There won’t be any large gatherings for New Years, due to COVID-19. But if cold water is your thing, there is a way to ring in 2021.
For the past 28 years, polar dippers have been jumping into Palmers Pond in Dorchester on New Years Day.
Lion Dan Matthews says normally they cut a hole in the ice, and participants take the dip.
But due to milder temperatures this year, there isn’t much ice.
So they came up with another plan, “The fire department has a big swimming pool that they use when they go to a fire that doesn’t have adequate access to water. You’ll climb the ladder, jump in, go across the jump out the other side,” Matthews says.
The pool will be filled with the ice cold water from Palmers Pond.
Matthews says there was a lot of discussion as to whether they could go ahead with the Polar Dip this year, due to COVID-19 rules, “We decided that the rest of the year was so crappy that people needed something as a diversion. There’s so many people look forward to it each year. Full COVID-19 safety protocols will be enforced on site.”
The number of dippers varies each year, “We’ve had up to 48 dippers, while last year we had 28 dippers. They’re all different ages, young and old.”
All of the money raised from the Polar Dip at Palmers Pond helps benefit community events organized by the Dorchester Lions Club.
There is a minimum $25.00 sponsorship limit, or $50 per family, but there is no limit to the maximum amount that you can be sponsored.
On site registration starts at 12:30 sharp on New Years Day.
Get your registration form and event information from dorchesterweblion@gmail.com or from the Dorchester Lions NB Facebook page.
