Sunday morning, thousands of Chicagoans gathered at North Avenue Beach for the Polar Plunge. I couldn’t resist making the scene. I had to see the polar plungers, the people bold and crazy enough to submerge themselves in Lake Michigan’s wintry waters.
The air temperature was about 10 degrees.
Hurrying toward the event, I took a picture of the distant scene, where a crowd of several thousand was already forming. Some 3,000 people were going in. A glance told me I would be too late to see celebrity plunger Jimmy Fallon, or Mayor Emanuel, who’d egged him on.
The approach to the plunge was lined with tents, costume vendors, coffee vendors, emergency vehicles, and families and friends lined up to watch their loved ones go in.
The plunge is a charitable event whose proceeds benefit the Special Olympics.
The spectators, with their knit hats and enthusiasm, made for good people-watching.
Because the Lake is completely frozen near the shore, city personnel had cut a big hole in the ice to be used for the plunge.
Bleachers had been set up perpendicular to the Lake, making it very difficult to see the plungers while they were in the water.
I was in the land of a thousand captures. I couldn’t lift my camera high enough.
The emergency workers were numerous and well-equipped.
While some plungers went for total immersion, others settled for going in up to their knees. Here, a group of plungers that ComEd sponsored.
Eventually, I realized that I could see better by moving toward the end of the corrals where the plungers were entering and exiting.
It was odd to see women genuinely dressed for the beach.
Many plungers wore next to nothing, which was smart, given that any clothing once soaked in the Lake would be unbearably cold. I kinda liked the Woodstock-like vibe.
It resembled a circus or a love-in, a strange and wintry morning carnival.
There was plenty of revelry.
An interviewer spoke with Thing 1 and Thing 2.
He went in all the way. Definitely a king.
A tropical fantasy. Family members milled around afterward, some looking worried.
Tutus, wool caps, and Roman helmets.
Viking plunger-kin. (Note her chic Blackhawks purse.)
A plunger in blue.
A massive day-glo plunger.
Polar Venus.
Crowds were still arriving as I left the scene. Plungers were still plunging; there was plenty to see.
A plunger heading home. Her kind helped raise nearly $1 million for the Special Olympics that day.
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As of March 6, over $976,000 has been raised, and some $24,000 is still needed. Click here to donate. On last reading, a “swimmyfallon” shirt could be had for donating just $20.
KW says
Wonderful reporting, Celia! You really caught the winter carnival aspect of it well.
KW
Celia says
Thank you, KW; it certainly was one of the most touching fund-raisers, ever. When it comes to Polar Plunges, I say Chicago is second to none.
harley says
A great post !! I so very much enjoyed looking at the photos and your captions were great. Indeed, the scene looked very wintery and cold in a major way. It was brave of you to trek out there !!!!
Celia says
gee, thanks, harley; like most spectators i was sensibly dressed! but still it was dreadfully cold. as a photographer, what i liked was that i didn’t have to worry about being too obtrusive in photographing people. all the plungers were making a public spectacle of themselves already. it was a bona fide human parade.
Janet says
My first thought was, “Crazy people!” until I realized they were doing it for a cause. Now I say, “Brave people!” I sat here with goose bumps while scrolling through the post.
Celia says
Goose bumps, yes! Brave people, yes!
For all its faults, Chicago is known as a giving town, with a strong tradition of philanthropy.