Shiver-Fest 2012: Polar Bear Plunge Set for New Year's Day at Marina Park

Dozens of brave souls will ring in the New Year at Marina Park at 1 p.m. on Sunday by throwing caution to the wind -- with any luck there won’t be any of that -- during Kirkland’s traditional, unofficial Polar Bear Plunge.

New Year’s Day polar bear plunges have become something of a local tradition, with the City of Seattle sponsoring one at Matthews Beach (noon) across the lake and another in Renton at Coulon Park (11 a.m.). However, while Kirkland’s lives on, the City of Kirkland ended its sponsorship of the annual shiver-fest in 2009 due to budget constraints.

It is officially unsponsored now. But although not exactly spontaneously, anywhere from 100 to 250 plungers still show up every year.

“I’m one of the crazies who gets out there,” acknowledges Janis Rabuchin, who continues to to publicize the event on her informative web site the Kirkland Weblog. “Nobody’s name is on it, it's just kind of there. It’s a good time.”

It is indeed -- check out the attached video Arnold Arnan shot for Kirkland Patch of last year’s event.

Fortunately, Kirkland’s maritime climate is somewhat forgiving -- as Rabuchin says, “we’re not chipping ice away out there.”

But is also is not exactly tropical. The current forecast is for a 30 percent chance of rain, cloudy skies and a high temperature of 45 degrees. The water itself? Can you say “Brrrrrrrrrr!”? King County’s Lake Washington monitoring buoy between the two floating bridges on Thursday indicated the water was a cool 47 degrees.

“It’s in and out. It’s the quickest event that ever happens,” says , the Kirkland Parks Department’s business services manager, who used to help organize the plunge. “It’s always been a fun event. There’s no sponsor, but the fire department is there anyway, just to make sure everybody is safe.”

The nearby Grape Choice wine shop will serve hot chocolate. But Kirkland Deputy Mayor Penny Sweet, who owns the shop with her husband, state Rep. Larry Springer, said her civic duties do not include beginning the new year with a cold plunge.

“It’s wild,” she said with a grin. “I do not go in.”