Wickford Appliance Challenges You to Guess Today to Win

The ice has landed at Wickford Appliance’s Newport Avenue store and for the third year in a row the family-owned business is challenging the public to predict the day, hour and minute (without going over) that the appliance-sized ice sculpture will melt. The lucky winner will receive a Weber Summit Gas Grill (MSRP $2,199). Second and third place winners will both receive a $1,000 shopping spree.

“We started this contest in 2018 to bring some fun to our storefront,” says Tim Chaput, owner of Wickford Appliance. “The contest has really caught on and last year we had 30,000 views of the live event. Who could have known how fun it would be to watch ice melt?’

The 7.5-foot-long by 50”-high sculpture is comprised of 21 blocks of ice, carved and then fused into place. In total, the installation by Brilliant Ice Sculpture of Lawrence, Massachusetts weighs 6,700 pounds, according to Don Chapelle, owner of the company.

Ice was delivered and the blocks were put into place yesterday at at 10 a.m. Guests are encouraged to stop by the 207 Newport Avenue store to see the ice display and all guesses must be submitted online. Contestants will have until 5 p.m. today to place a guess at wickfordappliance.com/ice.

“We’ll be here around the clock watching the ice melt, and we’ll do some live chats along the way,” said Chaput. “With hot temperatures tomorrow and rain predicted for the end of the week, there’s lots of variables at play. It’s loads of fun and was a very tight race the past two years. This year will probably be no different.

“What we can predict is a big smile on the face of our winner. This Weber grill will be awarded to someone just in time for prime grilling season,” he said.

Wickford Appliance is a 63-year-old, family-owned, Rhode Island-based business that serves Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts and Connecticut with quality products and reliable service.