Ice Artisans From Harbin, China Begin Carving ‘The Polar Express™’ At Gaylord Rockies

Ice Artisans From Harbin, China Begin Carving ‘The Polar Express™’ At Gaylord Rockies

Over 12,000 Hours Dedicated To Creating Colorado’s Largest Indoor Ice Attraction

by Mark Smiley

Thirty ice artisans from Harbin, China, arrived at Gaylord Rockies to begin the annual carving process for ICE!, a holiday attraction featuring ice sculptures that will bring this year’s theme, The Polar Express, to life. They have transformed 2 million pounds of ice into a 17,000-square-foot display, using chippers, tongs, handsaws, grinders, and chainsaws.

The artisans traveled over 5,700 miles from Harbin, China, famously known as “Ice City,” home to the world’s largest annual ice and snow sculpting festival. Since 2001, Gaylord Hotels has partnered with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences and these talented artists to capture their extraordinary craftsmanship here in the U.S. At Gaylord Rockies, some of the same artisans behind the Harbin festival will sculpt 300-pound blocks of ice into larger-than-life scenes from Warner Bros. The Polar Express™.

The artisans, drawing on generations of expertise, work from a detailed 300-page design book to bring the ice spectacle to life. Each artisan contributes a unique talent — some mastering demolition with chainsaws, while others focus on intricate, precise carvings. Ice carvings range in size from details as tiny as a coin to scenes more than 30 feet tall. A cutting-edge chilling system will keep the entire space at a frosty 9 degrees Fahrenheit, and guests will stay cozy in the attraction’s signature blue parkas.

This holiday season, guests will embark on a journey through hand-carved ice sculptures depicting nine scenes from The Polar Express. In celebration of the film’s 20th anniversary, featured scenes include the Polar Express arriving at Hero Boy’s house, passengers enjoying hot chocolate aboard the train, an exhilarating descent through Glacier Gulch, and the enchanting arrival at the North Pole. The attraction will use colored ice, clear ice, and LED lights to create the breathtaking display.

In addition to the awe-inspiring ice sculptures from the beloved Christmas film, guests can take rides down the two-story-tall ice slides, traverse through ice tunnels and arches, and visit the carver showcase to watch artisans perform live carving demonstrations. The ICE! experience concludes in a separate area dedicated to the Nativity scene, meticulously carved and shaped in a dramatic display of crystal-clear ice. ICE! featuring The Polar Express will run from Nov. 22, 2024, to Jan. 1, 2025.

Christmas at Gaylord Rockies packages that include special room rates and admission to select events are now available. Guests are encouraged to book their experiences early, as advance online reservations are required for all ticketed events, and prime dates are expected to sell out. For tickets, more information, or to book an overnight stay, guests may visit ChristmasatGaylordRockies.com.

The GOP Civil War Rages On

The GOP Civil War Rages On

ASHE IN AMERICA — OPINION

The election is behind us, and Colorado Republicans performed better in the Centennial State than they did during the prior two iterations of Colorado GOP leadership. The Congressional delegation is now balanced with four Democrats and four Republicans, and Republicans managed to chip away at the super majority in the Colorado House and prevent a super majority in the Colorado Senate.

In 2023, Republican party voting members chose to break the establishment’s stranglehold on their party, choosing former State Representative Dave Williams to lead the party in a new America First direction. The idea was simple: We’re finally going to fight back against Democrats and elect America First Republicans.

Prior to the election of Williams, party leadership under Brown, and under former Congressman Ken Buck (CO-04) before her, were happy being the minority party in the state. They scored no notable wins. They made no meaningful change. They whined and failed and blamed Democrats for their failures. Then they asked for money.

In 2023, Republican voters demanded the party fight back, fight the corruption head on, and openly oppose the sinister subversion of our Colorado institutions.

The opposition began immediately, as the Kristi Burton Browns and Eli Bremers of the world processed their thunderous rejection by the most engaged members of their party.

In the run up to their ouster, in December 2022, Kristi Burton Brown’s leadership team allegedly paid themselves the party’s remaining budget as bonuses, despite a complete and total failure to achieve the much anticipated “red wave.” It’s never been established what accomplishments those bonuses awarded, but it doesn’t matter. They left the party coffers empty, and they never turned over the books.

While starving the party of resources, these Republicans then, in the middle of an election year, attempted a coup on the elected Chairman of the GOP. They dragged the party to court, held a meeting with their allies, agreed on a novel interpretation of the bylaws that affirmed their subversive plot, and claimed that “the party” voted to oust the Chair.

Then Eli Bremer ran around calling himself Chairman for a while.

Imagine how Republicans might have performed in the 2024 election if former GOP leadership was working for, rather than against, the will of Republican voters. Imagine if those resources — legal fees and time spent in court and all that psychological and emotional energy — had been spent on winning races?

