Nashville Unscripted · Events Guide
3 million lights. 15 acres of indoor gardens transformed into Christmas. ICE! sculptures. The most over-the-top Christmas experience in the South — and it all happens inside one hotel.
A Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland is one of the most spectacular holiday events in the United States — and most people outside Nashville have never heard of it. Every November through January, the Gaylord Opryland Resort transforms its 9-acre indoor atrium into a Christmas wonderland that draws visitors from across the country.
Dates
November 2026 – January 2027
Location
Gaylord Opryland Resort, Nashville
Address
2800 Opryland Dr, Nashville TN 37214
ICE! Tickets
From $35 adults
Lights
3 million+
Award
15-time Golden Ticket winner
Staying for A Country Christmas?
Book the Gaylord Opryland or a Nearby Hotel
Staying at the Gaylord Opryland is the full experience. Nearby Nashville hotels are a budget-friendly alternative — rideshare over for the lights and ICE! then back to downtown.
Browse Nashville Hotels → Browse Nashville VRBOs →What Is A Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland?
The Gaylord Opryland Resort is one of the largest non-gaming resort hotels in the United States — a massive complex with 9 acres of indoor climate-controlled atriums filled with tropical plants, restaurants, and water features year-round. Every November it transforms into something else entirely.
A Country Christmas covers the entire resort in over 3 million lights, elaborate Christmas displays, themed experiences, and the centerpiece attraction: ICE! — a walk-through experience featuring more than 2 million pounds of hand-carved ice sculptures maintained at 9°F. You walk through it in provided parkas. It is genuinely unlike anything else you will experience at a holiday event.
The resort has won the Golden Ticket Award for Best Christmas Event 15 consecutive times. It is not hyperbole to call it the best holiday event in the South.
ICE! — The Must-Do Experience
ICE! is the signature experience of A Country Christmas and the reason most visitors make the trip. Every year the ICE! team — ice carvers flown in from Harbin, China — sculpts a new themed display from 2 million pounds of ice. The display changes themes annually.
- Temperature: 9°F inside the ICE! attraction — parkas are provided and included with your ticket
- Duration: Allow 30-45 minutes to walk through at a comfortable pace
- Best for: All ages — the ice slides are a highlight for kids and adults
- Book in advance: ICE! tickets sell out, especially on weekends and holiday weeks
- Time slot: Entry is timed — choose your time slot when booking
ICE! Ticket Prices
ICE! tickets run approximately $35–$40 for adults and $25–$30 for children depending on date and time slot. Weekend and holiday prices are higher than weekday rates. Always book in advance at marriott.com/acountry-christmas — walk-up availability is limited especially on peak dates.
Everything at A Country Christmas
- ICE! — the walk-through ice sculpture experience at 9°F. The main event.
- 3 million lights — the entire resort draped in Christmas lights, most spectacular after dark.
- SkyTykes Adventure Park — indoor aerial adventure course for kids and families.
- Holidays on the Cumberland — holiday light show projected onto the Cumberland River outside the resort.
- Christmas movie screenings — holiday films shown in various venues throughout the resort.
- Live entertainment — performances and holiday shows throughout the season.
- Holiday dining — multiple restaurants inside the resort offer seasonal menus throughout the Christmas season.
- Santa meet-and-greets — available throughout the season for families with young children.
Should You Stay at the Gaylord Opryland?
Staying at the Gaylord Opryland is the premium A Country Christmas experience — you’re surrounded by 3 million lights from the moment you check in, you can wander the atriums at any hour, and you don’t have to drive or rideshare home after a cold evening.
The honest answer: the Gaylord Opryland during Christmas is expensive — rooms run $300–$600+ per night during peak holiday weeks. If budget is a concern, staying downtown Nashville and ridesharing to the resort for ICE! and the lights saves significant money while still giving you the full experience. The resort is open to day visitors for all ticketed experiences.
| Option | Cost | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Stay at Gaylord Opryland | $300–$600+/night | Full immersion — lights, ICE!, dining all in one place |
| Stay downtown, rideshare over | $150–$250/night hotel + $20-30 rideshare | Same ICE! and lights experience at lower total cost |
| Day visit from Nashville | ICE! tickets + rideshare only | ICE! and lights without overnight stay |
Getting to Gaylord Opryland from Downtown Nashville
The Gaylord Opryland Resort is located in the Opryland area — about 8 miles east of downtown Nashville, near the airport. Not walkable from Broadway.
- Rideshare — Uber or Lyft from downtown runs $15–$25 each way. Most cost-effective for day visitors.
- Drive and park — the resort has on-site parking. Valet and self-park available.
- Hotel shuttle — if you’re staying at a nearby hotel, confirm shuttle availability.
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A Country Christmas dates, ICE! themes, ticket prices, and event details are subject to change annually. Always verify current information and book tickets at marriott.com. This post contains affiliate links.