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Brrr! Gaylord Texan announces theme for ICE! holiday exhibit that brings 2 million pounds of ice to town

If you’ve already had just about enough of this Texas summer heat, here's something to look forward to: the theme of this year's ICE! event, featuring 2 million pounds of, you guessed it, ice, has just been announced.

Beginning Nov. 10, a special area inside the Gaylord Texan Resort will be transformed to the theme of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

The ice bar at ICE! keeps 21 and over guests nice and toasty while they explore the holiday...
The ice bar at ICE! keeps 21 and over guests nice and toasty while they explore the holiday ice exhibit.(Alexandra Olivia / Special Contributor)

Master ice artisans will journey from China to hand-carve the 2 million pounds of ice into a winter wonderland fit for a fairy tale. (We're shivering just thinking about it.) They’ll sculpt scenes and characters in line with the theme, plus perennial favorites like the On the Blocks ice bar for the 21-plus crowd, and five two-story tall ice slides for young and old alike to slip and glide down.

Scenes and characters made of ice will depict the story of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” so we’re expecting some shimmering ice-reindeer, and, of course, Ma in her kerchief and Pa in his cap.

Plus, a full nativity scene will be sculpted from crystal-clear ice. Get ready for a glittering display of holiday goodness, augmented by 2 million lights and a 54-foot Christmas tree decked out with 15,000 ornaments.

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The exhibit is kept at a frosty 9 degrees to preserve the ice sculptures, so while it's hard to imagine now, you're going to want to bundle up and take advantage of the calf-length parka included with admission.

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The life-size nativity scene carved of crystal-clear ice is an annual part of the Gaylord...
The life-size nativity scene carved of crystal-clear ice is an annual part of the Gaylord Texan ICE! exhibit.(Alexandra Olivia / Special Contributor)

When the heat starts to feel like it's just too much this summer, circle November on your calendar, when ice will overtake the 14,000-square-foot exhibition area right into the New Year. Outside of ICE! itself, the Gaylord Texan will also host holiday activities, from snow tubing to gingerbread decorating.

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Brrr -- bring on the ice!

Nov. 10, 2017 - Jan. 1, 2018 at Gaylord Texan Resort, 1501 Gaylord Trail, Grapevine. $12.99-$21.99. christmasatgaylordtexan.com