It's going to be a bit chilly this first weekend in February and you know what that means - it's a perfect time to hit the beach and go for a dip in the frosty waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
That's right, it's Polar Bear Plunge Weekend 2023 in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. It's that time of year when otherwise sane and rational people strip down to their swimsuits and run en masse into the near freezing waters just off the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk.
As always, the Lewes Polar Bear Plunge (so named because of the event's origins in nearby Lewes) is the largest annual fundraiser for Special Olympics Delaware.
Since 1991, the February plunge has benefitted the year-round programs of this worthwhile First State organization, raising nearly $15 million in the process.
The event has become so popular that it's sparked an entire weekend full of events and created a huge financial boon to Rehoboth Beach during the offseason.
Here are a few of the highlights for Polar Bear Plunge Weekend 2023 in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, as well as a few other events happening during this first weekend of February throughout the region.
Polar Bear Plunge
Plunge time is Sunday, February 5, at 1 p.m., but you can check-in for the event beginning on Friday, February 3, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center.
You can also register for the plunge beginning at 10 a.m., on Sunday, near the bandstand on Rehoboth Avenue.
If you're participating in the Plunge, be on the beach a few minutes before 1 p.m., on Sunday and prepare to make that mad dash into the water at the top of the hour.
5K Run to the Plunge
The run starts at 10 a.m., on Saturday, February 4, and is a great way to support Special Olympics if jumping into frigid water doesn't excite you.
As with the Plunge itself, you can also participate in this event virtually if you choose.
You can register for the run on Friday at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center or on race day at the tent near the Rehoboth Beach Bandstand.
Chili Contest
This is being held from 2:30 to 5 p.m., on Saturday, February 4, at several participating restaurants in Rehoboth Beach. Ballots can be purchased for $10 at any of the participating restaurants or at the souvenirs tent on Rehoboth Avenue.
Participating restaurants include Cafe Azafran, Cooter Brown's, Dos Locos, Mariachi, Rehoboth Ale House and several others.
Sand Sculpting Demonstration
This event takes place on the beach in front of Candy Kitchen and is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Sunday.
