In the city's boldest New Year's tradition, every year hundreds of weather-defying swimmers head to Bradford Beach for the Polar Bear Plunge. They'll be jumping into Lake Michigan at noon, but the organizers suggest you get there...

In the city’s boldest New Year’s tradition, every year hundreds of weather-defying swimmers head to Bradford Beach for the Polar Bear Plunge. They’ll be jumping into Lake Michigan at noon, but the organizers suggest you get there...

Of course, the bundled-up masses who take to the skies of Veterans Park seem downright sane compared to those who make the annual jump into Lake Michigan for the Polar Bear Plunge. As always, the dive begins at noon, though organizers...

…Of course, the people flying kites in the cold seem downright sane compared to the hundreds who head to Bradford Beach to take part in another odd New Year’s Day tradition, the annual Polar Bear Plunge. They’ll be jumping into the lake at noon, but the organizers suggest you get there around 11 a.m. to find parking, since plenty of bundled-up spectators come to watch others take the plunge...

Of course, the people flying kites in the cold seem downright sane compared to the hundreds who head to Bradford Beach to take the annual Polar Bear Plunge. They'll be jumping into the lake at noon, but the organizers suggest you get there. .