Only in Bucks County: Freezin For a Reason

 

This Saturday (January 20th, 2018) the Eastern Polar Bear Plunge will be celebrating 10 Years of “Freezin for a Reason” at Neshaminy State Park in Lower Bucks County, and it will be the third year Richard and I will join in on the fun! 

(As observers... do we look THAT crazy?)

The Eastern Polar Plunge benefits The Special Olympics of Pennsylvania and has raised close to $1,000,000 for Special Olympics athletes over the past 10 years. The Plunge is a staple in Bucks County that brings more than 500 costume-clad, energized plungers together to be “freezin’ for a reason,” organizers say. Although most participants have already registered and have done some fund-raising, you can still register the day of the event to take the plunge.

Even as spectators, this is a great way to cross something unique and fun off your bucket list as you watch hundreds of people; many in costume; make a mad dash into freezing cold water!

IF YOU GO: 

The address for park is 3401 State Road, Bensalem PA 19020. 

Dress warm! It's about a half mile walk from the parking area down to the river.

Here is the day's schedule:

Registration Opens:

9:30am - 11:45am

Plunge Town:

9:30am

Costume Contest Judging:

11:00am

Awards:

11:15am

Plunge Safety Briefing:

11:45am

Plunge Time:

12:00pm

Polar Plunge 2017

Polar Plunge 2016

The photo below got me into quite a bit of HOT water last year! 

Through the power of social media, it turns out the (topless) woman is a friend of a friend.

She contacted me and thought the photo was absolutely priceless!  #itsjustaboob

Only in Bucks County: My First Polar Bear Plunge (as an Observer!)

  I always thought that Polar Bear Plunges were for thrill seekers who live near the ocean until I learned that we have a very popular one right here in Lower Bucks County. On January 30, more than 500 thrill seekers (since "crazy people" isn't really a very nice description) participated in the the 8th Annual Eastern Polar Plunge.

Best of all, I was one of more than 2,000 people who came out to support friends and family who planned on plunging at what was the biggest tailgating/parking lot party this side of summer.
I quickly observed that a Polar Bear Plunge is basically broken down into three parts; the pre-party, the after party, and the plunge itself. And all of this partying is for a great cause! The Polar Bear Plunge at Neshaminy State Park raised close to $125,000 for the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania.

Somewhere along the line, plungers nationwide started wearing costumes of cartoon characters and Superheros and there is usually a contest competition at the event. I'm not sure which was more entertaining-- seeing folks standing in the snow in swimsuits, watching them dash into wintertime water, or all of the cool costumes people plunged into the river in.

The temperature was about 38 degrees and the water was only a little bit warmer. My favorite group were the men and women of the Trevose Fire Company who all wore wedding dresses. Boy did I feel for them when they emerged from the water... cold and wet ... with those heavy dresses clinging to them!

Here are the photos I took that Saturday, beginning with the Pre-Party. It may have been sunny out, but it was January, and it was cold.

                                                                                  

The Plunge

After Plunge

"Too Chicken To Plunge" Tee would be for me 

Oh, and by the way ... here's a huge thank you to Dunkin' Donuts for making the day even more fun with free hot chocolate and baked goods, and for providing free hats and gloves to not only the participants, but to anybody who attended the 2016 Eastern Polar Plunge.

Who's doing it with us next year?? KIDDING!