The annual South Lake Tahoe Polar Plunge fundraiser returns to the chilly waters of Lake Tahoe at Zephyr Cove Resort Saturday, March 18.

The plunge, hosted by Special Olympics Northern California & Nevada, is part of a full weekend of events and activities benefiting Special Olympics.

Kicking off the festivities, Special Olympics Nevada will host a “tip-a-cop” happy hour from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, March 17, at the Hard Rock Café inside Harvey’s Lake Tahoe. Guests are invited to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Nevada’s finest, as members of local law enforcement will be featured as celebrity waiters, serving guests and accepting “tips” that will be donated to Special Olympics Nevada.

The “space odyssey” themed Polar Plunge will kick off at 10 a.m. at Zephyr Cove Resort. Plungers are asked to raise a minimum of $100 to participate and take the chilly dive for charity. Registration includes a Polar Plunge long-sleeve shirt and admission into the Post-Plunge Party at MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa, featuring a hot buffet, no-host bar, music and awards. Costumes are encouraged. Supporters not up to the plunge may also raise money as a “chicken” and receive the shirt and admittance into the post-plunge party. Registration and sponsorship opportunities are available at the Special Olympics Nevada website.

Following a shower and a warm change of clothes, plungers and guests will be invited to experience “More than Magic: An Evening of Circus & Illusion,” starring master magician Alex Ramon, Leah Christiana from Cirque du Soleil and the Duo Ronin balancing act at MontBleu Resort. The 7:30 p.m. show is open to the public, with proceeds benefiting Special Olympics. Tickets are available at the Special Olympics Nevada website.

The party will continue on Sunday, March 19, with snowshoe races beginning at 9:30 a.m. at The Beach Retreat & Lodge. All registered plungers are invited to attend free of charge and guests are able to register online or on site. Equipment will be provided.

All proceeds from the South Lake Tahoe Polar Plunge and the weekend’s activities will benefit Special Olympics Nevada to continue to showcase the capabilities and achievements of individuals with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics Nevada encourages education through Unified Sports and the Schools Partnership Program, and is committed to improving the health and well-being of athletes through a variety of screenings and programs. Special Olympics Nevada is supported entirely by events like the Polar Plunge, local business and individual gifts, and receives minimal state or federal funding. Last year’s South Lake Tahoe Polar Plunge featured 355 plungers and raised more than $109,000 for Special Olympics Nevada.

Special Olympics Nevada’s South Lake Tahoe Polar Plunge is sponsored by Aerotek, Coca-Cola, Greater Nevada Credit Union, Law Enforcement Torch Run, Montbleu and TEKsystems.

This article was provided by Special Olympics Northern California & Nevada, a free year-round sports training and competition program for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. More information is available at http://www.sonc.org for Northern California and http://www.sonv.org for Nevada; and by following on Facebook and Twitter @SONorCal and @SONevada, and Instagram @SpecialOlympicsNCA and @SONevada.