For more than two decades, the folks at Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center have covered the hotel and grounds in all things Christmas.
And this year, the 25th anniversary of Gaylord Opryland's A Country Christmas, the celebration is kicked up another notch -- from the nearly 2 million holiday lights entwined throughout the complex to the assorted themed activities, dining experiences and Christmas shows.
Louise Mandrell, who stars in the show she has dubbed Louise Mandrell's Joy to the World Christmas Dinner & Show, replaces fellow country singer Pam Tillis, who performed the dinner series for the previous three years. Mandrell's evening will feature traditional Christmas songs, a bit of comedy, lots of dancing and a family-style Christmas dinner on which she worked with the resort's executive chef, Michael Swann, to create.
As for the show, the singer intends to take audiences on a musical tour around the world. Country singer Barbara Mandrell, her older sister, helped Louise organize an evening of entertainment that would showcase all of the younger sister's talents.
Grinch and ICE! unite
In addition to Mandrell's show, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular with the Rockettes is back for another year, and ICE! featuring How The Grinch Stole Christmas! is making its final appearance in Nashville.
ICE! will be back next year with a new theme, but until then, families can enjoy the 1.5 million pounds of ice painstakingly sculpted into scenes from the Dr. Seuss classic How The Grinch Stole Christmas! There are 20-foot ice slides, photo opportunities and a gift shop at the end that serves hot chocolate.
Other Christmas activities on the resort's grounds include: the Brightest Star fountain show; gingerbread-making classes; carriage rides; an outdoor Nativity display; Rockabilly Christmas; kids holiday train; a craft show; holiday-theme spa treatments at Relache; and pictures with Santa. In addition, there's also NashVegas on the River and Tim Watson's Tennessee Christmas, both aboard the General Jackson Showboat.
