NBC Chicago’s Matt Rodrigues gets dropped into the dunk tank in honor of Polar Plunge Chicago

Ready to take a dip? The 25th annual Polar Plunge Chicago at North Avenue Beach takes place Sunday, March 1.

The iconic event, which raises money for the Special Olympics Illinois, begins at 10 a.m., with hundreds of “plungers” expected to attend, many in costumes or team uniforms to make the moment even more memorable.

This year’s Polar Plunge Chicago raised more than a million dollars for charity and saw thousands of people brave the frigid waters of Lake Michigan. NBC Chicago’s Lexi Sutter reports.

The last wave of plungers is set to enter cold Lake Michigan waters at 11:15 a.m., organizers said.

Friday morning, NBC Chicago’s Matt Rodrigues took an early plunge in honor of the event, sitting in the dunk tank hot seat while anchors attempted to drop him in and hit the target.

And while Friday in the Chicago area will be warm, the plunge will certainly be cold. Sunday morning, temperature at North Avenue Beach is expected to be about 27 degrees, NBC 5 Storm Team Meteorologist Alicia Roman said.

The lake temperature, Roman said, will be about 34 degrees.

More information about the Polar Plunge and how to participate can be found here.