The Plunge: Highlights and Milestones

The Lewes Polar Bears Club, headed by Dave "Da Bear" Frederick, has taken the plunge since 1982. The club plunges five times each year at Cape Henlopen State Park on the first Sunday of the month from November through March – except January, when they plunge on New Year's Day. Special Olympics Delaware approached the Lewes Polar Bears Club in 1991 with the proposition of designating one of their plunges to benefit Special Olympics. The club agreed to February, and the 1992 February Plunge was dedicated to Special Olympics Delaware.

1992 - At the inaugural event, 78 people took the plunge at Cape Henlopen State Park and raised $7,000.

1995 - Zero-degree temperatures and wind chills of -25 degrees greet 339 bears.

1996 - A nor'easter closes the park and for the first time in its history the plunge was postponed to March.

1998 - A nor'easter damages the park and makes it unusable. The Plunge moves to what would then become its permanent home in Rehoboth Beach.

2009 - The inaugural Weekend Festival is held and attracts a record 2,923 Polar Bears who raised more than $490,000 for Special Olympics Delaware. The 5K Run to the Plunge and Restaurant Chili Contest debut.

2010 - A nor'easter arrived the Friday before the Weekend Festival and dumped over two feet of snow across the state, forcing the event to be postponed until March 12-14, when 2,683 Bears raised over $500,000.

2011 - Bears celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Plunge. The Cake-Off is held to celebrate the anniversary and 3,094 Bears raise more than $550,000.

2015 - 3,325 Bears celebrate the 24th anniversary of the Plunge by raising more than $780,000, bringing the 24th year total to more than $8.3 million.

2019 - 3,544 Bears raised $906,000; air temperature 43 degrees, water 39.