Despite this targeted opposition from the Republican establishment, Republican candidates performed better than they have in a long time. It likely would have been even better if not for the ongoing GOP civil war.

Prior to the 2024 election cycle, GOP leadership never made any effort to engage the broader electorate, recognizing the changing demographics in our state. Chairman Dave Williams, however, collaborated with Libertarian Party Chairman Hannah Goodman, and they developed the Liberty Pledge. As a result of the Liberty Pledge, the Libertarian candidate in Congressional District 8 withdrew from the race and Gabe Evans is now a Republican Congressman.

The establishment camp is quick to dismiss the Colorado Republican Party of having any impact in CD8 — Evans reportedly refused party resources and negotiated his Liberty Pledge outside the party — but prior to Williams, the idea of Republicans collaborating with Libertarians would get you banished from polite party society. Williams broke the ground.

Establishment Republicans’ first instinct after Evans’ victory was to attack the coalition and settle personal scores. They barely acknowledged the role of Libertarians in the extraordinarily tight CD8 race; their primary focus — after a massive Republican win — was to attack their fellow Republicans and manipulate their way back into power.

In Colorado, America First is a coalition and competing for credit and assigning blame are death blows to a coalition. It’s not surprising, then, that this is the path of the power hungry. Soon these instigators will renew their calls for Williams to resign despite the chair election being a few months away. Pursuing power and settling personal scores is really all they know.

America First has momentum in Colorado, and powerful people are desperate to stop it. Division is effective at destabilizing, and there’s nothing more divisive than a civil war.

Ashe in America is a writer and activist. Find all her work at linktree.com/asheinamerica.

Holly Jolly Holidays

Holly Jolly Holidays

Valley Gadfly

‘Twas a long, long while from May to December. Winter Solstice heralds the year’s coldest season. Hot cocoa will be a comforting, warming custom versus coming cold spells. May the holidays fill you with fun, food, and good fortune. As we sing the evocative, nostalgic “Auld Lang Syne,” we toast good spirits, kindness, prosperity, and good will.

So, with Santa’s help, here are our choices for shopping, dining, and entertainment to ensure stockings are hung by the fire and cookies baked in the Old Saint Nick of time:

Find one-of-a-kind items from 40+ local makers-designers at the 5th Cherry Creek Holiday Market through Dec. 24. Warm up in Fillmore Plaza’s all-new Mistletoe Lounge with comfy seating, drinks. Information: 303-394-2905.

Sarah Brightman — a top selling British artist of all time — does A Christmas Symphony at the Buell Theatre Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m. Information: 720-865-4220.

The White Christmas Ball returns to Wings Over the Rockies with Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra & Hot Tomatoes Dec 7, 5:30 p.m. Information: 303-360-5360.

Catch the spirit & soul of the holidays at Dazzle as Annie Booth Trio performs songs from a Charlie Brown Christmas Dec. 16-24. Information: 303-839-5100.

Brunch with Father Christmas at Four Mile Historic Park December 14 & 15th, 8 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. Enjoy Egg Scramble, Waffles, Bacon, Link Sausage, Potatoes, Fruit, Breads, Juice Bar, Coffee, more. Information: 720-865-0800.

Looking for a tasty beer for the holidays? Glendale’s Bull & Bush Brewery on Cherry Creek S. Dr. took home six medals at this year’s World Beer Cup, including a gold for its Dessert Stout Kauai Pie. Information: 303-759-0333.

Chris Daniels & The Kings play unparalleled horn-drenched rock and soul music in Swallow Hill’s Daniels Hall Dec. 20, 8 p.m. Information: 303-777-1003.

Enjoy crafts, treats, as Chabad of Cherry Creek hosts their annual Chanukah Celebration in Cherry Creek Dec. 29th, 2:30-5 p.m. Information: 303-329-0213.

Bring in 2025 — Year of Quantum Science & Technology — to polkas, waltzes, and marches at Boettcher Hall Dec. 31, 6:30 p.m. Information: 303-623-7876.

Help families stay close to their hospitalized children at Denver’s Ronald McDonald House this holiday season by donating funds to the “Light the Houses” campaign this December. Funding provides private rooms and hot meals at no cost during sick children’s stay. Information: 303-832-2667.

May you experience the light of laughter, the warmth of love, and the joy of gratitude this season. Just be advised, music screaming “Fa la la la” will be playing in every store and eatery. Over the centuries, Christmas and Chanukah traditions have evolved, featuring elements from various cultures and regions. Today, they are both religious holidays and festive events.

Wrap up the holidays of 2024 with hot cocoa and good cheer. Then as we get ready to ring in the New Year, we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet for days of auld lang syne.

— Glen Richardson

The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.