WASHINGTON — Saturday is opening day for the annual holiday ice sculpture spectacular at Gaylord National Resort at National Harbor.
The theme of this year’s walk-through attraction called ICE! is the 1964 TV special “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”
A staggering amount of ice — more than 2 million pounds — goes into making the sculptures, which are covered by a tent where the temperature inside is kept at a constant 9 degrees.
Visitors are given big blue parkas to wear as they walk through.
Thousands of colorful ice blocks, weighing 400 pounds each, are carefully carved by 35 artisans visiting from Harbin, China.
As it does every year, the attraction includes a Nativity scene made from crystal clear ice, as well as slides that are two stories tall.
“We have four ice slides, and this year’s theme is based on The Island of Misfit Toys,” said Gaylord National Resort’s Rachel Dinbokowitz.
And there’s another interactive feature for visitors this year.
“One of the things that people will be able to do is they can push a button and make Rudolph’s nose actually glow,” Dinbokowitz said.
ICE! will be open daily from Nov. 18 through Jan. 1.
Ticket prices range from $32 to $39 for adults and $24 to $32 for kids ages 4 to 11, depending on what day you visit.
Children age 3 and younger get in free, and there are special rates for groups and members of the military.
For more information, go to Gaylord National Resort’s homepage.
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