2023 Rochester Polar Plunge
The Rochester Polar Plunge presented by Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is excited to kick off the 2023 version of the Polar Plunge and Super Plunge on Friday, February 10th with the Super Plungers beginning their quest for 24 plunges in 24 hours at 2:00 pm. The mass plunging event and opening ceremonies begins at 11:30 am on Saturday, February 11th . All this crazy fun is happening at Foster Arend Park and beach in Rochester, Minnesota just north of 37th st NE and East River Road NE.
This year’s event will be the 22 nd year of the Rochester Polar Plunge. Local law enforcement with the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Medical Center – Rochester, and Rochester Police Department along with Special Olympics Minnesota and the Rochester Flyers Special Olympics team join forces to bring this event each year on the second weekend of February. Average temperatures are about 20-21 degrees, but the water is always 32 degrees!
The Rochester Plunge to date has raised $3,648,438 in its previous 21 years starting in 2002 with 35 plungers raising $660 dollars. Last year the plunge raised $250,699 dollars with 639 plungers. As of this morning there are 910 plungers registered with a goal of $260,000 dollars. In 2018 the plunge hosted a record of 1108 determined plungers. The record fundraising year was 2020, right before COVID-19, with only 896 plungers raising $294,313 dollars. Typically, Rochester has the highest per plunger fundraising rates and ranks second or third to the huge Minneapolis plunge annually in Minnesota.
Minnesota law enforcement is hosting 22 plunges this year with Special Olympics Minnesota starting the last weekend of January in Mound, White Bear Lake and Willmar/Spicer and ending in early May in Roseau. More information about the statewide plunges can be seen on the plunge website.
Minnesota Law Enforcement Torch via the Plunge and other fundraisers throughout the year support the activities and events that Special Olympics athletes participate in year-round. The Rochester Flyers Special Olympics team has over 300 athletes and countless volunteers and coaches who help the Flyers compete in sports from swimming and basketball to bowling, bocce, golf, track/field, and many more.
2023 Rochester Polar Plunge schedule
Friday, February 10th Foster Arend Park, and Beach
- 8:00 am - Final Preparations including opening the plunger hole by the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team
- 2:00 pm - Super Plungers begin plunging
- 4:00 – 6:00 pm - Pre-registration and check in parking lot Registration Tent
- 6:20 – 6:40 pm – Saturday Volunteer teams plunge
- 6:20 pm - RCTC Law Enforcement Skills Team
- 6:25 pm - Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office Team
- 6:30 pm – Whistle Binkies Olde World Pub team
- 6:40 pm – Sheriff’s Office/Rochester PD ERU (SWAT) Team
- 7:00 pm – Super Plungers resume
- 8:00 pm – Super Plungers resume
Saturday, February 11th Foster Arend
9:00 am – Plunger Hole R-opened by the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team
10:00 am – Day of Registration and Plunger check in resumes
11:30 am – Plungers are prepared 11:45 am – Opening Ceremonies
12:00 pm – Plunging begins In the approximate order
- Super Plungers
- The Plunging Sheriffs –
- Sheriff Kevin Torgerson – Olmsted County SO
- Sheriff Lon Thiele – Steele County SO
- Sheriff Scott Rose – Dodge County SO
- Sheriff Steve Sandvik – Mower County SO
- • Federal Medical Center Rochester – “The Frosty Feds”
- Rochester Flyers Special Olympics Team • Other Special Olympics Teams and friends
- Olmsted County Attorney’s Office
- Dodge/Olmsted Community Corrections
Followed by more than 850 more plungers friends!
Plunging usually lasts about an hour and a half to two hours ending around 2:00 pm.
For more information and plunge updates contact Sheriff Kevin Torgerson at kevin.torgerson@olmstedcounty.gov or 507.273.5224.