The coolest festival around is back the last week of January! 

2021 SCHEDULE

The best ice festival in the Midwest is BACK in 2021, but this time, it’s on WHEELS!  No big gatherings this year, so you BLOCKHEADS will have to save your FIRE & ICE energy for 2022’s Big Reveal and Meltdown Throwdown.  But just because we can’t gather doesn’t mean our ice masters are staying home!  All of your favorites will be back creating beautiful, one-of-a-kind works of art and turning Richmond into an outdoor art gallery of ICE!  So get in your car, grab your camera, and head to Richmond for this amazing MOTOR MELTDOWN! All events are free of charge! For questions, call 765-935-8687.

MONDAY
Carvers arrive and begin creating their sculptures in Elstro Plaza. Come visit the plaza later in the week and see the 50-60 ice sculptures. 

WEDNESDAY – SATURDAY
Magic Snowflakes on Main Scavenger Hunt – Can you solve the secret message? Located on each block of Main Street between South 5th and South 10th streets will be 15 magical snowflakes with blue colored letters. Download your passport here or pick it up at Circle E Clothing, 801 E. Main St., Richmond (Hours Wed-Fr 10-6; Sat. 10-2) or the Welcome Center, 5701 National Rd. E., Richmond. (Hours: Mon – Fri 8:30 – 5; Sat. 11-4). Record the colored letter from each snowflake in your passport. Once you have all the letters, descramble the word to reveal the secret message! Once you solve the message, bring your passport to the Welcome Center, and you will be entered in a contest to win 4 tickets to Valley’s Edge Snow Tubing!  Special thank you to our First Bank Richmond, Wayne Bank, Primex, Better Homes and Gardens, and Valley’s Edge Snow Tubing!

FRIDAY-SUNDAY
Motor Meltdown drive-thru will take place Friday-Sunday January 29-31, 2021. Tune into 98.7 FM if you are near downtown Richmond between 4:00-7:00 PM on Friday and 1:00-4:00 PM  on Saturday and Sunday to hear the carvers’ favorite music, ice-themed music, interviews with the carvers and special shoutouts to our sponsors!

Meltdown Munchines – Food Trucks will be scattered throughout Richmond’s downtown and depot
area all weekend. 

FRIDAY
Movies at the Meltdown – Join us for a drive-in screening of Abominable at 7 PM at the Elder Beerman parking lot. Three teens work to get a Yeti back to his family, while outsmarting an evil zoologist to wants the Yeti for his own needs. Movie is family-friendly and appropriate for all ages. Admittance is first-come, first-served. The parking lot will open 30 minutes prior to the start of the movie. There will be no re-admission after the movie begins. The movie audio will be played through a specific radio channel. We ask that car engines remain off during the movie. Guests can sit directly in front of their vehicles in chairs provided you do not impede the view of other guests. No alcohol will be permitted. We would like to thank our movie sponsor 3 Rivers Federal Credit Union!

SATURDAY
Movies at the Meltdown – Join us for a drive-in screening of Arctic Dogs at 7 PM at the Elder Beerman parking lot. Watch as an arctic fox who works in a mailroom dreams of becoming something bigger! Movie is family-friendly and appropriate for all ages. Admittance is first-come, first-served. The parking lot will open 30 minutes prior to the start of the movie. There will be no re-admission after the movie begins. The movie audio will be played through a specific radio channel. We ask that car engines remain off during the movie. Guests can sit directly in front of their vehicles in chairs provided you do not impede the view of other guests. No alcohol will be permitted. We would like to thank our movie sponsor 3 Rivers Federal Credit Union!

Wouldn’t seeing some footage from past Meltdowns be nICE? Check out these cool Meltdown activities from the past!