The Saturday afternoon festivities concluded
with the Heikinpäivä "Polar Bear Plunge. It's the biggest attraction
during the weeklong Heikinpäivä mid-winter festival.
A freezing January afternoon hardly seems like the time to be
taking a dip in the Portage Canal, but that's exactly what nearly 100
fearless people did Saturday at the Heikinpäivä Polar Bear Dive.
Most of the divers were MTU students, however, people came from as far
away as Tennessee to take part in the chilly event. Two young Calumet
sisters, ages 7 and 8 made their 4th Polar Dive Saturday, and quite
a dive it was at that. They can be seen in the videos below.
Also seen in the videos below is Dr. Phillip Johnson,
President of Finlandia University making his second annual
excursion into the chilly waters.
Divers were judged on costume and performance.
The event takes place behind the Hancock Ramada Inn, where a large hole
is cut in the Portage Canal Ice exposing the 29 degree water below. The
event takes place under the guidance and control of the U.S. Coast Guard.
There is a Coast Guard diver in the water during the entire event.
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