Over 500 people braved chilly temperatures and overcast skies on New Year's Day by participating in the 2024 Jacksonport Polar Bear Club Plunge at Lakeside Park. The 38th annual event also included nearly a thousand spectators who watched family members and friends take a quick swim into Lake Michigan at Noon. With no ice on the water, organizer J.R. Jarosh says the weather provided “a good day for a swim” with air and water temperatures of 27 and 34 degrees, respectively.
One of the first-time “polar bears”, Tori Sparks of Brookfield, describes the experience after the plunge and says she wanted to celebrate her 35th birthday a day early.
The Jacksonport Fire Department was on hand to assist swimmers and provide any emergency help, which was fortunately not needed.
