Empire Journal | Christmas hotels
Gaylord Texan Christmas 2026: ICE! Featuring Harry Potter in Grapevine
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Hedwig carved from 2 million pounds of ice, more than 2 million lights and a full lineup of Christmas activities near Dallas.
Calling every Harry Potter fan: friend, this is your Christmas. Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas — right by Dallas–Fort Worth — is doing ICE! featuring Harry Potter for 2026.
Christmas at Gaylord Texan runs November 13, 2026 – January 3, 2027.
Why Gaylord Texan is a great Christmas hotel
From the official page:
- ICE! featuring Harry Potter — "See Harry, Ron, Hermione, Hedwig, and more carved into towering, frozen sculptures," hand-carved from over 2 million pounds of ice.
- More than 2 million Christmas lights around the resort.
- So Much Christmas — displays, treats, holiday shows and festive activities everywhere.
Gaylord Texan Christmas activities
- Ice Tubing
- Gingerbread Decorating Corner
- Photos with Santa
- Build-your-own plush keepsake
- Coca-Cola Christmas Caravan — December 6–9, 2026 only. Meet the Coca-Cola Polar Bear and grab festive giveaways.
Activities are ticketed, so you can build the trip around what your family loves.
Who should book Gaylord Texan for Christmas
- Harry Potter families. Obviously.
- Texas and Southwest travelers who want a big Christmas without flying far.
- Kids of all ages — tubing, gingerbread, Santa.
- Anyone who wants Christmas indoors in one resort.
Why you should book now
A Harry Potter ICE! is going to draw a crowd. Weekends and the days around Christmas go first, and if you want the Coca-Cola Caravan, you only get four days. Staying overnight means you can do ICE! at a quiet time instead of fighting day-trip traffic.
How to plan your Gaylord Texan Christmas
- Book at least two nights.
- Buy ICE! tickets with your stay and pick early time slots.
- Plan around December 6–9 if you want the Coca-Cola Caravan.
- Bring warm layers for the ice.
Love Gaylord Christmases? Compare Gaylord Opryland and Gaylord Rockies.
Quick answers
When is Christmas at Gaylord Texan 2026? November 13, 2026 – January 3, 2027.
What is the 2026 ICE! theme at Gaylord Texan? ICE! featuring Harry Potter.
When is the Coca-Cola Christmas Caravan at Gaylord Texan? December 6–9, 2026.
Book Gaylord Texan for Christmas
Here's my honest advice, friend: Christmas week is the most competitive hotel week of the year, and the best rooms always go to the people who book first.
- Check Gaylord Texan dates and rates on Expedia — compare room types and book the stay in one checkout.
- See holiday hotel packages on Luxury Escapes — worth a quick look against Expedia before you commit.
- Holiday events, dining and tickets: reserve with the resort through its official Christmas page.
- Compare and book flights on Expedia — Enter your route and travel dates to check available airlines, fares and baggage terms before booking.
Book your Christmas stay now →
Affiliate links: we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our Disclaimer and Affiliate Disclosure. Every event, date and price above comes from the hotel's own published 2026 information; an announced event does not guarantee room or ticket availability, and rates, taxes and fees should be confirmed at booking.
More of the best Christmas hotels in the USA
- Gaylord Opryland Christmas 2026
- Hotel del Coronado Christmas 2026
- The Plaza Christmas 2026
- The Broadmoor Christmas 2026
- Mohonk Mountain House Christmas 2026
- The Greenbrier Christmas 2026
- Omni Grove Park Inn Christmas 2026
- Gaylord Rockies Christmas 2026
- Woodloch Resort Christmas Break 2026
Plan the whole trip in two minutes
Rich Off Travel AI is the trip planner behind Empire Experience. Type in where you're going and your dates, and it builds a day-by-day plan — where to stay, where to eat and what to do — that you can edit stop by stop. It's $19/month with a 7-day free trial. Plan your Christmas trip at empireexperience.org, or browse more guides in the Empire Journal.
