If you want to start 2025 on the right foot, your left foot may end up in Lake Michigan if you celebrate New Year's Day in Jacksonport. Lakeside Park expects hundreds of people lined up on its beach for the 39th edition of the Jacksonport Polar Bear Club swim. The streets fill up well before the swim kicks off at noon, with people registering for the event at 10:30 a.m. and jockeying for a quick trip to their vehicle following their swim. While many swimmers may be in the frigid waters for just a few minutes, the impact of the Jacksonport Polar Bear Club swim lasts much longer. Founder J.R. Jarosh is proud that what started as just a dare from his father has turned into a community event that is now under the direction of the Jacksonport Fire Department.

Jarosh says even though his family is no longer running the event, they will still be running into the lake on Wednesday when it will be partly sunny and temperatures around 30 degrees. A similar event will take place in Sturgeon Bay, with proceeds benefiting the Nasewaupee Fire Department. After you dry off, the Village of Egg Harbor hosts its annual New Year's Day Parade at 1 p.m., marching down State Highway 42 from Harbor School Road north to County E.