Registration Now Open for the 2023 Chicago Polar Plunge

Registration for the 23rd annual Chicago Polar Plunge, presented by Jackson, which is the largest Polar Plunge event in the Midwest, and benefits the athletes of the Special Olympics Chicago/Special Children’s Charities (SOC/SCC) program, is now available by visiting www.chicagopolarplunge.org A virtual option is also available.

The Chicago Polar Plunge has become the must-attend winter event in the city over the last two decades. The 2022 Chicago Polar Plunge raised over $1.8 million dollars for the athletes of SOC/SCC, with over 3600 plungers and 350 teams participating. Unlike other plunges in the State of Illinois, all money raised from the Chicago Polar Plunge stays within the city of Chicago to benefit the athletes of the SOC/SCC program who live in the city.

Registrants are asked to raise a minimum of $200. All participating plungers will receive free parking at Lincoln Park Zoo, or a free bus for groups of 20 or more; a souvenir t-shirt; towel when exiting the water; and free photo downloads.

For more than a decade, the Chicago Polar Plunge has become one of the largest, and most well-known plunges in the country, attracting celebrity plungers, and garnering national and international attention. Plungers have included The Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon, actors Vince Vaughn and Dax Shepard, musician/artist Lady Gaga, the casts of Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, and Chicago Med, Al Roker, Craig Melman, and other personalities from The TODAY Show. Last year, celebrity plungers included Chris Witaske, co-star of Hulu’s The Bear, and also known as the Chicago Party Aunt, and city of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, and First Lady Amy Eshelman.

The Chicago Polar Plunge is an enormously important event for Special Olympics Chicago, as it helps to fund the year-round activities and events enjoyed by thousands of athletes throughout the city. Funds raised from the Chicago Polar Plunge help to pay for transportation to competitions, uniforms, sports equipment, and more, for the Special Olympics Chicago programs and athletes.

Online registration will remain open until Saturday, March 4, 2023, and walk-up registration is available the day of the event.

Athletes compete and train in 17 sports throughout the year in Chicago Public Schools and Chicago Park District locations throughout the city.

In addition to sports activities, SOC/SCC provides extracurricular activities including arts programming, an athlete produced cable access television show, cooking nights, dance parties, special events, field trips and more.

For more information on the Chicago Polar Plunge benefiting Special Olympics Chicago, please call 312.527.3743; or email chicagopolarplunge@sochicago.org.