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Things To Do At ‘A Country Christmas’ At Gaylord Opryland In Nashville
‘A Country Christmas’ at Gaylord Opryland is Tennessee’s longest running holiday attraction.
Photo Courtesy Gaylord Opryland
Whether you are visiting Nashville or local to the area, Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center is THE place to be at Christmastime. The luxury resort boasts endless holiday activities for people of all ages and will surely get you into the holiday spirit.
Located just minutes away from Downtown Nashville and steps away from the Grand Ole Opry and Opry Mills mall, Gaylord Opryland is the perfect place to stay any time of the year, and even more so during the holiday season.
An overnight stay at the resort will leave you feeling like you’re in a winter wonderland, but if you aren’t planning to stay the night, you can still enjoy a lot of what Gaylord Opryland has to offer.
From the festive decor to a dinner show with the Oak Ridge Boys, here are eight things you should check out at Gaylord Opryland during the 39th annual ‘A Country Christmas’ event.
ICE!
The classic tale of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer comes to life before your eyes through a 2 million pound display of colorful ice. This experience is fun for people of all ages and even includes ice slides! This is a ticketed activity.
Tip: You’ll want to dress warmly for this as it’s FREEZING inside. They provide you with a parka, but you’ll still want to layer up with a hat and gloves.
Ice Tubing
This activity is for the young and young at heart. Located outside of the resort in the Pinetop Village, the ice tubing hill is 15 feet high and includes four lanes. A ticket is required.
Bumper Cars
The kids will absolutely love the bumper cars at Pinetop Village. While this activity is fun for all ages, parents can enjoy a short break while their kids bump around the track. A ticket is required.
Ice Skating
Gaylord Opryland’s Pinetop Village also includes a 9,000-square-foot ice skating rink made with real ice! A ticket is required and includes a skate rental.
Tip: Lessons are available for those who need assistance.
See The Stunning Decor
Even if you’re not an overnight guest at the resort, you can still enjoy the beautiful holiday decor. There are Christmas lights galore, stunning trees, and more throughout the property. Prepare to be amazed by the jaw-dropping decor.
Tip: If you are not a ticket holder to an activity, or a guest of Gaylord Opryland you will not be guaranteed access to the resort after 2pm CT on the following dates: November 18-29, December 2-4, December 9-11, and December 16-31, 2022. You must arrive prior to 2pm CT on those dates or plan your visit for another day.
Walk Through the Parade Of Trees
Stroll through the Garden Conservatory and Cascades Atrium to see the Parade of Trees. Each tree is themed and decorated by country Grand Ole Opry members Alan Jackson, Keith Urban, Little Big Town, and Reba McEntire, along with George Strait, Jon Pardi, Jordan Davis, Kacey Musgraves, Luke Bryan, Maddie & Tae, Sam Hunt, and Tyler Hubbard. Along with their trees, each artist donated “Once in a Lifetime” VIP experiences (fly-aways, VIP concert experiences, exclusive merchandise and more) all to benefit First Responders Children’s Foundation. Proceeds raised will provide scholarships and mental health services to children who have lost a parent in the line of duty including a new collaboration with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® for the local Monroe Carell Jr Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
Watch the Christmas Fountain Show
Water, lights, and music are synchronized to create a mesmerizing fountain show. This is FREE and takes place multiple times daily: Brightest Star Fountain Show, daily at 6pm and 8pm, and Dec. 31 at 6 p.m. only. Sounds of the Season Fountain Show, daily at 7pm and 9pm, and Dec. 31 at 7 pm only.
See The Oak Ridge Boys ‘Christmas In Tennessee’ Dinner Show
Music and dinner? Sign us up! The Oak Ridge Boys have a five-week residency at Gaylord Opryland, allowing visitors to experience a live show from the Country Music Hall of Fame members. Dinner is served, followed by a performance that includes the Grammy-winning group’s fan-favorite hits as well as Christmas classics. Tickets are available HERE.
There are several other activities to enjoy at Gaylord Opryland, including Rudolph’s Holly Jolly Breakfast, the Reindeer Games Scavenger Hunt, gingerbread decorating, photos with Santa, carriage rides, and more.
A full list of activities can be found on Gaylord Opryland’s official website.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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