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Residents plunge into Lake Monroe on New Year's Day

By Clayton Baumgarth

Posted January 1, 2025

Residents take the plunge at Fairfax Beach. (George Hale/WTIU News)

While an ‘official’ polar plunge was iced out on New Year’s Day, Bloomington residents still took to Lake Monroe to start off the new year.

In a post on the Bloomington Polar Bear Plunge event page on Facebook, event organizers announced Wednesday morning that due to a family emergency, there would be no T-shirts or hot chocolate for those taking the leap into the frigid waters.

But that didn’t deter folks from participating. Starting at 9 a.m., residents began jumping into Lake Monroe at the Paynetown State Recreation Area while withstanding temperatures in the high 20s.

“We have a lot of fun just being able to start the new year off right with some friends, with some family, just having fun and being cold for the first day, it's worth it,” said Nolan Lee, a student in Bloomington.

Across the lake, another plunge took place starting around 11 a.m. at Fairfax Beach. The Fairfax plunge began as a charity event raising money for bladder cancer research, but eventually fizzled out.

People like Robert Harmon continued the tradition from there roughly seven years ago.

“It feels like a million needles; I love it,” he said. “I'm 78 and it just, it's so invigorating. Just absolutely invigorating. (It’s) a great way to start the year.”

Another Polar Plunge is set for February 22 at the Henke Hall of Champions hosted by Special Olympics Indiana. Every dollar raised will go towards supporting athletes participating in the Special Olympics.