Freezin’ for a Reason!

This holiday season, give your friends, family, or colleagues something they least expect – a dip into a chilly pool. Registration is open for the Parks & Recreation Department’s (PRD) 2025 Polar Plunge on January 4, 2025. The 2025 Polar Plunge offers more ways to participate in this fun annual event while raising funds for a great cause.  This year PRD is making it easy to for participants to challenge someone else to take the plunge with them.

“Polar plunges around New Years are a tradition in Albuquerque and around the globe,” said PRD Director Dave Simon. “We do it so that we’re ‘freezing for a reason’--coming together to have fun and support a great cause.”

Proceeds from the City’s Polar Plunge benefit the Shanta Strong Swim Fund and a portion provides the BioPark Zoo’s polar bear and penguins with enrichment items. The Shanta Swim Strong Fund is a swim lesson scholarship program for children in need. This fund was established in 2019 in memory and honor of Shanta Hanish, a head lifeguard at Highland Pool who was passionate about teaching kids to swim.

“With creativity and compassion, our community is turning winter fun into a way to give back,” said Mayor Keller. “Take the plunge and help give local kids in need an opportunity to learn to swim.”

Since its inception, the Polar Plunge has raised more than $14,000 for the Shanta Strong Swim Fund. PRD is revamping the application process for this program, to make it easier for families to apply. There will be more information about this new process early next year.

The Polar Plunge will be on Saturday, January 4, 11:00 a.m., at Sierra Vista Pool. Participants can pay $40 to take the Plunge, $50 to Plunge using the slide, or $60 to both Plunge and nominate/challenge someone else to join you. If a nominee wants to get out of the Plunge, they can donate $20, or $40 if they want to pass the nomination along to someone else.  In addition, $10 and an ice-cold water bucket on your head buys an entry into a great raffle for a family year pool pass, good for two adults and six children.

Hot coca and snacks will be provided at the event. There will also be awards for the best costume, largest group, and largest donation.

To learn more, sign up, or nominate/challenge someone to take the Plunge, please visit cabq.gov/plunge