Polar Plunge 2027 Team Shirts: Dates and Fundraising Tiers

Polar Plunge season runs from early December through March, and most of the big Special Olympics plunges have already posted their 2027 dates. Special Olympics Northern California's season opens Dec. 6, 2026, at South Lake Tahoe; Maryland's plunge week at Sandy Point State Park runs Jan. 22 to 30, 2027; and Minnesota has more than 20 plunges from late January into May. Every one of those events is a team event, and teams love matching shirts, costumes, and hoodies. This guide lists the dates that are published, how the official fundraising-tier shirts work, who owns the Polar Plunge name, and what a print shop can sell to teams.

Published 2027 Special Olympics plunge dates

These dates come from each program's own event pages as of Oct. 20, 2026. Many programs add locations through the winter, so check before printing a dated shirt.

Minnesota's 2027 lineup by date: Jan. 30 (Lake Minnetonka/Mound, White Bear Lake, Willmar/Spicer), Feb. 6 (Maple Grove, Ottertail, St. Peter), Feb. 13 (Rochester, Waconia, Woodbury), Feb. 20 (Duluth, Prior Lake, Stearns County), Feb. 27 (Alexandria, Anoka County, South Metro), Mar. 6 (Brainerd, Minneapolis), Mar. 13 (Buffalo, Eden Prairie, Treasure Island), Mar. 20 (Big Lake, Iron Range), and May 1 (Roseau).

Not published yet: Special Olympics Illinois says registration opens soon, with no 2027 dates posted. Special Olympics Massachusetts says its plunges run December through April with a different date at each location.

Maryland's plunge dates back to Feb. 15, 1997, and the program says over 15,000 plungers wear its sweatshirt; its 2027 statewide goal is $4.75 million.

New Year's Day plunges

Coney Island Polar Bear Club, Brooklyn. The club says it is the oldest winter bathing club in the U.S., dating to 1903. Its 2026 New Year's Day plunge ran 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 1 at Coney Island Beach and was billed as the 123rd; the 2027 registration page was not up as of Oct. 20. In 2026 there was no fee, a $30 minimum donation was strongly encouraged, and raising $50 earned a limited-edition beanie. Seattle, Matthews Beach. Seattle Parks and Recreation's 2026 plunge was free at noon on Jan. 1, with a "cubs" dive at 11:45 a.m., and Seattle Parks encouraged costumes. The event started on Jan. 1, 2003. 2027 details were not posted as of Oct. 20.

For the night before, our New Year's Eve 2027 shirt guide covers party and countdown designs.

How the official plunge shirts work

Most Special Olympics plunges reward fundraising with apparel, which tells a shop what a team already gets for free and where the gap is.

The official shirt is the same for every plunger. What teams order from a local shop is the part that makes them stand out: matching team shirts with the team name, costume-themed tops, and warm layers to pull on after the water.

Who owns "Polar Plunge"?

USPTO records show Special Olympics, Inc. owns two live registrations for POLAR PLUNGE (Reg. Nos. 2,859,255 and 2,859,256), covering charitable fundraising services, first used in 1999. Other companies hold POLAR PLUNGE registrations in unrelated categories like gaming machines and candles. POLAR BEAR PLUNGE is registered by the Zoological Society of San Diego for educational and entertainment programs, and a separate design registration for T-shirts disclaims the words themselves.

What that means for a shop: Special Olympics' state programs produce the official event shirts and logos. A team shirt that uses the team's own name and art is fine; a shirt that copies the official event logo or presents itself as official Special Olympics merchandise is not. This is general information, not legal advice.

Team shirt ideas

Team name and number. "Frozen Assets," "Brrr-igade," "Freezin' for a Reason," "Chill Squad," with the team name, the year, and the amount raised on the back. Costume tops. Maryland runs costume contests at its Corporate and Maryland plunges, Northern California gives awards for best costumes and encourages team themes, and Virginia's FAQ says plungers can wear costumes. Printed superhero-style capes on tees, matching penguin or polar bear graphics, or a theme like "Beach Party in February" all work. Keep it family-appropriate, which Northern California asks for. Licensed characters are a trademark problem; our licensed character guide explains why. Police, fire, and corporate teams. Maryland and Minnesota run law enforcement and corporate challenges. Department teams usually want the agency's name, which needs the agency's approval, plus a plunge graphic. School teams. Maryland, Virginia, and Northern California all run Cool Schools events. Our school class shirt guide covers class layouts. Warm layers. Hoodies, crewnecks, and beanies are worn after the plunge, so they sell well. Our fleece hoodie season guide covers which heavyweight blanks hold a DTF print.

Will a DTF print survive cold water?

Plungers are in the water for seconds, and a properly pressed DTF transfer handles a wash cycle, so a short dip is not the issue. Saltwater and a long wet ride home are harder on any print, so tell customers to rinse the shirt in fresh water and wash it inside out. Press cotton and 50/50 blends at the settings in the DTF temperature and time chart, and use the full press time so the adhesive bonds completely.

Production timing

• November: quote Maryland, New Jersey Wildwood, and Virginia Richmond teams first; Richmond plunges Dec. 12 and Wildwood Jan. 16.
• December: Coney Island and other New Year's Day groups, plus January teams.
• January to March: Minnesota, Northern California, Virginia Beach, and Seaside Heights teams. Gang sheets let one run cover several teams at once.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Maryland Polar Bear Plunge 2027?

The Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge runs Jan. 22 to 30, 2027, at Sandy Point State Park. The Super Plunge is Jan. 22-23, Cool Schools plunges are Jan. 27-28, the Corporate and Police plunges are Jan. 29, and the main Maryland Plunge is Saturday, Jan. 30.

When is the Virginia Beach Polar Plunge 2027?

Special Olympics Virginia's Polar Plunge Winter Festival is Feb. 5-6, 2027, at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. The Plunge itself is Saturday, Feb. 6, at 1 p.m. The minimum to plunge is $100, which also earns the official Plunge T-shirt.

Do you get a free shirt at a Polar Plunge?

At most Special Olympics plunges, yes, once you hit the fundraising minimum. Minnesota gives a long-sleeve tee at $75, Virginia Beach a T-shirt at $100, Maryland a sweatshirt at $100, and Northern California a T-shirt at $125.

Is Polar Plunge trademarked?

Yes. Special Olympics, Inc. holds two live USPTO registrations for POLAR PLUNGE for charitable fundraising services. Team shirts with a team's own name and art are fine, but copying the official event logo or calling a shirt official Special Olympics merchandise is not.

When is the Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge 2027?

The Coney Island Polar Bear Club holds its plunge every New Year's Day. As of Oct. 20, 2026, the 2027 registration page was not posted. The 2026 plunge ran 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 1 at Coney Island Beach.

Where this fits in the DTF Database

For short team runs, the DTF supplier directory lists shops that print gang sheets with fast turnaround. Winter race season overlaps plunge season; see our January and February 2027 race guide and our St. Patrick's Day 2027 guide for March.