This Sunday, March 5 at 10am, thousands of brave Chicago souls will either dip or dive head-first into the ice-cold waters of a wintery Lake Michigan for the Polar Plunge – except this year really isn’t all that wintery. In line with the mild winter we’ve had this year, temperatures are forecasted to be in the mid-fifties on Sunday. Compared to former plungers, this year’s participants have it pretty easy.
As the tradition goes, plungers will gather at Castaways at North Avenue Beach and will take turns in waves at 10am, 10:30am, 11am, and 11:30am. The event will be broadcasted nationally.
Aside from locals, the event also draws in some famous faces every year. This year, actor Dax Shepard of the upcoming Warner Bros. movie “CHiPs” will be the celebrity VIP (Very Important Plunger). Actors from producer Dick Wolf’s Chicago TV shows, such as Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Chicago Med, and the new Chicago Justice, will more than likely make an appearance as well. To top it off, Brian Urlacher will be serving brats to warm everyone up after their icy plunge. Previous celebrity plungers include Jimmy Fallon, Vince Vaughn, Taylor Kinney, Lady Gaga, and the TODAY Show cast.
Each year, this charity event raises money for Special Olympics Chicago, breaking a record last year at $1.5 million. Currently, the organization has raised 81% of their $1.5 million goal. If you’d like to make a #PolarPromise, you can register for the 17th Annual Chicago Polar Plunge for a $200 minimum donation. With your participation, you’ll receive free parking for the event, a souvenir t-shirt, photos, and complimentary food at the afterparty.
Make sure to tune in on Sunday to watch the Polar Plunge live. If you’re courageous enough to take a dip, send us your best pics for a chance to get featured! Check out scenes from last year’s plunge below.