My family and I had the chance to experience ICE! at the Gaylord National yesterday night for “Shrek The Halls.” We had a blast and I’m excited that 1 Beltway Bargain Mom reader will get to win a family 4-pack of tickets to enjoy ICE too!
So what’s in store for those who attend ICE! Shrek the Halls at the Gaylord National? Lot’s of fun, breath-taking, colorful ice sculptures, 20-foot-tall slides, your favorite Dreamworks characters and the chance to see the artistry and product of dozens of artists and ice sculptors from Harbin, China. It’s carved from 2 million pounds of ice, and the whole process takes about a month to transform the refrigerated 15,000 square-foot tent right next to the Gaylord Hotel, into the final spectacle. It’s a part of the Christmas on the Potomac 5th year celebration at National Harbor and it is quite a fun and festive event!
Beltway Bargain Mom Tips to making the most of your visit to ICE!:
- Go during non-peak hours. That way you can avoid large crowds and the price for admission will be less.
- Dress Warm. It is only nine degrees in the ICE! area so I bring my scarf, gloves and hat. The Gaylord National does provide a blue, outer coat for all guests to wear, but I still suggest you wear your own coat underneath that, because it is extremely cold inside!
- Wear comfortable shoes. Boots or sneakers are great, and ladies who show up wearing high heels are not permitted to go down the slides.
- Plan the potty breaks. There are nice portable restrooms (heated with sinks and full-running water) located just outside of the ICE! Pavilion, in the parking lot. Be sure to use the restroom before entering ICE! as there are no restrooms inside and once you exit the refrigerated tent area, you are not allowed to re-enter the attraction (this is to avoid overcrowding).
- No Strollers allowed. Last year strollers were allowed (and we brought ours in for my then 1-year old daughter), but this year I saw many signs prohibiting use of a stroller.
Ways to save money on your ICE admission:
- Visit my post which has all the details: Gaylord ICE Discounts 2012.
And now for the fun part! One lucky Beltway Bargain Mom reader will win a family 4-pack of tickets to enjoy free admission to ICE!
Giveaway Prize: 4 tickets for your family to attend ICE! at the Gaylord National in National Harbor, MD. Valid Mondays-Fridays only. Excludes: Saturdays, Sundays or other blackout dates set by the National Gaylord. This giveaway ends 12/13/12 11:59pm ET and you have up to 6 ways to enter. Just enter via the Rafflecopter form below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: The giveaway prize has been supplied by the Gaylord National. I was provided complimentary tickets for my family and I to attend ICE as well as the Gingy Gingerbread Decorating and Dreamworks Characters Meet & Greet. The opinions shared in this post are my own, and I love to share great deals, local events and giveaways for my readers! To read my formal disclosure policy, please click here.
Hi my name’s Laura, the blogger behind Beltway Bargain Mom, and I’m a native of the Washington, DC metropolitan region. I’m a Christian, wife, mother of two and social media/web consultant so I wear many different hats and keep uber-busy… Typical Washingtonian! Thanks for stopping by and I hope you find this site useful for deals and frugal, family-friendly events here in our Nation's Capital!
{ 89 comments… read them below or add one }
This would be totally cool!
It looks like a lot of fun!
That hotel is great. Would love to see Ice!
Would love to win this!
I have wanted to go to this for years!
I’d love to take my family. Thanks so much for a great contest!
i always wanted to go to to ICE!
We would be so excited to go. My Kids swear they are the only ones in their class that hasn’t gone.
My twins would love to go to this!! Thank you for the opportunity to take them
my kids would love to go!
I so want to take the family to ICE this year!!
Would love to take my daughter! Thank you!
This sounds amazing, I bet my kiddos would love it!!
I would love to win!
I’d love to win and go!
I’ve always wanted to take my kids to this. It looks really cool….literally!!
My boys and I would love this!
We got to go last year and it was so much fun. We’d love to go again!
My kid’s would love to see this.
I would so love to take my stepdaughters to see Shrek the Halls on Ice!
Never been. It looks Awesome:) My kids would love to go see this spectacular event!
Looks fun!
Thanks for the opportunity! this is on our to do list!
I’d love to share these with our good friends.
ICE is one of my favorite local Holiday traditions!!!!
Jaime recently posted..The Annual Trip to Hopkins
Would love a chance to take the kiddos to see this as it is our first time living in the area for the holidays!!
We would love to win!!!! We’ve never been and my kids would LOVE it!
Such a cool prize.
Looks like so much fun–thanks for the giveaway!
We would love to win the family pack!
We’ve never been and would love to go this year. Fingers crossed!
How fun!
I WANT TO WIN!! PLEASE!!! =)
Have always wanted to go there, hope I win
what a great family activity!
Have always enjoyed going. Kids love it.
Would really like to win this – thank you!!
I would love to experience this with my family! I hope I am the winner!!!
Would love to go to this!
I always wanted to take my boys to this, I have heard about & heard it is wonderful!
What a great giveaway! I finally feel like my kids are at the right ages to really enjoy this now!
I would love to take my kids to Gaylord! We’ve always wanted but either didn’t have the time or didn’t have the funds. Thanks for the opportunity.
We’re dying to go this year – thanks for the opportunity!!
I would love to win these tickets. I would take my husband, daughter and son in law.
I would love to win for my family!
We just move here and I’ve heard so much about the Gaylord so I’m so excited about experiencing this this christmas!
Rheanna recently posted..Purex Detergent *Plus Oxi* Review/Giveaway
Please pick me!
I would love to win these – so much fun!
How fun!
My family and I would love to go to this. Thank you for giving tickets away. I sure hope we win.
My son has been asking to go to this… we went two years ago and loved it! I would love to be able to take him and save the cost of the tickets for Xmas presents….
Would love to win! We tried this several years ago but it was too crazy.
Hi
Would love to take my family to this!!
Would love to win! Never been:) Thanks for the info Macaroni Kid Fredericksburg on this give away!
Would love to win! Thank you for the opportunity! Cheers!
My girls would love this! Great contest.
Thanks for posting this info and contest. I sure hope I win. My 6 year old and 3 year old would love it!
I love to win because I love SHREK!!!
I would love love love these =)
I would love to take my kids!
My family would love to see this!!
I would love to win these! I got to go three years ago when I was in Florida and I definitely want to see the 2012 display!
This would be a great weekend getaway for the family.
Our family would love to see this event! Pick us!
Oh, my gosh, I would absolutely love to win!
I would love to go! I’ve never been to this before!
i would love to win this
Would love to take my kids to go see this!
My kids would love this! Thanks for the giveaway
Would love this for my family!!
Keeping my fingers crossed!
This would be awesome!
I’d love to win and take my nephews too.
we’d love to go to see Shrek! =)
we want to see Shrek pls!!
Awesome!! Shrek is amazing!! Thank you, beltway bargain mom, for sponsoring. Would love to win ICE! Tickets for me and my family!! Gaylord rocks!! Xoxo
Would love to win this!
My kids have been begging me to take them!! Would love the tickets!
I have not been yet, but it would be nICE to win!
I want to win! I would love to take my kids
We have never gone, it looks like so much fun!
Would love to win!
I would love to win!
We’ve never been & would LOVE to go!
All 4 of my girls would LOVE this!!
Would love to win this for my family.
I would love to be able to take my girls this year!!! We were at the National Harbor last year and just happened to see Shrek the Halls and thought we could just walk in and pay…didn’t happen, lol. I wanted to take them this year before I have my son in January!! Hope we win!!!!! Thanks for the give-away!!!
Would be SO fun!