Over 700 people made their way to Lakeside Park in Jacksonport on Wednesday for the annual Polar Bear Plunge. The crowd was big enough that the local club ran out of t-shirts. The dip is free but the Jacksonport chapter encourages those participating to purchase some apparel to cover expenses with the rest going to the volunteer fire department. Joe Jarosh marvels at how the event has grown over its 34-year existence. 

Participants tend to spend a minute, maybe 90 seconds in the frigid waters. Jon Jarosh jokingly refers to it as the longest minute in Door County. The water temperature this year was 34 degrees.