ALBERT LEA, MN - From ice fishing to a polar plunge to a chili cook-off. It's an event that celebrates all things winter. But this year the weather wasn't exactly what you'd expect for celebration called the Big Freeze.
Everybody had their own reasons for taking the Polar Plunge.
"I got suckered into this," said one plunger.
"To raise money for the Salvation Army," another plunger added.
But once they jumped, most reactions are the same.
"It was really cold. It was freezing. It was freezing," said a group of plungers who braved the icy water.
But these jumpers are actually lucky. It's not nearly as cold as it has been in the past for Albert Lea's annual Big Freeze. This year, it felt more like the Big Thaw.
"The weather hasn't been what we thought it would be in Minnesota," said Susie Petersen.
Petersen is the Executive Director of the Albert Lea Convention and Visitors Bureau. Petersen is one of the many folks who helped organize the Big Freeze.
Petersen said, despite the unusual weather, the show must go on.
"It's a beautiful day and the sun is shining. Look at all the kids, it's been beautiful. And I think we still have a lot of activities, even though we had to cancel a few," said Petersen.
The Snowshoe Shuffle and snowmobile runs were some of the things that were cancelled due to weather. But Petersen said it will give folks something to look forward to for next year.
"It's gonna continue to grow, next year it may be the Big Freeze," said Petersen.
The festivities weren't just for fun, they also raised money for a good cause. Proceeds from the Big Freeze are going to the Salvation Army.
