JACKSONPORT, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – From eating special foods to doing outrageous things, people around the world have different ways of celebrating the new year. In Door County, specifically Jacksonport, to start the new year, the people turn into polar bears.
With the air temperature a balmy 28 degrees and the water, just above freezing at 34, January 1, 2024 was a near perfect day to take on the lake.
Lines are forming, releases are being signed, coolers are packed. crowds are gathering and the anticipation is building. The Jacksonport Polar Bear Club is once again bringing veterans back to the lakeshore, while welcoming newcomers to the beach too.
“We do it because it’s fun, that’s what it amounts to. It’s just a great time. Great way to start the year,” said Jan Liesse, a 24 time Polar Bear.
Devon Soukup, a first-timer added, “First time doing it, with my eight year old daughter, and we’re locals, we’ve come down and watched it before in years past and thought this is the year to try it.”
This is the 38th year J.R. Jarosh has welcomed anyone, crazy enough to join him, to the beach in Jacksonport, for the annual Polar Bear Plunge.
He said, “It’s a great way to persevere through a challenge to start a new year. It’s actually pretty thrilling to be out there high-fiving and freezing your butt off, screaming your lungs out. It’s just an experience that’s really something.”
With the air temperature a balmy 28 degrees and the water, just above freezing at 34, January 1, 2024 was a near perfect day to take on the lake.
“If you do something crazy on the first of the year, you’ve got it out of the way for the rest of the year. It’s as simple as that,” added Bonnie Rymer, a 24 time Polar Bear.
More than 500 polar bears taking the plunge into Lake Michigan, scurrying out of the water, as fast as they went in. Once warmed up, the polar bears are ready to tackle all 20-24 has in store.
“I haven’t, haven’t plunged officially on New Year’s Day since 2019, so get back at it. I have three kids now, I think I had one the last time I did it so just sharing New Years with them and great way just to kind of reset yourself and look forward to a wonderful new year,” added Devin Thomas.
The Jacksonport Polar Bear Club will be back next year too, at noon, to once again take the plunge.
Comments