What to Know About Christmas at Gaylord National

Dates

Christmas at Gaylord National is running daily through January 4, 2026. Nearly all of the activities end on that date, but Photos with Santa ends on December 24, 2025, and a few of the others end on January 2, 2026.

Where to Find Christmas Activities at Gaylord National

Most of the Christmas activities are in the Christmas Village on the resort's lower level, which is magical place to wander around. Be aware, though, that the centerpiece of the village is a giant gift shop and there's a pop-up Build-A-Bear Workshop as soon as you enter, so you may need to manage your kids' expectations ahead of time.

Each holiday season, the resort's Atrium is transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with sparkling lights, pop-up holiday shops, and the famous 55-foot Starlight Christmas tree that's suspended from the ceiling. Your family will feel like you're in an outdoor Christmas town! Two holiday shows take place in the Atrium.

Stop by Gaylord National's lobby to see the impressive gingerbread village. 

And don't miss the resort's main Lobby, where you'll find more pretty lights and dazzling decorations, including an intricate gingerbread village.

How to Get Tickets—and Save Money!

Most of the Christmas activities at Gaylord National require visitors to purchase advance tickets on the website—and they're not cheap. So if you're not looking to break the bank, choose one or two activities your family most wants to do and book those as soon as possible, as tickets (especially on weekends) can sell out quickly. There are also special ticket bundles that offer 20% off for three activities and 30% off for five activities.

Not looking to spend money this year? Your family will still have plenty to do! Gaylord National offers a few FREE holiday activities (more on those later). Plus, just walking around and looking at all of the dazzling Christmas lights, Christmas trees, and lavish decorations is enough to put anyone in the holiday spirit!

My Family's Experience at Christmas at Gaylord National

We got to enjoy three of the ticketed activities at Christmas at Gaylord National this year. They all happened to be our favorites, so my daughter was thrilled!

Climb aboard the Polar Express—made of ice! 

1. ICE! featuring The Polar Express

ICE! is Gaylord National's main holiday event, and it's amazing to see. It has a different theme each year, and this year's theme has been my favorite so far—The Polar Express! Ten iconic scenes have been brought to life by two million pounds of ice carved into massive, colorful sculptures. We were amazed by the massive train, the towering Christmas tree, the 11-foot Santa, and so much more. My daughter especially enjoyed all of the interactive elements. She got to slide down ice slides, crawl through an ice tunnel, and sit on an icy train seat.

Visitors to ICE! begin the experience by putting on an iconic blue parka, but be sure to bring your own heavy coat, hat, and gloves as well. Since ICE! is kept at a freezing nine degrees Fahrenheit, you'll need them!

2. Snowball Build & Blast

Our next experience was Snowball Build & Blast, for which you purchase a container of real snow to roll into snowballs and toss at targets worth different points. Note that scores aren't actually calculated, so this is a good opprtunity to practice those math skills! My daughter's hands were cold by the end of the roughly 10-minute activity, so consider bringing gloves for your kids. Tickets for this experience are not timed, so you may have a short wait depending on how crowded it is.

3. Snow Flow Mountain

Next up on our magical itinerary was tubing down giant ice slides on Snow Flow Mountain. The slides are steep enough to allow riders to get some good speed, but not so steep that younger kids can't enjoy it (as long as they're the required 42 inches tall). Tubing tickets are good for the entire day, which means you can slide as many times as you want. It also means the line can get quite long, but it's worth the wait to go down several times. Even my husband and I enjoy this activity!

Other Fun Activities at Christmas at Gaylord National

4. Mrs. Claus' Christmas Traditions

Enjoy storytime and songs with Mrs. Claus! Listen to her read 'Twas The Night Before Christmas, sing along to holiday songs, and enjoy warm, freshly baked Christmas cookies and milk. The experience lasts about 25 minutes.

5. Photos With Santa

Meet and take a picture with Santa Claus himself! Four photo packages are available, ranging in price from $40 to $99.

Meet gingerbread friends in Gaylord National Resort's Christmas Village.

6. Gingerbread Decorating Corner

Purchase a gingerbread house or cookie decorating kit and let your Christmas creativity fly! Once you're finished, meet and take a picture with Nutmeg, Gaylord National's resident gingerbread man.

7. Mistletoe Mile Scavenger Hunt

This scavenger hunt takes families on a quest through the resort to help Santa find his missing toy blueprints—and win a souvenir of their own!

8. Cirque: Spirit of Christmas show

This Broadway-style show featuring dazzling acrobatics, feats of flexibility, and high-flying stunts centers around Noel, a child dismayed by the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Trying to recapture her lost love of the season, she is visited by spirits who bring back the true meaning of the season in energetic, dreamlike chapters. The show's 35-minute length makes it perfect for kids with shorter attention spans!

Watch the Starlight Christmas tree drop from the ceiling during the Here We Glow A-Caroling Laser Light Show. Photo courtesy of Marriott

Free Activities at Christmas at Gaylord National

9. Here We Glow A-Caroling Laser Light Show

Every evening at 7:30, 8:45, and 9:15pm, the giant Christmas tree in the Atrium drops from the ceiling and comes to life with thousands of dancing lights, Christmas carols, and lasers. Since we visited in the evening, we ended out experience by watching this free show from the resort Lobby, which offers a fantastic view of the Christmas tree in the Atrium!

10. Wildlife Rescue

This augmented-reality experience is a fun (and FREE!) way to keep the kids busy while you walk around to see all the lights and decorations. Take a virtual safari through the resort by searching for 12 endangered animals using tracking markers and bringing them to life with AR. Learn fun facts and snap photos. A smartphone and free app download are necessary.

Dining at Gaylord National Resort

You can purchase hot cocoa and festive treats in the Christmas Village and the Atrium, as well snacks and meals to go at the Potomac District Cafe & Market. For a fun and casual sit-down meal, try Harbor Socialin the Atrium, where you can reserve a duckpin bowling lane. And if you want a fancier but still child-friendly meal, Old Hickory is your spot. It has a kids menu!

If you're willing to leave the resort for lunch or dinner, there are so many kid-friendly restaurant options in National Harbor. We share a few of them in our list of the best things to do in National Harbor with kids.

Want to enjoy all the fun holiday activities at Gaylord National Resort without feeling too rushed? Book your staycation at Gaylord National now!

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All photos by the author except where noted.