Lava Meltdown is a Contra dance weekend in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho held the last weekend of February 2026. The dates for the weekend are February 27, 2026, 5:00pm to March 1, 2026 12:00pm.

The weekend kicks off with a potluck dinner, followed by a welcome contra dance session on Friday night. On Saturday, there is a continental breakfast followed by more contra dancing and workshops. Lunch is provided and followed by more contra dancing and workshops. Dinner is on your own, followed by our evening contra dances. The final dance follows a continental breakfast and concert on Sunday ending at noon. Lava Meltdown features all-day dancing, plus a concert, jamming, and caller’s and music workshops by featured musicians and callers.

Come and join us for a fun dance weekend in a charming walkable mountain town with hot springs! The music of Drive Train and the calling of Christine Merryman will help you shake off those winter blues! Between dancing and soaking, you will leave feeling refreshed and renewed.

Lava Meltdown is held at Lava Seniors & Community Center in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho is, centrally located between Salt Lake City, Utah and Yellowstone National Park. Just 11 miles East off I-15.

Lava Meltdown loves being a family-friendly event! All activities are family-friendly. We offer reduced rates for children who love to dance and non-dancing children get in free.

Featured artists

Ed Howe
🎻 A lifelong musician and innovator, Ed Howe brings over 35 years of experience playing for dances nationwide. Known for his joyful groove and creative flair, Ed’s fiddling spans Bluegrass, Celtic, Scottish, and American folk traditions. He’s performed with acclaimed bands like Perpetual e-Motion, Drive Train, Double Trouble, and Howe & Co, and is an NS Design electric violin endorsed artist.
Beyond the stage, Ed is a master sound engineer with 25+ years of experience creating crystal-clear, immersive sound for festivals and dance events across the East Coast. His artistry blends tradition with technology—crafting music that keeps dancers smiling all night long.
From his early days playing Maine contra dances at age 8 to leading innovative projects like the Atlanta Folk Orchestra, Ed continues to inspire and energize the folk community with his passion, creativity, and groove.

Bennett Konesni is a musician, farmer, and community organizer from Belfast, Maine. He plays guitar for contra dances with Drive Train, the Gawler Family Band, and Beat Bucket, blending Bluegrass drive with the pulse of Maine’s traditional dance music. Bennett writes and sings his own songs and tunes, and also performs traditional material from New England and beyond. His passion for Scandinavian music and dance traditions adds a distinctive flavor to his playing. Outside the dance hall, he serves as Executive Director of Bagaduce Music, a nonprofit music library and education center, and leads Moving Music, a project exploring how worksongs and singing while moving enrich communities around the world.

Christine Merryman brings her heart to the stage with her joyous and playful teaching. She loves seeing the smiles and hearing the laughter of the dancers. Originally from the Philadelphia suburbs,
Christine started calling contra dances in her parents’ backyard with friends. After being mentored by Bob Isaacs, she began calling around Pennsylvania and soon after moved to Phoenix, leading dances regularly around Arizona.

When: February 27, 2026, 5:00pm – March 1, 2026 12:00pm

Where: Lava Hot Springs Senior and Community Center – 150 N Center Lava Hot Springs, Idaho 83246 and Venue Website: https://www.lavaseniors.com/

For more information contact:  Carrie Dayton-Madsen of Sleepy Sun Studios
Phone: (435) 671-2674
Email: moc.liamg@9691soidutsnusypeels
Event website: https://www.lavameltdown.com/

Event cost: $150 Adult Early Bird prices. Look for other ticket prices on the event website.