claus’ House in Christmas Village. This night time tradition offers private access to Mrs. Claus’ house for story time fun just before bed.
Family and friends can start planning their holiday travels early with tickets and overnight packages for Christmas On The Potomac on sale now. Overnight packages include:
ICE! Is Nice
- Tickets to ICE! featuring Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! including unlimited entry to ICE! and priority access
- Added overnight guest-only experiences including Silent Disco on Ice and a Pajama Story Time with Snowflake the Elf on select dates
Package starts at $259 for two people and $289 for four people.
Christmas On The Potomac
- Tickets to ICE! featuring Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! including unlimited entry to ICE! and priority access
- One (1) Souvenir ICE! photo
- $100 resort credit for onsite dining outlets
- Added overnight guest-only experiences including Silent Disco on Ice and a Pajama Story Time with Snowflake the Elf on select dates
Package starts at $359 for two people and $389 for four people.
Christmas Dreams Suite
- Christmas welcome package, fuzzy socks, fresh-made holiday treats, seasonal bath products
- Valet parking
- One-hour professional DEI photo shoot on hotel property (excludes ICE!)
Added to any overnight booking for an additional $549. After booking selected package, guests should email their request and confirmation number to Celebrity Services DCCelebrityServicesDL@marriott.com
The Discount!
- Macaroni Kid
- $3 off tickets to ICE! valid on all days
- Use code: MacaroniKid19
- Link: http://bit.ly/2Ob5I14
For more information on Christmas On The Potomac at Gaylord National Resort, to book a room or package and purchase tickets, visit www.ChristmasOnThePotomac.com or call 301-965-4000.
###
Words in boldface are used under license.
Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center is the largest, non-gaming hotel and convention center on the East Coast, located along the banks of the Potomac River in National Harbor, Maryland and part of Marriott International, Inc. Opened in April 2008, Gaylord National is an AAA-Four Diamond resort that is only eight miles from Washington, D.C. The resort offers nearly 2,000 rooms including 110 suites; a 19-story atrium; 600,000 square-feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space; acclaimed restaurants including Old Hickory Steakhouse; a full-service resort spa, Relâche Spa; and Pose Rooftop Lounge.
TM & © 2019 Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. All Rights Reserved.
PEPSI, PEPSI-COLA and the Pepsi Globe are registered trademarks of PepsiCo, Inc. ©
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
