Professional ice carvers visited Richmond last week for the annual Meltdown Winter Ice Festival. Because of warmer weather, the carvings were not put on display until Saturday at Elstro Plaza. The festival closed with Saturday night’s Meltdown Throwdown carving competition between Team Fire and Team Ice. Team Ice won the golden chainsaw prize, then fireworks filled the sky.
View photos of the events taken by photographer Joshua Smith in our gallery below.
Festivalgoers enjoy crafts during Richmond’s Meltdown. Photo by Joshua Smith 
Festivalgoers enjoy crafts during Richmond’s Meltdown. Photo by Joshua Smith 
Festivalgoers enjoy crafts during Richmond’s Meltdown. Photo by Joshua Smith 
Festivalgoers enjoy crafts during Richmond’s Meltdown. Photo by Joshua Smith 
A group from Girls Inc. enjoyed the work created by Danny Bloss during a carving demonstration at Morrisson-Reeves Library in Richmond. Photo by Joshua Smith 
Ellie Taylor Bruns enjoys the work created by Danny Bloss during a carving demonstration at Morrisson-Reeves Library in Richmond. Bruns was part of a group from Girls Inc. that enjoyed the carving in MRL’s courtyard. Photo by Joshua Smith 
Danny Bloss does a carving demonstration at Morrisson-Reeves Library in Richmond. Photo by Joshua Smith 
Danny Bloss does a carving demonstration at Morrisson-Reeves Library in Richmond. Photo by Joshua Smith 
A group from Girls Inc. enjoyed the work created by Danny Bloss during a carving demonstration at Morrisson-Reeves Library in Richmond. Photo by Joshua Smith 
A group from Girls Inc. enjoyed the work created by Danny Bloss during a carving demonstration at Morrisson-Reeves Library in Richmond. Photo by Joshua Smith 
A group from Girls Inc. enjoyed the work created by Danny Bloss during a carving demonstration at Morrisson-Reeves Library in Richmond. Photo by Joshua Smith 
A group from Girls Inc. enjoyed the work created by Danny Bloss during a carving demonstration at Morrisson-Reeves Library in Richmond. Photo by Joshua Smith 
A group from Girls Inc. enjoyed the work created by Danny Bloss during a carving demonstration at Morrisson-Reeves Library in Richmond. Photo by Joshua Smith 
A group from Girls Inc. enjoyed the work created by Danny Bloss during a carving demonstration at Morrisson-Reeves Library in Richmond. Photo by Joshua Smith 
Danny Bloss does a carving demonstration at Morrisson-Reeves Library in Richmond. Photo by Joshua Smith 
Danny Bloss does a carving demonstration at Morrisson-Reeves Library in Richmond. Photo by Joshua Smith 
Danny Bloss does a carving demonstration at Morrisson-Reeves Library in Richmond. Photo by Joshua Smith 
Professional ice carvers visited Richmond last week for the annual Meltdown Winter Ice Festival. Photo by Joshua Smith 
Professional ice carvers visited Richmond last week for the annual Meltdown Winter Ice Festival. Photo by Joshua Smith 
Professional ice carvers visited Richmond last week for the annual Meltdown Winter Ice Festival. Photo by Joshua Smith 
Professional ice carvers visited Richmond last week for the annual Meltdown Winter Ice Festival. Photo by Joshua Smith 
Professional ice carvers visited Richmond last week for the annual Meltdown Winter Ice Festival. Photo by Joshua Smith 
Professional ice carvers visited Richmond last week for the annual Meltdown Winter Ice Festival. Photo by Joshua Smith 
Professional ice carvers visited Richmond last week for the annual Meltdown Winter Ice Festival. Photo by Joshua Smith 
Professional ice carvers visited Richmond last week for the annual Meltdown Winter Ice Festival. Photo by Joshua Smith 
Josh Niven uses a chainsaw to slice through a block of ice, sending ice chips flying, at the Elstro Plaza carving area. Photo by Joshua Smith 
Professional ice carvers visited Richmond last week for the annual Meltdown Winter Ice Festival. Photo by Joshua Smith 
Professional ice carvers visited Richmond last week for the annual Meltdown Winter Ice Festival. Photo by Joshua Smith 
Professional ice carvers visited Richmond last week for the annual Meltdown Winter Ice Festival. Photo by Joshua Smith
A version of this article will appear in the February 5 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.