Meltdown Winter Ice Festival returns for its 9th year

Mike Emery, Richmond Palladium-Item
·2 min read

RICHMOND, Ind. — World-renowned ice carvers will return to the city for the ninth time come January.

The annual Meltdown Winter Ice Festival will again feature intricate carvings and heated competition. The festival's ninth edition was announced on its social media platforms, with a preliminary schedule of events listed on its website, richmondmeltdown.com.

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Ice carvers began wowing area residents during 2014, and they've returned every year to line Main Street, Elstro Plaza and the Depot District with their creations. Events planned include the Meltdown Throwdown, an outdoor movie and an opportunity to meet a carver.

Here's what's planned so far, according to the online schedule:

  • Meet a Carver, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Jan. 25 at Morrisson-Reeves Library, 80 N. Sixth St. Watch Andrew "The Giant" Thistlewaite carve3 ice in the library's historic courtyard. Warm up with a drink created at the hot chocolate bar;

  • Magical Snowflakes on Main, Jan. 27-29 along Main Street. Large snowflakes with uplifting quotes will be placed along Main Street. Participants collect code words from each snowflake to create a secret message. Turn in passports with the message at the Welcome Center, 5701 National Road E., to receive a prize;

  • Cookies and Cocoa, 5-6:30 p.m. Jan. 28 in the Grand Hall of the Depot Building, 900 N. E St. Visit for tasty treats;

  • Outdoor Movie at the Meltdown, 6-8 p.m. Jan. 28 at Elstro Plaza, 47 N. Sixth St. Park for a free drive-in screening of "Balto," which tells the story of a heroic dog that brings life-saving medicine to remote Nome, Alaska. The parking lot opens at 5:30 p.m. and is first-come, first-served. Audio will be played on a special radio channel;

  • Bales Fox Fire, 7:30 -8:30 p.m. Jan. 28 at Elstro Plaza. Local fire troupe Bales Fox Fire offers a free performance;

  • Hayes Hikes and Hot Chocolate, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 29 at Hayes Arboretum, 801 Elks Road. Explore nature by hiking the arboretum's trails, taking the driving tour and/or visiting the nature center, where you can warm up with free hot chocolate; and

  • Meltdown Throwdown, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at Elstro Plaza. The Meltdown comes to a heated conclusion as Team Fire and Team Ice create ice sculptures during the timed competition. The audience decides which team wins.

Stop by Elstro Plaza to see carvers at work or check out some of their sculptures or drive along Main Street and through the Depot District looking for the carvers' creations.

The Meltdown Winter Ice Festival's "Big Reveal" event took place at Jack Elstro Plaza in downtown Richmond on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020.
The Meltdown Winter Ice Festival's "Big Reveal" event took place at Jack Elstro Plaza in downtown Richmond on Friday, Jan. 24, 2020.

This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Meltdown Winter Ice Festival returns for its 9th year