If you’re planning a visit to Nashville around the holiday season, there’s one place you simply cannot miss – the Opryland Hotel. We’ve written before about how much we LOVE this place, and how truly magical it is at Christmas time (click here to read more about it).
From the 48 foot tall Christmas tree in the Delta atrium to the exquisite nativity scene outside, the entire hotel is transformed into a Christmas wonderland. But it’s not just the decorations that make Opryland Hotel so special during Christmas time – it’s the atmosphere. Everywhere you go, you’ll hear holiday music playing and see families and couples enjoying the festive ambiance.
Every year the Opryland Hotel is adding new and creative features to their list of activities, and here’s what’s new for 2023:
ICE! Featuring The Polar Express
The ICE exhibit at the Opryland Hotel is an incredible winter wonderland that is a must-see for anyone in the Nashville area during the holiday season. This exhibit features over two million pounds of hand-carved ice sculptures that are made by ice artisans from China. It is truly amazing to see the intricate ice designs and how the artisans make the ice come alive! The theme for 2023 is The Polar Express.
To keep everything frozen, the temperature inside the exhibit is kept at a chilly 9 degrees Fahrenheit! After a brief intro, visitors can wander through the various displays, which include an exquisite Polar Express train scene, several iconic scenes from the movie, a train car that you can actually sit in, and even a life-sized ice slide! A nice touch this year was an ice artisans station, where you can meet an actual artisan and see how a simple block of ice is transformed into an iconic movie character.
One of our favorite parts of the exhibit, has to be the life-sized nativity scene at the end of the experience. The depiction of Christ’s birth carved out of crystal clear ice always takes my breath away.
Overall, the ICE exhibit at the Opryland Hotel is a truly unique experience that is sure to delight visitors of all ages, and The Polar Express theme for this year has been Kim’s favorite of all their designs. From the stunning ice sculptures to the interactive elements, this exhibit is a must-see for anyone visiting Nashville during the holiday season. So bundle up and head on over to the Opryland Hotel for a chilly, yet unforgettable, adventure!
Mrs. Claus Christmas Traditions
New for 2023 is the addition of a meet and greet with Mrs Claus. This interactive experience provides an opportunity to meet Mrs. Claus herself along with one of her elves, enjoy a reading of The Night Before Christmas, have a fun Christmas sing along, and even enjoy a tasty Christmas cookie treat!
This activity is definitely geared towards families with younger children and typically lasts about 25 minutes. Since it’s located in the Opryland Events Center, we enjoyed it immediately before our ICE! Experience and had a great time. If you have younger kids this is definitely a great way to warm up, sit back and watch them experience some Christmas magic as they interact with the one and only Mrs. Claus !
Insider Tips
- It’s quite chilly inside the ICE! exhibit. We recommend wearing gloves and a warm hat to help with the chill.
- Both of these exhibits are located in the Opryland Events Center located in the Pinetop area of the resort.
- Both attractions require tickets to attend. The tickets are timed for a specific date and time and can be purchased online in advance by clicking here.