2019 Polar Plunge is Saturday; annual event raises funds for Special Olympics

SPICER - The 15th annual Polar Plunge will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday near Zorbaz on Green Lake in Spicer as part of the community's annual Winterfest celebration.

The Polar Plunges statewide are sponsored by law enforcement to raise money for Special Olympics Minnesota.

A crew of emergency responders from Willmar, New London-Spicer and other local departments will staff the plunge area to guide participants from the water or assist anyone who may feel disoriented.

A tent will be provided for participants to warm up. Other emergency responders will help with crowd control and registration.

Last year's plunge featured 233 participants and raised $48,821, according to the official Polar Plunge website. From 2015 through 2018, there were 1,250 plungers who raised $247,544 at the Spicer plunge.

As of Monday, $16,131 of the 2019 goal of $48,000 had been raised. The number of local plungers was not available.

The numbers statewide are impressive: 6,793 registered participants for 21 plunges scheduled through March 16, with $573,919 raised, as of Monday.

To register for the Polar Plunge, visit www.plungemn.org . Walkup registration will be taken from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the American Legion, 155 Lake Ave., in Spicer

Other Winterfest events are scheduled through Feb. 10 (please see the accompanying calendar). For more information on Winterfest 2019 visit www.spicermn.com .

1/6: Erica Dischino / Tribune A polar plunge participant does a back flop into Green Lake at the 14th annual Polar Plunge in 2018.

2/6: Erica Dischino / Tribune Carlee Brown, from left, Mallory Beier, Carter Monson and Autumn Appeldorn hold hands while waiting to jump into Green Lake at the 14th annual Polar Plunge last year. This year's plunge is set for Saturday at Green Lake in Spicer.

3/6: Erica Dischino / Tribune Darrell Thorp, a first responder with Kandiyohi County Rescue, enjoys the water before the event starts while his fellow first responders watch at the 2018 Polar Plunge at Saulsbury Beach in Spicer. The first responders are always present to ensure participants jumping into the lake safely return to land.

4/6: Erica Dischino / Tribune Steve Marquadt takes the plunge into Green Lake at the 14th annual Polar Plunge at Saulsbury Beach in Spicer in 2018.

5/6: Erica Dischino / Tribune Members of the MACCRAY High School National Honor Society take the plunge in 2018.

6/6: Erica Dischino / Tribune Paige Marquardt, left, and Eric Wankerl hold the American flag during the opening ceremony for the 2018 Polar Plunge in Spicer.