Maryland State Police and Special Olympics teamed up for the 15th Anniversary MSP Polar Bear Plunge Saturday, Jan. 29 at Sandy Point State Park along the Chesapeake Bay.
Over 16,000 people attended the ‘Event of the Winter’ where Plunge participants take a quick dip in the Chesapeake Bay to raise funds for Special Olympics Maryland, the state’s largest year-round organization devoted to sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Out of the 16,000 attendees, about 12,000 took the plunge into the icy Chesapeake Bay which helped to raise nearly $3 million dollars for the organizations annual fundraiser.
The polar bears arrived at the event around 9:30 a.m. to tailgate and enjoy a heated festival tent featuring fan favorites like Sandtastic’s impressive sand sculpture, the Astro Events Family Fun Zone, great food and drinks, local and national vendors, and a variety of local entertainment acts and attractions including ArtCars, caricature artists and roving entertainers from About Faces Entertainment: stilt walkers, a balloon sculpting magician, clowns and a mime.
The event was filled with people bundled up in winter gear as well as those in their summer attire. Plungers wore bikinis, costumes and some painted their bodies. Almost everyone wore a smile, despite the frigid January temps and freezing cold water…
Check out the photos to see if you or anyone you know was “Caught in the Net”!
