Swimmers symbolically run away from 2020 at the annual Polar Bear Plunge at LLOPChillin’ on New Years: “Polar Bears” run in and out of the lake to start off 2021 at the Lake Lanier Olympic Park beach.

The Lanier Canoe & Kayak Club offered a  new version of the annual New Year’s Day ritual. Instead of jumping into the lake from the docks, participants “ran away” from the past year on the beach. LCKC Program Director Jim O’Dell counted 52 participants on the rainy first morning of the year. He said this exceeded small turnouts from the past few years. Participants also got to hit away at 2020 and Covid-19 modeled piñatas.

Photo: by Jane Harrison