News Channel 5
Posted: Nov 17, 2011 6:08 AM CST
Updated: Nov 17, 2011 7:42 AM CST
By Janet Kim
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A Nashville holiday tradition continues at the Gaylord Opryland Resort. The hotel will flip the switch on their 28th annual "A Country Christmas" celebration on Thursday night.
Hundreds will gather for the lighting ceremony which kicks off at 5:40 p.m. Two million Christmas lights will shine outside the Gaylord Opryland Resort throughout the holiday season.
The light display is one of the signature attractions of the Opryland's Country Christmas celebration, going hand in hand with decorations throughout the resort. They include a 48 foot Christmas tree, a 25 foot tree made up of poinsettias, and an additional 200,000 lights throughout the inside the hotel.
NewsChannel 5 got a look behind the scenes as the final touches went up; the poinsettia Christmas tree alone took four hours and more than half a dozen people to complete.
"Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland is so neat because people come from all around Kentucky, Alabama and their spirit is so full of Christmas. That's what's so neat about us, because we get to provide a place where people can come and share the Christmas spirit. And we get to put it forth for them too," said Horticulture Supervisor Brooks O'Brien.
This year, the ICE attraction has a new theme, in a new building that was built after the devastating flood 18 months ago.
Gaylord Opryland has teamed up with DreamWorks to bring the animations from its movies throughout the resort. This year, ICE will feature Merry Madagascar.
The indoor frozen attraction includes life size characters and scenes from the movie and 20-foot tall ice slides. The exhibit was hand carved out of two million pounds of ice by 40 artisans.
Organizers said this is their second Christmas since the flood, and they haven't missed a beat.
"The flood was certainly tragic but it's amazing that we're back and we're better than ever, and this Christmas, it's going to be our best yet," said Spokesperson Jenny Barker.
The Radio City Rockettes are also back in town with their world famous "Radio City Christmas Spectacular". Louise Mandrell is also back this year for her final year with her Christmas Dinner Party.
For the kids, there are all kinds of things to do including a ShrekFeast Interactive Character Meals, a Puss in Boots scavenger hunt, and wake-up calls from favorite DreamWorks characters.
www.gaylordopryland.com
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