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DoorCountyTravelersJournal.com |
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For the past twenty-five years the Jacksonport Polar Bear Club has celebrated the New Year by going for an icy dip into Lake Michigan at Lakeside Park in Jacksonport along Door County Wisconsin’s eastern coast. An estimated 600-800 swimmers are expected to take the plunge during the group’s 26th annual event, which puts this polar bear swim among the largest in the country. The club first started in Jacksonport in 1986 with one swimmer, J.R. Jarosh, and it wasn't until 1989 that the number tripled from one to three swimmers. The club has seen growth since then, and last year's swim attracted an estimated 800 swimmers to Lakeside Park in Jacksonport, with several thousand bundled up spectators there to witness the event and cheer on the participants. “It’s simply amazing how the event has grown over the years,” said club founder J.R. Jarosh, who was 14 years old the first year he went in back in 1986. “To see how so many people have embraced the opportunity to battle the elements and celebrate the new year by going for a dip, I think it’s just great,” he said. The festivities will start at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, January 1, 2012 with an all you can eat pancake breakfast at the Jacksonport Town Hall, 3365 County Road V, just up the road from Lakeside Park. Pancakes will be cooked and served by the "Great Pancake Show” until 12 Noon, with proceeds benefiting Door County Fire Departments. Festivities at Lakeside Park will begin around 10:30 AM. Registration for all swimmers will take place in the park shelter closest to the lake. While the event is free, all swimmers are asked to sign a liability release form before participating in the event. Forms will be available at the registration pavilion or swimmers also can download the form ahead of time and simply drop it off the day of the event. The form is available on the club’s official Facebook page at Facebook.com/JacksonportPolarBearClub, or directly here. The swim will be held precisely at 12 noon central time, with the crowd favorite 10 second countdown preceding a massive influx of swimmers into the lake. Spectators are asked to stay outside of the yellow taped areas which are designated for swimmers only. A variety of Jacksonport Polar Bear Club merchandise, including t-shirts, hats, pins and other items will be available for purchase at the registration pavilion, along with hot beverages and other concessions. Free Jacksonport Polar Bear certificates of achievement will also be available to all swimmers when they register. Shirts can also be purchased now through January 1st at the Jacksonport Craft Cottage gift shop. Participants and spectators are also encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to Feed My People, a local Door County food pantry, which will be accepting food and cash donations near the registration pavilion the day of the swim. Additional information and tips for swimmers can be found on the Jacksonport Polar Bear Club’s official Facebook page at Facebook.com/JacksonportPolarBearClub. © Copyright 2011 by DoorCountyTravelersJournal.com
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