Plungefest 2014
The 2014 edition of Plungefest, i.e. the Special Olympics of Maryland and the Maryland State Police‘s annual polar bear plunge at Sandy Point State Park near Annapolis, was a long time in coming. Unlike most years, when the event is held in late January, the 2014 event was held on March 8, after the event, originally scheduled for January 25, had to be cancelled due to unsafe conditions caused by high winds, that not only created large waves on the Chesapeake Bay, but also toppled some of the tents. While the event’s cancellation was disappointing, it was the right thing to do, as it would have been reckless to run the event after the tents’ structural integrity had already been compromised.
The conditions on March 8, the rescheduled date, were perfect. The skies were clear, the bay was flat, and the air temperature was above freezing (though the water was around 30 degrees), which more than made up for the poor conditions on the original date. The event was minimalistic compared to most years, as there was no sponsor tent and very few vendors of any sort around, and had a much more casual atmosphere overall, with three open plunges on the hour at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00.
None of this, however, should be taken to mean that the event was any less fun. Participants from across the state had a great time, with many festive costumes, and lots of big smiles.
The 2014 edition of Plungefest, i.e. the Special Olympics of Maryland and the Maryland State Police‘s annual polar bear plunge at Sandy Point State Park near Annapolis, was a long time in coming. Unlike most years, when the event is held in late January, the 2014 event was held on March 8, after the event, originally scheduled for January 25, had to be cancelled due to unsafe conditions caused by high winds, that not only created large waves on the Chesapeake Bay, but also toppled some of the tents. While the event’s cancellation was disappointing, it was the right thing to do, as it would have been reckless to run the event after the tents’ structural integrity had already been compromised.
