Hundreds pack Parker Township for Polar Plunge into Allegheny
PARKER, Armstrong County — The most exciting 20 minutes of the year for some in Parker took place 13 hours into the new year on Wednesday, Jan. 1, as hundreds gathered on the banks of the Allegheny River for the annual Polar Plunge.
“This is one of our biggest events for the year,” said Bud Amsler, the mayor of Parker. “There’s hundreds of people that are looking forward to it every year and really enjoying the atmosphere, the temperature, and certainly the cold water. It’s a great event. It brings everybody out and gets everybody moving the first day of the year.”
According to Mandy Libecco, president of the Parker Polar Plunge Committee, this year’s plunge attracted over 200 entries — a number that may have been higher if New Year’s Day had fallen on a weekend.
“We’ve had them up over 300 before,” Libecco said. “When it’s during the week it’s a little less participation than on weekends, but it was a good turnout this year.”
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A attendee keeps losing her shoe as she wades into the Allegheny River during the annual Parker Polar Plunge in Parker city on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Hundreds of attendees dove into the Allegheny River during the annual Parker Polar Plunge in Parker city on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Hundreds of attendees dove into the Allegheny River during the annual Parker Polar Plunge in Parker city on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Hundreds of attendees dove into the Allegheny River during the annual Parker Polar Plunge in Parker city on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Hundreds of attendees dove into the Allegheny River during the annual Parker Polar Plunge in Parker city on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Daniel McAnulty dries off after diving into the Allegheny River during the annual Parker Polar Plunge in Parker city on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Hundreds of attendees dove into the Allegheny River during the annual Parker Polar Plunge in Parker city on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Bennett Morando dives into the Allegheny River during the annual Parker Polar Plunge in Parker city on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Hundreds of attendees dove into the Allegheny River during the annual Parker Polar Plunge in Parker city on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Hundreds of attendees dove into the Allegheny River during the annual Parker Polar Plunge in Parker city on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Bennett Morando dives into the Allegheny River during the annual Parker Polar Plunge in Parker city on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Hundreds of attendees dove into the Allegheny River during the annual Parker Polar Plunge in Parker city on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Hundreds of attendees dove into the Allegheny River during the annual Parker Polar Plunge in Parker city on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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A attendee keeps losing her shoe as she wades into the Allegheny River during the annual Parker Polar Plunge in Parker city on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Hundreds of attendees dove into the Allegheny River during the annual Parker Polar Plunge in Parker city on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Hundreds of attendees dove into the Allegheny River during the annual Parker Polar Plunge in Parker city on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Hundreds of attendees dove into the Allegheny River during the annual Parker Polar Plunge in Parker city on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Hundreds of attendees dove into the Allegheny River during the annual Parker Polar Plunge in Parker city on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Hundreds of attendees dove into the Allegheny River during the annual Parker Polar Plunge in Parker city on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Bennett Morando dives into the Allegheny River during the annual Parker Polar Plunge in Parker city on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Liana Inakavadze, right, holds her daughter Mary’s hand as they return from the water during the annual Parker Polar Plunge in Parker city on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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Nathan and Hunter Pisor enjoy the fire after diving into the Allegheny River during the annual Parker Polar Plunge in Parker city on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
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CJ Burger dries off after diving into the Allegheny River during the annual Parker Polar Plunge in Parker city on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle.
But the Polar Plunge isn’t just a New Year’s Day gathering, it’s a New Year’s Day gathering for a good cause. At $15 per entry, the event raises thousands of dollars per year for both the Parker Volunteer Fire Department and the Emlenton EMS.
“We donate to the local fire and EMS, as well as families in need,” Libecco said.
Registration began around 9 a.m. as snow fell on Parker, and crowds began gathering on the banks of the Allegheny by 1 p.m. around a bonfire which was set up to warm the participants both before and after they climbed out of the water. Despite the near-freezing temperatures, some participants braved the weather with nothing but their swim trunks.
At the stroke of 1 p.m., two cannons sounded on the opposite side of the river, the signal for all to begin their “plunge.” Two EMS rescue boats were on hand to prevent the participants from venturing too far into the river.
Despite the name of the event, the participants didn’t “plunge” into the river so much as walk in slowly, which was easier for some than others.
“It was a sting going in, but then afterwards, it was good,” said Heidi Jabaut.
For Hunter Dailey, it was his third trip into the river.
“At first, it’s just a rush of shock,” Dailey said. “But then you realize that it’s not going to get better until you get out, so you might as well just go in as far as you can, then get out as quick as you can.”
Not everyone found the plunge difficult, such as Chelsea Furl, who dove in for the first time.
“Actually, the water was warmer than it is outside today, so it’s not that bad,” Furl said. “A lot of people came up shivering and shaking, and it was fun.”
