Did you know a group of penguins is called a colony? We have a serious love of penguins around here thanks to the team at Vigilant Creative, who artfully led our 2020 Polar Plunge brand refresh. And the coolest colony in Special Olympics Virginia is gathering for the Polar Plunge in Virginia Beach this weekend, Feb. 7-8! We’ll be partying with thousands of penguin friends, all to raise money for Special Olympics Virginia.
As of today, we’re still shy of our $1.3 million goal, so we need your help. Plungers and runners can register right up until each event starts on event day. For a full schedule of events and a festival map, check out our event website, https://polarplunge.com/vabeach.
We’ll be partying on the beach at Neptune’s Park, between 30th-32nd streets. Things kick off Friday, Feb. 7 at 12:15 when students and teachers test the chilly waters during the Cool School Challenge. Currently, 17 school teams are signed up to participate (with another 10 schools registered for Saturday’s main Plunge), and Plaza Middle School tops the fundraising charts with more than $10,000 raised.
Saturday, Feb. 8, our coolest fans will descend upon the beach at 9:30 am for the SunTrust 4 Miler, followed by the 1 Miler at 11 am. These run/walk events are costume-friendly and you don’t have to plunge to participate!
We’ve also DOUBLE DIP DARED our supporters to make two chilly splashes this year. All runners who also register to Plunge (and raise the $100 minimum) can dash into the Atlantic at NOON Feb. 8, and then be the coolest people on the beach when they take a double dip at 2 pm as a part of the main Polar Plunge. In addition to some major bragging rights, double dippers will earn a commemorative Double Dip Medal that interlocks with the SunTrust Dash & Splash medal for participating in not one but two Plunges.
The main event: Plungers will take to the icy Atlantic for the main plunge at 2 pm Saturday to cap off the day-long celebration, which is open to all and includes some COOL activities:
- live music by the Flying Svengs to get you moving
- frosty beverages from Smartmouth Brewing Co.
- Hawaiian style eats from Aloha Snacks
- costume contest and parade presented by TJ Maxx
- VIP Experience under the Walmart Plunge Pavilion (the main heated tent)
- Plunge Marketplace featuring local artisans
- free Wawa hot chocolate and coffee
- hot happenings and discounts all weekend long at Beachside Social, Smartmouth’s Virginia Beach Pilot House, Murphy’s Irish Pub, and the Hyatt House’s Ocean 27
This year’s event is presented by FM99, 106.9 THE FOX, WTKR News3, The Wawa Foundation, Virginia Natural Gas, Walmart, WGNT, the Virginia Knights of Columbus and the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Virginia. Since 1993, more than 53,000 plungers have raised in excess of $15 million for Special Olympics Virginia. The inaugural Polar Plunge took place in 1993 at the Clarion Hotel when 108 plungers raised $11,000 for Special Olympics Virginia. We hope to make 2020 our tenth million dollar year!
This event is one of five Polar Plunge® Festivals in Virginia. In addition to the Virginia Beach event, plunges will take place in the New River Valley and Prince William County on Saturday, Feb 22; and our Solar Plunge is set for June 13 in Richmond during our largest annual competition, Summer Games. Plungers kicked things off Jan. 25 in Fairfax at the Mosaic District; the first plunge of the season raised over $39,000.
For more information and to register online (remember, you can register in person at the Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront right up until each event starts on event day!), visit www.polarplunge.com or call 757.962.1575.