Thank you for your images.

I will have to say that during my growing years, the Polar Bear Club was not as large as the group doing the "plunges". I used to go out and swim off Oak St. Beach around the mid April. When I started getting to feel cold, I would submerge into the water about six inches and warm up in the warmer clime, then come to the surface to swim on. The air still had its bite at that time. One thing, I did not have to swim through the crowd.

Thank you 13, tradio, W9OD, Jbravi, Gary, foathog, JD750, foodie65, Earnest, Ray! Last year was my first, and I didn't fully know what to expect. This year I was there early, only to find I was on the south side of the event, but the TV shows and politicians were going into the water only on the north. Regular folks were on both north and south sides of the center stage. I was there from the first person to the last, but in a good viewing position only later in the morning. Glad you enjoyed.

The 23nd Annual Chicago Polar Plunge happened March 5 at North Avenue Beach on Lake Michigan, Chicago. The Polar Plunge benefits the thousands of local athletes in the Special Olympics Chicago / Special Children’s Charities program.

Polar Plunge 2023 by Paul Sager, on Flickr


All funds raised benefit the over 7500 Special Olympics Chicago athletes, covering program costs such as transportation, sports equipment, team uniforms, and meals.

Polar Plunge 2023


About 4,000 people participated in the Polar Plunge 2023 in Chicago.

Polar Plunge 2023


The Polar Plunge aimed to raise $2 million by Plunge Day. Each participant was responsible to raise $200. They hit 103% of the goal, achieving $66,600 over the $2 million goal.

Polar Plunge 2023


Besides North Avenue Beach in Chicago, there were people taking the plunge at 24 other locations throughout Illinois in March.

Polar Plunge 2023


In 2020, the Polar Plunge was one of the last major events the city hosted before the COVID-19 outbreak brought life to a standstill. The 2021 event was held virtually due to the pandemic, though some participants still took a dip in Lake Michigan. I was there at the lake for both 2022 and 2023, only with camera, no swim suit.

Polar Plunge 2023


The official reading for the lake water was 42F, relatively warm for the typical March temperatures in Chicago.

Polar Plunge 2023


Air temps were in the upper 30s, with wonderful sunshine and not much wind. Smiles, cheering and the cause kept participants going.

Polar Plunge 2023


Cast and crew from the “Chicago PD” and “Chicago Fire” television shows participated in the 2023 Plunge.

Polar Plunge 2023


All images were captured in RAW from an EOS 5D III and the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM. Processing was performed in Adobe Lightroom 6. The title of each image is a URL link to the host Flickr page for the EXIF details of each image.

Polar Plunge 2023


Although not a 'frigid face', I did find my mug in another photographer's portfolio from that weekend.

Polar Plunge 2023

The 23nd Annual Chicago Polar Plunge happened March 5 at North Avenue Beach on Lake Michigan, Chicago. The Polar Plunge benefits the thousands of local athletes in the Special Olympics Chicago / Special Children’s Charities program.

Polar Plunge 2023 by Paul Sager, on Flickr


All funds raised benefit the over 7500 Special Olympics Chicago athletes, covering program costs such as transportation, sports equipment, team uniforms, and meals.

Polar Plunge 2023


About 4,000 people participated in the Polar Plunge 2023 in Chicago.

Polar Plunge 2023


The Polar Plunge aimed to raise $2 million by Plunge Day. Each participant was responsible to raise $200. They hit 103% of the goal, achieving $66,600 over the $2 million goal.

Polar Plunge 2023


Besides North Avenue Beach in Chicago, there were people taking the plunge at 24 other locations throughout Illinois in March.

Polar Plunge 2023


In 2020, the Polar Plunge was one of the last major events the city hosted before the COVID-19 outbreak brought life to a standstill. The 2021 event was held virtually due to the pandemic, though some participants still took a dip in Lake Michigan. I was there at the lake for both 2022 and 2023, only with camera, no swim suit.

Polar Plunge 2023


The official reading for the lake water was 42F, relatively warm for the typical March temperatures in Chicago.

Polar Plunge 2023


Air temps were in the upper 30s, with wonderful sunshine and not much wind. Smiles, cheering and the cause kept participants going.

Polar Plunge 2023


Cast and crew from the “Chicago PD” and “Chicago Fire” television shows participated in the 2023 Plunge.

Polar Plunge 2023


All images were captured in RAW from an EOS 5D III and the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM. Processing was performed in Adobe Lightroom 6. The title of each image is a URL link to the host Flickr page for the EXIF details of each image.

Polar Plunge 2023


Although not a 'frigid face', I did find my mug in another photographer's portfolio from that weekend.

Polar Plunge 2023