The Long Way
Bannock County
A man wearing a hat plays a violin indoors while people dance in the background.
Plate I. Fiddler playing, Lava Meltdown Contra Dance Weekend. From lavameltdown.com
People dancing indoors in a large room.
Plate II. Dancers at Lava Meltdown Contra Dance Weekend. From lavameltdown.com

Lava Meltdown Contra Dance Weekend

Lava Hot Springs, Bannock County, Idaho. Contra dance weekend; last weekend of February 2026.

Details

Map. Lava Hot Springs, Bannock County, Idaho. Larger map
Where
150 N Center, Lava Hot Springs, ID 83246. Directions
When
Friday venue setup 5pm with potluck dinner 5:30pm; Saturday 8:30am until 10:30pm; Sunday 8:30am to noon.
Getting there
Lava Hot Springs, Idaho is about 2 hours north of Salt Lake City, Utah and 3 hours south of Yellowstone Park; fly into Salt Lake International or Pocatello Regional and drive.
Fees
Early Bird Adult $150, Youth 17-25 $75, Child 12 and under $25; does not include housing.
Access
Dancers can coordinate shuttles to Lava from the SLC airport; the venue is the Lava Hot Springs Senior and Community Center.
Walk-in or reserve
Work/Trade contact: Carrie Dayton-Madsen; scholarships and half-scholarships available; full payment and registration via Humanitix.
Phone
208-776-5569
Website
lavameltdown.com
Managed by
Carrie Dayton-Madsen, organizer (Sleepy Sun Studios on registration page).
Coordinates
42.621011742654, -112.01134153163.

Annual three-day contra dance weekend at the Lava Seniors and Community Center in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, held the last weekend of February; music by Drive Train, calling by Christine Merryman.

Notable Events

  1. 2010Nils Fredland led a Money Musk workshop at the dance weekend with musicians Ethan Hazzard-Watkins and Owen Morrison. davidsmukler.syracusecountrydancers.org
  2. 2019Lava Meltdown Contra Dance was held in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, in March 2019, with Cis Hinkle calling and Alden Robinson, Glen Loper, and Max Newman playing. youtube.com

People

  • Bennett Konesni, Guitarist of Drive Train, the weekend's dance band.
  • Christine Merryman, Caller for the Lava Meltdown weekend, dancing to Drive Train.
  • Ed Howe, Fiddler of Drive Train, the weekend's dance band.
  • Ethan Hazzard-Watkins, musician for the Money Musk workshop at Lava Meltdown (March 2010).
  • Nils Fredland, led a Money Musk workshop at Lava Meltdown (March 2010).
  • Owen Morrison, musician for the Money Musk workshop at Lava Meltdown (March 2010).
  • Carrie DM, Organizer who describes the Lava Hot Springs contra dance weekend as hers.
  • Alden Robinson, Fiddler at the March 2019 Lava Meltdown Contra Dance (March 2019).
  • Cis Hinkle, Caller at the March 2019 Lava Meltdown Contra Dance (March 2019).
  • Glen Loper, Mandolin player at the March 2019 Lava Meltdown Contra Dance (March 2019).
  • Max Newman, Guitar, keyboard, and foot percussion at the March 2019 Lava Meltdown Contra Dance (March 2019).

Sources

  1. lavameltdown.com
  2. lavameltdown.com/about.html
  3. lavameltdown.com/registration-and-contact-info.html
  4. lavameltdown.com/getting-here.html
  5. facebook.com/LavaMeltdown
  6. cdss.org/event/lava-meltdown-contra-dance-weekend-2026
  7. lavameltdown.com/faq.html
  8. lavameltdown.com/about.html
  9. lavameltdown.com
  10. idahostatejournal.com/community/lava-meltdown-contra-dance-weekend-set-for-feb-27-march-1/article_2a1ec80c-99c6-4cb7-9a0d-35268639c2fa.html
  11. youtube.com/watch?v=KfzcYNYWMZY
  12. facebook.com/groups/111126912393768
  13. idahomagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/IDmag_March2014_issue.pdf
  14. davidsmukler.syracusecountrydancers.org/projects/bring-back-money-musk/march-2010