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After a week of freezing temperatures, dozens of Fairfax County residents are preparing to jump into frigid water at two fundraisers supporting athletes, children and local community programs.
Special Olympics Virginia will hold its annual Polar Plunge at the Mosaic District in Merrifield on Saturday from noon to 2 p.m.
Check-in begins at 11 a.m. on District Avenue, followed by a costume contest and awards presentation. The plunge is scheduled to start at 1:15 p.m. and continue until every participant has finished.
Registration is free, but plungers must raise at least $100. All other attendees are expected to collect a minimum of $25.
Mosaic District has hosted the event since 2019, except for a pandemic-related pause in 2021. The broader Polar Plunge campaign raises nearly $1.5 million annually for Special Olympics athletes and includes events in Prince William County, Virginia Beach and Radford.
Reston dip targets $30,000
The Kiwanis Polar Dip will return to Lake Anne Plaza in Reston on Saturday, Feb. 1, benefiting several local organizations.
The Kiwanis Club of Tysons and the Lake Anne Washington Plaza Merchants Association launched their version of the event in 2024 after taking it over from Camp Sunshine, which had organized the fundraiser for 15 years.
Previously called the Virginia Polar Dip, the event has generated more than $1 million for Reston-area nonprofits over the past 19 years, organizers said.
About 100 people participated in the 2024 dip, raising approximately $25,000. Event chairperson Jeffrey Wolff said organizers expect similar or slightly higher attendance this year.
The 2025 fundraising goal is $30,000. Proceeds will support Food for Neighbors, local Kiwanis youth programs and Camp Sunshine, which provides retreats for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.
A winter market will begin at 11 a.m. Registration for the rain-or-shine plunge opens at 12:30 p.m., and participants will enter the water at 2 p.m. People who register in advance or at the event will receive souvenirs while supplies last.
Sponsors include Northwest Federal Credit Union, the Kiwanis Club of Fredericksburg, Reston Association, Reston Community Center, DJ QuickSpin, the UPS Store at South Lakes, the Fairfax County Cold Water Dive Team and Photography by Scott Ripley.
Founded in 1998, the Kiwanis Club of Tysons supports the community through fundraising and service projects.