56th annual Polar Bear Swim for WNY this Sunday in Olcott

Olcott Lions teams up with WNY Delta Waterfowl to host event

By Terry Duffy

Editor-in-Chief

What a difference a year makes.

Newfane and Olcott Beach, NY Tourism announced on social media, “The Town of Newfane workers are doing an amazing job getting ready for The Olcott Polar Bear Swim this Sunday, March 2nd sponsored by the Olcott Lions Club. Snow is being tucked away and the swimming pool is being created!”

Many may remember the very mild El Nino winter and lack of snow over 2023-24.

Quite the change for the 2025 happening.

Anyway, plans are moving ahead for the holding of the 56th annual Polar Bear Swim for WNY – Olcott, NY, presented this year by WNY Delta Waterfowl along with the Olcott Lions. The event opens at 9 a.m. on the beach at Krull County Park in Olcott.

“Take the #PlungeWNY To Support Our Local and WNY Communities,” organizers announced. “Come join WNY Delta Waterfowl as we brave the freezing water of Lake Ontario for a Polar Bear plunge.”

WNY Delta, which identifies itself as a duck hunters organization covering Erie, Niagara, Genesee and Wyoming counties, is joining with the Lions in presenting this happening. It will split half of the proceeds from the annual benefit.

WNY Delta continued, “The Lions Club is generously donating back around 50% (of the) funds the WNY Delta Waterfowl team raises this year back to the chapter while they keep the other 50% for their charities. This is huge for us. If anyone would be so kind to donate to this worthy cause it would really help us and the Lions club!”

Donations of any size are welcome. Interested residents can sign up for the swim at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/team/wny-delta-waterfowl.

Meanwhile, planning continues in earnest with the Olcott Lions. The group held its annual Polar Bear 5K race last weekend to benefit the Olcott Volunteer Fire Co., and announced a number of happenings this Sunday to check out.

The schedule includes:

•9 a.m. – Parking and tailgating begins.

•10:30 a.m. – The Kids Zone and assorted pre-swim activities begin.

•1 p.m. – The Swim for Sight costume contest (with eight categories) and Parade of Heroes. The parade opens at “Ye Olde Log Cabin” located at 6055 E. Main St.

•1:45 p.m. – Pre-swim announcements and the polar plunge into Lake Ontario waters opens.

The Lions said the parade, which is open to the public, will proceed on East Main toward Franklin Street, where it turns right and proceeds to the swim launch area located by the northwest entrance to Krull Park “on the infamous stairs to Lake Ontario.”

“The parade is for all participants whether you have a costume or not,” the Lions said.

For more on the 56th annual Polar Bear Swim for WNY, visit the Lions at https://thepolarbearswim.org or the WNY Delta link listed above.