See A Holiday Classic Told Through Hand-Carved Ice Sculptures

Photos courtesy of Gaylord Rockies

ICE!, the annual holiday tradition at Gaylord Hotels, opened Friday Nov. 17, 2023 and will run through Jan. 1, 2024. Using more than two million pounds – or 1,000 tons – of ice, the amusing Warner Bros. holiday classic, ‘A Christmas Story™’ will be brought to life in ice sculpture form by a team of 40 world-class ice artisans from Harbin, China. The holiday celebration continues with performances from “Cirque: Spirit of Christmas,” ice slides, Christmas activities and a visit from Santa Claus.

This year, guests will experience over ten scenes from the hilarious family tale in hand-carved sculptures made of ice. Featured scenes include the old man’s major award, Aunt Clara’s pink nightmare, the ultimate triple dog dare at the school’s flagpole and more. Colored ice, clear ice, and LED lights are all used to create the display.

Starting with more than 6,000 massive ice blocks, the carvers work approximately six weeks – more than 12,000 man-hours – to create the nearly 17,000 square foot frozen attraction. The artisans, using skills passed down through generations, follow a 300-page design book to create the ice spectacle.

Ice carvings range in size from details as tiny as a coin to soaring scenes more than 30 feet tall. The environment will be kept frozen by a state-of-the-art chilling system that maintains the attraction’s temperature at nine degrees Fahrenheit. Guests will sport a signature blue parka to stay warm.

The carvers will travel more than 5,700 miles from their homes in Harbin, China to Aurora, Colorado. Known as “Ice City,” Harbin is home to the world’s largest annual ice and snow sculpting festival in the world. At Gaylord Rockies, some of the same artisans who create the Harbin festival will carve 300-pound blocks of ice into the larger-than-life, whimsical scenes. Carvers will use chisels, chippers, tongs, handsaws, grinders and even chainsaws to bring “A Christmas Story” to life.

“ICE! has been a tradition at Gaylord Hotels for two decades now,” said General Manager, Suzy Hart. “This is the first time Rockies has put on ‘A Christmas Story’ and watching people come together to enjoy it never gets old.”

In addition to the amazing ice sculptures from the fan-favorite Christmas movie, guests can also take rides down the two-story-tall ice slides and traverse through ice tunnels and arches. The ICE! experience concludes in a separate area dedicated to the Nativity scene, meticulously carved, and shaped in a dramatic display of crystal-clear ice.

While ICE! is the signature attraction for Christmas at Gaylord Rockies, “Cirque: Spirit of Christmas” returns for another year with dazzling costumes, breathtaking aerial performances, and feats that defy gravity. The original Gaylord Hotels production will feature high-flying stunts, acrobatic feats, elaborate staging, and a dramatic musical score directed by renowned Broadway Director Neil Goldberg. This Cirque-style show centers on Noel, a child dismayed by the hustle and bustle of the holidays.

Throughout the 65-minute show, Noel is visited in dreamlike chapters by trapeze artists, acrobats, aerial silk performers and others who help rekindle the Christmas spirit. The show will be performed by an international cast of 25 artists hailing from Germany, Hungary, Portugal, Ethiopia, Czech Republic, Mongolia, Russia, and the U.S.

Get more information on tickets here.