Escape to the 9th Annual Meltdown Ice Festival in Richmond, held January 27 through 29th. This family-friendly winter wonderland weekend, will be full of ice slinging, and one-of-a-kind creations of artistic frozen fun! 

Watch the ice fly as world renowned artists, including Richmond’s own Master Ice Carver Andrew Thistlethwaite, use their polished skills and imagination to transform blocks of ice into awe-inspiring crystalline spectacles. Take in the magical creations along Main Street and Elstro Park Plaza and pose with more than 30 dazzling sculptures.

Play games made of ice at the Interactive Play Zone -- corn hole, putt-putt, and ping pong are just some of the fun activities for the whole family to enjoy. Other highlights include fire shows, Snowflakes on Main Scavenger Hunt, local food trucks, fireworks, and more.

Families are encouraged to drive by the sculptures to admire and appreciate the temporary art in our town. Masks and social distancing are required for those who want to walk around to enjoy the sculptures and at the plaza to see the carvers create their works. 

The most anticipated and crowd pleasing extravaganza during the event is an epic ice sculpting competition between pro carvers and 1,200 lbs. of ice. The audience is the judge for this event as these artists go head to head to see who can create the best sculpture in the allotted time. This high-octane ice carving showdown will take place Saturday, January 29th at 7:30 p.m. at Elstro Park Plaza, downtown Richmond.

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Make it a Getaway!

Make it a getaway! Get warm and cozy with welcoming accommodations featuring special Meltdown rates and an exclusive Meltdown Welcome Bag upon check in. The featured host hotel is Best Western, offering a fabulous rate of $80.99 + tax complete with indoor pool and complimentary breakfast.

 

Meltdown Frozen Fun Pass! 

With the Meltdown Frozen Fun Pass, it’s never been easier to tap into exclusive discounts and freebies for Meltdown Ice Festival attendees. Plus, you can even win prizes! It’s one cool way to make your experience even more memorable. For additional details and to sign up early for this free pass, click below.

Sign Up