Photos: Lake George New Year’s Day Polar Plunge 2025

For more than half a century, New Year’s Day in Lake George, for many, has included a dip into the icy waters. The tradition continued Wednesday afternoon as 950 plungers gathered on the Shepard Park beach to wash away the old year and start the new with an invigorating plunge into Lake George. Hundreds of spectators lined the Lakefront Walkway to cheer them on.

Local DJ Chas Giknis of Absolute Sound served as Master of Ceremonies and provided a soundtrack for the festivities. He blasted Metallica’s “Enter the Sandman” as the first wave assembled on the beach and closed with Sinatra’s “New York, New York” following the third wave’s plunge.

Village of Lake George Mayor Ray Perry addressed the crowd wishing everyone a happy New Year’s and said, “I’m not plunging, but I commend those of you who do.”

The 2025 New Year’s Polar Plunge included a tribute to Casey Frankoski of Rensselaer. Frankoski, age 28, was killed in a helicopter crash on March 8, 2024, while serving with the New York Army National Guard at the U.S.-Mexican border. According to plunge organizer Linda Duffy, Casey had always wanted to do the plunge with her mother, however, her mother would “chicken out” each year.

This year Casey’s mother joined in the plunge to honor her daughter. She was surrounded by a team of plungers wearing Casey’s Crew t-shirts. One team member held a large American flag, and the crowd that gathered in Shepard Park faced the flag, hands over hearts, and took a moment to reflect on Casey’s service and sacrifice during the singing of the National Anthem. Casey’s Crew then led the first wave of plungers into Lake George.

The New Year’s Day Lake George Polar Plunge tradition began in 1973 when Coney Island Polar Bear Club President Al Mottola visited the Lake George Winter Carnival and tested the icy waters. For many years, the New Year’s Day plunge was led by Charlie “Papa Bear” Albert who founded the Lake George Polar Bear Club. The Lake George Winter Carnival took over the event in 2000. In recent years, Duffy’s Tavern has organized the plunge as a fundraiser for the Springfield Shriners Hospitals for Children and the local volunteer fire department. According to Linda Duffy, the 2025 plunge raised $9,500 for the Children’s Hospital.