Activities & Events
Enjoy festive holiday events like ICE! and our Christmas light show, and join in classic Christmas activities like ice tubing, gingerbread decorating, and photos with Santa at Gaylord National Resort in the D.C. area. Discover our 2023 season lineup now!
Next Activity
ICE! featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™️ Presented by Pepsi
Cirque: Spirit of Christmas
Snow Flow Mountain
Ice Skating
Snowball Build and Blast
Gingerbread Decorating Corner
Let your Christmas creativity run wild when you adorn tasty gingerbread. After you've reached confection perfection with your edible art, spend time with Nutmeg or Cinnamon, our very own gingerbread friends.
#LIT Light Show Presented by Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®️ Credit Card
Our dynamic, celebratory light show brings the fun of decorating the tree to life through thousands of dancing lights, culminating in a delightful and memorable tree lighting experience. Presented by Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®️ Credit Card from Chase.
Photos with Santa
Reindeer Games™ Scavenger Hunt featuring Rudolph and The Misfit Toys
Mrs. Claus' Christmas Traditions
Join the jolliest hostess of all for a fun-filled celebration of Christmas traditions. Delight in the retelling of the Christmas classic, "'Twas The Night Before Christmas," sing along to favorite holiday songs, and share a batch of Santa's favorite snack - warm, freshly baked Christmas cookies and ice-cold milk. Presented by Keany Produce.
The Greatest Story Stage Show
Build-A-Bear Workshop®
Build-A-Bear® has been adding a little more heart to life for more than 25 years! Visit Build-A-Bear Workshop® 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!
Wildlife Rescue
Winter Wellness at Relâche Spa
Don't miss your chance to stay and experience holiday cheer in our enchanting Christmas Dream Suite.. These spectacular suites are filled with Christmas decorations, a full-sized Christmas tree, and guests can enjoy a fresh plate of holiday sweets made by our resort chefs as part of the overnight experience. There is limited availability - suites are expected to sell out quickly.
Special Event: ASL Santa
Limited, one-day event only
Deaf Santa Charles visits, December 13 from 12-8 p.m., with children who communicate via American Sign Language (ASL). Families can reserve this special time with Santa Charles by booking a photo package for December 13th.
Guests who visit with Santa Charles on that day, December 13th, can also enjoy 40% off tickets to experience ICE! featuring Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™️. Use code Santa23 to book tickets on the same day only.
#ShineBright Wall of Kindness
Gaylord National is so excited to feature Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer™️ as this year's ICE! theme. As guests travel through this tale, carved out of 2 million pounds of colorful ice, they will be reminded of Rudolph's adventures and how he ultimately embraces what makes him different and #ShineBright. We encourage you all think about how you #ShineBright and spread kindness and love for others as we celebrate our differences.
Visit our Wall of Kindness, which will be located in the hall leading to ICE! and the Christmas Village entrance, to add your #ShineBright pledge and see how others #ShineBright in their own way. Don't forget to snap a picture and tag us @GaylordNational on social media!
Visit ICE! on Twinkle Tuesdays to Support Boys and Girls Clubs of Maryland
Gaylord National will be donating $1 to the Boys and Girls Club of Maryland for every ticket sold to visit ICE! the first 4 Tuesdays of the season. Help us support youth, promote inclusion and help prevent bullying this holiday season.
Help spread kindness by visiting ICE! on our #TwinkleTuesdays and don't forget to stop by our Wall of Kindness to add your #ShineBright pledge this season.
Gaylord National Sensory Experience
In order to help all guests enjoy Christmas at Gaylord National, we have dedicated certain days and times where our main holiday attractions will be modified to better accommodate guests who many have sensory sensitivity. These modifications include:
• Slower foot traffic time
• Music volume reduced in the ICE! attraction by 75%
• Reduced lighting
• Front of line access for ICE! attraction
Throughout the holiday season, the resort is also implementing the following services to help support families with sensory processing differences:
• Onsite "quiet area" that families can access if needed
• Complimentary ear plugs available at guest-service desk.
• A badge that can be worn to identify to our staff that you are sensory sensitivity.
• An overview for each Christmas activity that shares the sensory- experience so that guests can decide what attraction is best for them.