FREEZIN' FOR A REASON. The Wisconsin Special Olympics Polar Plunge® will return to the Chippewa Valley in 2026, so get your teams together – and start cold-plunging for practice at home – ASAP!

What’s 30 seconds of frigid water completely enveloping your entire body when it’s for a good cause?! Chippewa Falls’ coolest early springtime event is now accepting registrations: the Special Olympics Wisconsin Polar Plunge®.

The Polar Plunge® is the Special Olympics Wisconsin's largest – and most unique! – grassroots fundraiser. 100% of the monies raised through the annual event go toward the statewide nonprofit's various year-round programming, sporting events and inclusion efforts, which positively impact its 14,000-plus participating athletes.

This year, there are six Polar Plunge® locations in the state, including Loopy’s Grill & Saloon (10691 County Hwy X, Chippewa Falls), which will host its event on Saturday, March 14. For those who can’t participate in an in-person event but would still like to get in on the icy action, an “Alternative Plunge” option is available.

Folks can participate individually or as part of a group; local schools and businesses often participate in the fundraising activity (per the online donation page, groups including Wendel Companies and the Stanley-Boyd Student Council are already signed up).

Individuals must contribute a minimum of $100 to officially participate in a Polar Plunge® event. Further incentives include prizes like a collectible T-shirt and various branded apparel.

Chippewa Falls Polar Plunge® registration options:

• Plunger

  • A Plunger is anyone who is plunging, that is NOT elementary through high school age.
  • Registration to Plunge has a minimum fundraiser commitment of $100. If you do not fundraise the minimum amount you will be expected to pay the difference at registration/check-in the day of.

• Cool School Plunger

  • Cool School Plungers are elementary through high school students who are plunging as a school team.
  • Cool School Plungers are expected tor raise a minimum of $100, but are eligible for team fundraising. For Example: The team has 5 plungers, the team total must be $500 for all participants to be eligible to plunge.

• Pledger

  • Pledger is anyone who wants to earn incentives through fundraising for Polar Plunge, but DOES NOT want to physically Plunge.
  • A Pledger is NOT elementary through high school age.
  • This registration has a minimum commitment of $100 to earn incentives. If you do not fundraise the minimum amount you will be expected to pay the difference at registration/ check-in the day of in order to collect your T shirt incentive.

Learn more about the Special Olympics Wisconsin Polar Plunge® online at wwww.specialolympicswisconsin.org/plunge/. Additional information about the Chippewa Falls event – slated for Saturday, March 14 – can be found online as well.