Description

Sponsored by the Olcott Lion's Club, the Polar Bear Plunge is New York's Oldest Charity Swim/Plunge. Funds raised support Local Communities and Causes, and People In Need In Western New York.

* 9 am - Parking & tailgating starts. (The earlier you get to Olcott, NY on Sunday, March 2, 2025 the better the parking.)
* 10 am - 12:30 pm - Winter Dodgeball Championships - (6 person teams) Free to play. Registration required HERE
* 10:30 am - Kid Zone and activities begin
* 1 pm - Costume Contest and Parade of Heroes
* 1:45 pm - Announcements & Polar Plunge Begins

There will be plenty of things to do for the family, including an expanded Polar Bear Cub - Kid's Zone. 

For those who have attended our plunge before you'll know that one of the major activities is our Costume Contest with 8 categories. Judging happens before the Swim during our 'Parade of Heroes'. The parade is for ALL plunge participants whether you have a costume or not. The parade starts at 1 pm at the 'Ye Olde Log Cabin' to the east of our check-in pavilion the log cabin. The address of the Olde Log Cabin is: 6055 E Main St, Olcott, NY 14126

The parade will proceed walking west on E.Main towards Franklin Street where the parade turns right and proceeds to the Swim launch area by the northwest entrance to Krull Park on the infamous stairs to Lake Ontario. 

Everyone walks in the parade but make sure you or your team get a Costume Contest number that you will hold up as you walk by the judges located at the Lions Pavilion where you check-in for the swim.
The actual swim starts at 1:45 PM with opening ceremonies from our launch area atop the Krull Park Stairs to the water.  

New this year is the first annual Niagara Winter Dodgeball Championships. At least one member of your 6-person team must be participating in the swim 

This is a family-friendly event and this year we'll have plenty of kid things to do in our Polar Cub Kid Zone. Check here and our social for updates as they are announced.