South Bend Prepares Polar Plunge at Four Winds Field for Special Olympics

Four Winds Field at Coveleski Stadium will host the 10th annual South Bend Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Indiana, with plunging scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Registration opens inside the 1st Source Bank Performance Center at 10:30 a.m., the event will officially start at 11:30 a.m., and an After-Splash Bash returns to the Performance Center after the plunge.

Participants should plan to check in at the 1st Source Bank Performance Center, 501 W. South Street, with a registration window listed as 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. per event listings. The broad public block for the event is shown as 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., accommodating registration, the noon plunge, and immediate post-plunge activities in and around Four Winds Field.

Fundraising rules remain explicit: participants who raise at least $125 will receive an official Polar Plunge event T-shirt, and anyone who raises $4,000 or more will be recognized as a Super Plunger. In 2025, Polar Plunge events statewide drew more than 3,000 participants and raised more than $1 million, and the campaign has "raised nearly $12 million" overall, according to local reporting.

The South Bend Cubs front office is running a plunge team and offering donor incentives to fans. Anyone who donates $50 or more to the Cubs plunge team will be entered to win one of five prizes, including a concourse-level outdoor suite to a 2026 South Bend Cubs game for up to 16 tickets; VIP access to watch Cubs batting practice; the opportunity to throw out a ceremonial first pitch; autographed memorabilia; or the chance to be a guest PA announcer for an inning during a 2026 regular season game. Fans may register online as individuals or as teams, or donate to the Cubs plunge team to support the cause.

South Bend Cubs Assistant General Manager for Marketing & Media Chris Hagstrom-Jones highlighted the local growth tied to the stadium setting, saying, "When we first started hosting Polar Plunge events at Four Winds Field, we had about 50 plungers and raised close to $10,000 each year. Ten years later, we have over 150 plungers raising close to $50,000 at each event. As the stadium is nearing completion of a $48 million renovation, we will be able to host larger community events like the Polar Plunge."

Regional promotion has included a WNDU television segment featuring Barb Michalos, regional director for Special Olympics Indiana; Becky Hardesty, lead volunteer for the LaPorte County branch of Special Olympics Indiana; and athlete Cameron Hardesty, who appeared to discuss the tradition and how people can get involved. Registration is available online for the South Bend event and for multiple plunge locations across Indiana.

A photo caption from local coverage notes South Bend Cubs mascot Stu has taken the polar plunge at past events, underscoring the family-friendly community atmosphere organizers expect as the stadium renovations wrap and the Cubs gear up for the 2026 season.