RICHMOND, Ind. – The recent activity of harshly cold temperatures has allowed organizers of the Richmond Meltdown Winter Ice Festival to shift some plans.

Carvers will attempt a rare, large-scale Ice Alaska style ice sculpture.

In addition to carving smaller individual pieces, the festival’s six visiting carvers will combine ice blocks and build one major competition-style centerpiece.

Organizers say the unusually cold temperatures provide a window that may not return for years, especially after several warmer seasons and a rainy 2024.

The team includes world class competitors such as Dean DeMarais and Aaric Kendall, both Ice Alaska veterans.

Festival co-chair Alison Zajdel said traditional attractions, including the Play Zone, will still be available.

Updates will be posted on the Richmond Meltdown Facebook page and website.

Image credit: Stephanie Harrison Photography

WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. - The Boys & Girls Club of Wayne County is showcasing an annual art display.

The display, titled The Power of Us: Annual Art Show, focuses on amplifying the impact of kindness, teamwork, and unity.

Art instructors Percy Brown and Eli Howell helped organize the event. Guest judges included city officials and partners.

Oblivion Cinema & Arts provided art show winners with class vouchers.

The display is located in the Club's Jeffers Unit. Families can view the display during Family Night on January 22, from 6 to 7 p.m.

RICHMOND, Ind. – The Richmond Art Museum, also known as RAM, has a new art display that is making history.

The art display features both the original pen and ink drawing and a watercolor painting used for the cover artwork of E. B. White’s, Charlotte’s Web.

This is the first time these pieces of artwork have ever been on public display in a museum setting, a distinction the museum is humbled and honored by.

Lance Crow, Education Director with RAM, said the display was made possible by people who have a heart for Richmond and their hometown. “Kate Jetmore, former Richmond resident living now in Spain, knows the director of the Arts of Imagination Foundation, and she knew that Richmond Civic Theatre had just done a production of Charlotte's Web.”

After discussion with the Arts of Imagination Foundation in California, RAM was able to secure a loan for the artwork with the help of the foundation’s director, Brady Schwind.

“He felt the work would be safe and well taken care of given the rich history RAM has of exhibiting artwork for more than 125 years,” Crow said.

Crow said the planning and install of the work was simple, with artwork being shipped in. After verifying the art was in good condition, all they had to do was hang the work and create labels for the display. The artwork is on display at the Starr gallery in the Richmond Art Museum.

An unveiling event is set to take place on Wednesday, January 21 at 5 p.m. “We've invited many of the cast of Richmond Civic Theatre's Charlotte's Web to be present to help us welcome this historic work to our community. Shaun Dingwerth, RAM's Executive Director will say a few words about the loan and the significance of the work's presence in our community,” Crow said. All are welcome to attend.

RAM often will partner with interested parties to engage community involvement in art exhibits. For this display, the organization has partnered with Morrisson Reeves Library, Richmond Civic Theatre, and Every Child Can Read to bring programming to Richmond and Wayne County residents.

Since 1898, RAM has been Admission Free, meaning all are welcome and there is no cost. Throughout the year, RAM offers opportunities for people of all ages to engage with creative works and experiences. Community events include the Secret Garden Tour in June, Potterypalooza in September, and other year-round exhibitions.

Among upcoming exhibits, Connection To Freedom: Works by Mason Archie, will be on display starting on January 31. An opening reception will take place from 1 to 3 p.m., with an artist talk starting at 1:30. The artwork will present two major bodies of work that Crow said are deeply rooted in American history and collective memory. “The first is Archie’s acclaimed Underground Railroad Series, an ongoing exploration of historic sites and narratives of courage, resistance, and liberation spanning the Midwest to the East Coast,” said Crow. “The second body of work, Landscapes in the City of Indianapolis, reflects Archie’s contemporary engagement with place and history.”

More information can be found on the Richmond Art Museum website. The Charlotte’s Web exhibit will be on display until March 7, 2026.

“RAM's mission is to inspire a love for art through education, diversity, history and culture,” Crow said. “…there are many ways in which the community can enjoy the arts at the Richmond Art Museum.”

WAYNE COUNTY, Ind. – The Richmond Farmers Market has reopened for its winter season following a brief holiday break.

The market operates Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon inside the Starr Gennett Building, where more than 30 vendors are signed up for the season.

Offerings include locally produced food items, a beverage truck, farm products, herbal medicine, handmade crafts, and fresh flowers.

Organizers say the winter market provides an important opportunity to support small businesses and access fresh, locally made goods during the colder months.

The market is also continuing its food-access initiative, “Bridge the Gap.” Through support from Reid Health and Richmond UEA, shoppers who receive SNAP benefits can obtain $40 in market tokens each week for eligible products. The program is limited to 30 cardholders per market day, and participants must present a valid SNAP card and ID.

The Starr Gennett Building is located at 101 S. 1^st Street in Richmond.

RICHMOND, Ind. – After nearly six months of planning, the Meltdown Festival is gearing up for another year of winter fun in downtown Richmond.

The festival brings ice carvers from around the country to the local community, blending art, competition, small businesses, nonprofits, and food into one weekend-long celebration.

This year’s event takes place the last weekend of January at Elstro Plaza. Leading up to the weekend, there is a series of events each day starting on the 25. Saturday’s activities include an ice cream eating contest, hot chocolate, horse drawn trolly rides, the Meltdown Throwdown, and a fireworks show starting at 7:30 p.m.

The festival is free and open to all.

Organizers expect to use roughly 50,000 pounds of ice. A refrigerated semi-truck delivers and stores the blocks until carving begins.

“If the weather is too warm, they carve quickly, then load the sculpture back onto the refrigerated semi to preserve them until the festival starts,” said Alison Zajdel, organizer with the Meltdown Festival.

Zajdel said the carvers and their support crews are at the heart of the event. “They are so good to our community and so incredibly talented!”

A list of those participating includes:

Aaric Kendall Argenta, IL

• Dean DeMarais, Fate, TX
• Harvey Russell, St Lous, MO
• Josh Niven, Buchanan, MI
• Danny Bloss, Niles, MI
• Sammy Moore, Elkhart, IN
• Bill Thistlethwaite, South Bend, IN
• Kyle Finke, Argenta, IL
• Nathan Thistlethwaite, San Antonio, TX

Weather and fundraising remain two of the biggest challenges each year. The festival requires more than $60,000 to operate, and Zajdel said community support makes it possible.

“We have sponsors from $250 all the way to $10,000 and they are critical,” said Zajdel. “We don’t make any money off the festival; we just cover expenses. So, renewing our sponsors, and in-kind supporters, and finding new sponsors each year is super important.”

As the festival approaches, Zajdel said the goal is to bring joy to the community. “Winter can be so gloomy in the Midwest, so embracing that cold and turning it into something we can all look forward to is important!”

Image source: Alison Zajdel, taken by Stephanie Harrison

RICHMOND, Ind. - The Winter Wonders Vendor Expo is returning for its second year, offering two days of local shopping and seasonal fun.

The event will be held January 17 and 18, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the First Bank Kuhlman Center. Admission is free.

Organizers say the expo will feature a wide range of local vendors, including handmade goods, crafts, and specialty treats. The event is designed to highlight small businesses while giving families a chance to enjoy a cozy winter shopping experience.

Attendees are encouraged to bring friends and family as they browse one-of-a-kind items and kick off the new year with a community-focused event.

More information can be found here: https://waynecountyfairgrounds.org/upcoming-events/winter-wonders-vendor-expo-2026.