Those planning to take an icy dip in Amisk Lake will need to wait a little longer: the Polar Bear Dare Trout Festival fundraiser has been rescheduled from its original March 20 date.
Organizer Annette Banach said the committee decided to have participants run into the water from the shore this year, rather than jumping through a hole cut in the ice as they did for the inaugural Polar Bear Dare last year.
“We decided to do a shore event due to the weather and uncertainty with ice conditions,” Banach explained.
The Polar Bear Dare is now tentatively scheduled for noon on May 1, and the shore swim will be open to the whole family. Parents must be present with their children, and swimmers under 12 years old will need to wear life jackets.
“We will have small group run-ins to keep things safe,” Banach said.
Attendees can expect change tents for swimmers, free coffee and hot chocolate, prizes for best costume and best fundraiser, and, of course, an entertaining spectacle as friends and neighbours take the plunge in the chilly lake.
Polar bear dippers are currently collecting pledges for donations to the Flin Flon Trout Festival. Pledge forms are available at Gateway Tempo, The Orange Toad, CFAR, Di’s Confectionery and The Reminder.
“The festival depends on community support to keep running,” said Banach. “The more money raised leads to more events.”
Registration for the Polar Bear Dare will take place on the date of the swim.
The Flin Flon Trout Festival will be held June 30 to July 2, 2016.
