Celebrated Resort to Bring Beloved Magic of Harry Potter in Ice for the First Time
GRAPEVINE, TEXAS (July 23, 2026) – Gaylord Texan’s beloved holiday events will make their dazzling return to Gaylord Texan Resort, running Nov. 13, 2026, through Jan. 3, 2027. This year, Gaylord Texan proudly unveils ice! ™ featuring Harry Potter™. For the first time in history, elements inspired by the wizarding world will come to life in 2 million pounds of brilliantly hand-carved ice. This never-before-seen theme joins an impressive lineup of joy-filled holiday activities perfect for guests of every age. Starting today, visitors can purchase tickets or book early bird packages at ChristmasAtGaylordTexan.com.
In the debut of ice! featuring Harry Potter™, visitors will be greeted by a towering ice sculpture of Hedwig, Harry’s beloved owl, before stepping into ten spectacular rooms filled with photo-worthy moments and iconic scenes inspired by the films such as Hogsmeade Station, the Forbidden Forest, The Three Broomsticks, The Great Hall and Hogwarts Castle-themed spaces. In the castle room, visitors can race down six impressive two-story ice slides that lead toward the Quidditch Pitch, where the room will burst into light and color in celebration of each Hogwarts house.
Maintained at a crisp 9 degrees, signature blue parkas are provided for visitors to explore the attraction. They will also experience live carving demonstrations from the talented ice artisans. Afterwards, festive gifts and exclusive collectibles can be found in the Christmas Village retail store– the largest holiday pop-up in the city of Grapevine.
Created by Gaylord Hotels in 2001, ice! is an immersive Christmas experience that has become a cherished holiday tradition, visited by tens of millions of guests nationwide. The artisans behind this extraordinary masterpiece will travel more than 6,400 miles from Harbin, China, known as the “Ice City” and home to the world’s largest ice and snow festival, to bring their craft to Grapevine.
The holiday enchantment extends beyond the Harry Potter-themed ice attraction, as the entire resort transforms into a dazzling holiday haven. Visitors will be delighted by 2 million twinkling lights, a 54-foot Christmas tree centerpiece, thousands of ornaments, magical miniature trains, and 25-foot-tall toy soldiers. They can also enjoy a sleigh full of wintry experiences including ice tubing, ice skating, snowball throwing, gingerbread decorating, photos with Santa, stories with Mrs. Claus, illusionist shows, character breakfasts and more.
To explore the full lineup of holiday experiences, book overnight packages and purchase tickets, visit ChristmasAtGaylordTexan.com. Terms, conditions, and blackout dates apply.
About Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center
The premier resort destination of the American Southwest, Gaylord Texan Resort on Lake Grapevine offers extraordinary environments, 1,814 luxury guest rooms, and four-and-a-half acres of Texas vistas under signature atriums. Amenities include award-winning restaurants and bars, Paradise Springs waterpark (open seasonally), Glass Cactus lakeside events venue, Relâche Spa & Salon, retail shops, and more. Ideally situated on the shores of beautiful Lake Grapevine, Gaylord Texan is just six minutes from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
About ice!™ An Immersive Christmas Experience
The signature Christmas experience, ice!™, immerses guests in beloved holiday stories hand- carved by master artisans from Harbin, China at resorts across the United States. Created in 2001 by Gaylord Hotels, the holiday attraction debuted at Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tennessee. Since then, tens of millions of visitors have traveled to experience this frozen tradition, where more than 2 million pounds of ice are transformed into memorable scenes and characters, two-story ice slides, photo-worthy tunnels, and more. The Christmas showcase takes place at select resorts, including Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Md., Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tenn., Gaylord Pacific Resort in Chula Vista, Calif., Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee, Fla., Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora, Colo., Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas, JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge in Phoenix, Ariz. and at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country in San Antonio, Texas. More information can be found at SoMuchChristmas.com.
About the Harry Potter franchise
From the moment 11-year-old Harry Potter met Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; his adventures have left an indelible mark on popular culture. Today, over 25 years later, the Harry Potter phenomenon thrives as one of the most successful and best-loved entertainment properties in history.
J.K. Rowling’s best-selling Harry Potter novels have been brought to life in an ever-evolving, interconnected universe which is loved by millions of fans worldwide. Eight blockbuster Harry Potter films and three epic Fantastic Beasts films bring the spellbinding action to life on screen, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child mesmerizes on stage, and state-of-the-art video and mobile games from Portkey Games allow players to experience the wizarding world like never before. Fans can proudly showcase their passion through innovative consumer products, and thrill at spectacular location-based experiences – including themed lands at six Universal Destinations and Experiences theme parks around the world.
This expanding portfolio of Warner Bros. Discovery-owned Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts offerings includes ground-breaking touring experiences and events, each developed to celebrate special moments and locations that fans cherish, as well as Harry Potter Shops in King’s Cross, New York, Chicago, Akasaka, and Harajuku. Wizards, Witches and Muggles alike can also discover something new as they explore behind-the-scenes secrets at Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter and Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter. With a new HBO Original TV series based on the Harry Potter books on the way, this extended world continues to provide the community with fresh and exciting ways to interact. For its global fans, and for generations to come, it invites everyone in to find the magic for themselves.
For the latest Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts news and features, visit www.harrypotter.com.
HARRY POTTER and all related characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment.
About Grapevine, Texas: Grapevine, Texas, is a charming destination located on the shores of Lake Grapevine, and home to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. It offers a blend of history and modern amenities. Known for its vibrant hospitality, Grapevine is home to a range of world-class hotels, from luxe resorts, including Gaylord Texan, to the boutique Hotel Vin and family-friendly Great Wolf Lodge, visitors will find accommodations that suit their needs and preferences. Grapevine is home to the Urban Wine Trail, Historic Main Street, Historic Nash Farm, Grapevine Vintage Railroad and hosts many annual festivals and events including GrapeFest® – A Texas Wine Experience, Main Street Fest – A Timeless Texas Tradition and the Christmas Capital of Texas®, featuring more than 1,400 Christmas events over 40 days.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Elizabeth Schrack
Director of Communications
Grapevine Convention & Visitors Bureau
Office: 817.410.3195 Cell: 702.528.5687
ESchrack@GrapevineTexasUSA.com