With air and water temperatures hovering above freezing, thousands of people lined the beach at Jacksonport's Lakeside Park to kick off 2023.

According to the Jacksonport Polar Bear Club, approximately 800 swimmers stormed the Lake Michigan waters for the 37th edition of the swim.  The swimmers represented 24 states and five international countries.

In addition to the swimmers, over 2,000 people rang in the New Year watching the festivities take place. The swim first started as a dare for club founder JR Jarosh, who has turned it into an annual tradition every year since outside of 2021 when the event had to be canceled because of the pandemic. 

Pictures courtesy of the Jacksonport Polar Bear Club