Wayne County is heating up for the coolest, coldest event of the season.

Richmond’s annual Meltdown Winter Ice Festival will take place Jan. 29 to Jan. 31. Attendees can enjoy the official events, including watching an ice cream eating contest and joining a mug pub crawl and the Meltdown Throwdown, featuring ice-carving artists.

If you can’t wait until the weekend, a variety of participating businesses are celebrating all week long. 

Find more information and an updated schedule of events on the event website at RichmondMeltdown.com.

Main events

Thursday, Jan. 29 

  • Public carving, 1:30 p.m., Leland Legacy, 900 S. A St. Watch from indoors. Free.
  • Meet the Carver, 4-5 p.m., Morrisson-Reeves Library, 80 N. Sixth St. Carving demonstration, Q&A and activities designed for ages 10 and younger. Free.

Friday, Jan. 30

  • Food trucks, 4-10 p.m., Elstro Plaza, 47 N. Sixth St.
  • Chili for Charity, 5-7:30 p.m., Eight to the Bar, 931 E. Main St. Tickets $15/advance at wwn.to/meltdownchili26 or $25 at door.

Saturday, Jan. 31 

  • Family Fun Zone, all day, Elstro Plaza
  • Meltdown Market, 9 a.m.-noon, Starr Gennett Building, 101 S. First St.
  • Horse-drawn trolley rides, Noon-4 p.m., Elstro Plaza. Free.
  • Food trucks, noon-10 p.m., Elstro Plaza
  • Ice cream eating contest, 3-4 p.m., Elstro Plaza (teams already selected)
  • Frosty Mug Pub Crawl, 4-9 p.m., Richmond Depot District
  • Meltdown Throwdown and fireworks, 7:30 p.m., Elstro Plaza

Additional activities

  • Abilities Richmond Inc., 831 N. E St., find a Melty the Moose latte, all week
  • Analog Coffee/Eight to the Bar, 931 E. Main St., offers warm drinks & treats Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; Open bar, Fri. & Sat., 4-8 p.m.
  • Downtown Deli and Catering Company, 718 E. Main St., fire and ice brownies and dirty sodas, Mon.-Fri.
  • Smiley’s Pub and Beer Garden, 39 N. Eighth St., $2 off all appetizers and $6 Melty’s Winter Wave Cocktail, Mon-Fri.
  • LisaCakes, 414 N. 10th St., $5 HappyCakes, several items buy five, get one free Tues.-Sat.; Baked Alaska available starting at noon Sat.
  • Ullery’s Homemade Ice Cream, 168 Fort Wayne Ave., $5 Snowman Sundae, Tues.-Fri.
  • Roscoe’s Coffee Bar & Tap Room, 416 N. 10th St., Meltdown latte & frappe, Tues.-Sat.
  • Morrisson-Reeves Library, 80 N. Sixth St., Three-day book sale: Thurs., 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Fri., 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; and Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. ($5 Bag Day)
  • Suzie’s Pizza, 820 E. Main, free large knots with large pizza; purchase 14” s‘mores dessert pizza & hot chocolate, Fri. & Sat.
  • Cruise Adventure & Travel, 912 E. Main, free snack, Friday
  • Mr. B’s Chicken Salad, 106 S. Morton Ave., Centerville, free cookie with any purchase, Fri. & Sat.
  • Paint the Towne, 411 N. Eighth St., “Frozen”-themed costume contest, 11 a.m.; free kids craft noon-5 p.m. Saturday
  • Hayes Arboretum, 801 Elks Road, free hot chocolate, Starbucks reusable cups while supplies last, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
  • Bibbly Boo Toys & Candy Shoppe, 115 E. Main St., Centerville, free ice cube chocolate piece, Saturday
  • Joseph Moore Museum, 801 National Road W., Home of the Ice Giants activities, crafts and exhibits, 1-4 p.m. Saturday. Free.
  • REMAX at The Crossing, 33 N. Eighth St., Hot chocolate bar, 2-6 p.m. Saturday
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A version of this article appeared in the January 21 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.

Lorin Williams is a reporter for the Western Wayne News.