Two million pounds of ice will transform the Aurora resort into a frozen wonderland beginning November 20.
by Mark Smiley
Christmas At Gaylord Rockies: The annual holiday celebration returns to Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora from November 20, 2026, through January 3, 2027. This year’s festivities feature the debut of ICE! inspired by Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, along with a variety of seasonal attractions and family-friendly entertainment.
The magic of the holidays is taking shape at Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora, where 40 master ice artisans from Harbin, China, have arrived to create a spectacular frozen attraction inspired by Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.
The elaborate display, known as ICE!, will feature more than 2 million pounds of ice carved into larger-than-life sculptures depicting memorable characters and scenes from the popular film. The attraction opens November 20, 2026, and continues through January 3, 2027, as part of the resort’s annual Christmas celebration.
Creating the 17,000-square-foot frozen wonderland is no small undertaking. Over five weeks, the artisans will spend more than 12,000 hours transforming approximately 6,000 massive blocks of ice into intricate sculptures, some towering more than 30 feet high.
Armed with chainsaws, grinders, handsaws, chippers, and other specialized tools, the artists will bring the film’s distinctive characters and settings to life with remarkable detail.
“This is one of the most exciting moments of the year at Gaylord Rockies, as the arrival of our ice artisans marks the beginning of the transformation into our Christmas experience,” said Matt Marshall, general manager of the resort. “This year is especially exciting because guests will experience Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas in ice! for the very first time.”
The artisans traveled more than 5,700 miles from Harbin, a city internationally recognized for its spectacular ice and snow sculptures. Often called China’s “Ice City,” Harbin is home to the renowned Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival, one of the world’s largest winter celebrations.
Frozen Holiday Magic: Jack Skellington takes center stage in ICE! featuring Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas at Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora. The spectacular attraction features more than 2 million pounds of hand-carved ice and opens November 20, 2026, running through January 3, 2027.
Gaylord Hotels has partnered with artisans from Harbin since 2001, bringing their specialized skills to holiday attractions across the United States.
Each member of the team has a particular role in the creative process. Some use chainsaws to shape enormous blocks of ice, while others carefully carve delicate details by hand. Working from an extensive 300-page design book, the artisans create everything from tiny decorative elements to massive, towering displays.
Visitors to this year’s attraction will enter beneath the mischievous grin of Jack Skellington before making their way through the hauntingly whimsical world of Halloween Town. Familiar characters, including Sally, Zero, Dr. Finkelstein, The Mayor, and the mischievous trio Lock, Shock, and Barrel, will appear throughout the frozen experience. The Halloween Town Band will also be represented in ice.
The attraction is maintained at a chilly 9 degrees Fahrenheit to preserve the sculptures throughout the holiday season. Guests will also have an opportunity to watch ice-carving techniques at the Artisan Demonstration Showcase, offering a closer look at the craftsmanship behind the elaborate display.
ICE! is the centerpiece of Christmas at Gaylord Rockies, which features additional seasonal entertainment and holiday activities for families and visitors of all ages. The attraction opens November 20 and runs through January 3, 2027, at Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora.
Tickets, hotel packages and additional information are available at ChristmasatGay lordRockies.com.
