( CNN ) -- The Polar Bear Plunge is not an event for the coldhearted . Participants actually pay up to jump into freezing-cold water , with the proceeds benefiting Special Olympics . Last year , the various Polar Bear Plunges held by each state raised a collective $ 16 million . `` Each event is so much more than just a Plunge , with hot tubs and huge heated tents , bands , vendors , costume contests , DJs and more , '' said Bronwyn Schaefer Pope , vice president of marketing and communications for Special Olympics Minnesota . The events `` allow people of all ages and abilities to do something wild and crazy to shake off the winter blues . '' Be it a lake , an ocean or a river , plungers continue to jump . CNN looks at the five biggest Plunges in the United States : . Maryland -- January 29 , 2011 . Unlike many of the other Polar Bear Plunges in the United States , Maryland holds one massive event instead of multiple smaller ones . `` We determined that we would invest our time and energy into one event and maximize the craziness of that one event , '' said Tom Schniedwind , executive vice president for sports marketing for Special Olympics Maryland . He says that Maryland 's Plunge , which takes place in Chesapeake Bay , has five giant festival tents on the day of the event , including an extreme sports tent and a music tent . `` It 's kind of a bucket list thing for our plungers , whether they 're veteran plungers or first-timers , '' Schniedwind said . Wisconsin -- February 5 , 2011-March 5 , 2011 . Plungers can choose from a dozen different Polar Bear Plunge locations and a variety of dates . However , the Madison Plunge , which takes place on February 19 , and the Oshkosh Plunge , which also takes place on February 19 , are the largest . `` In Madison , you walk out onto the ice , turn around and face the crowd , and jump into a 20-by-20-foot hole that 's cut in the ice , '' said Kelly Kloepping , vice president of communications for Special Olympics Wisconsin . At other locations , you might jump off of a dock or run off the beach into the water . Minnesota -- January 29 , 2011-March 12 , 2011 . What started in 1998 with 65 plungers has grown into a massive fundraising effort , including 14 different plunge locations . Last year , the Minneapolis location alone had 1,800 plungers and raised more than $ 320,000 . `` Each site has unique aspects which build on the character of the local community , '' Schaefer Pope said . In Rochester , Super Plungers can jump 24 times in 24 hours . In Minneapolis , those too chicken to plunge can run a 5K . `` The Plunges in Minnesota are not for the faint of heart and can definitely be considered an extreme sport , '' Schaefer Pope said . `` But they are also accessible to people of all ages and abilities . '' New Jersey -- November 27 , 2010-February 26 , 2011 . In New Jersey , Polar Bear Plunge participants can take a dip in the frigid Atlantic Ocean at two different locations . The Seaside Heights Plunge is the largest , with more than 4,500 plungers . `` They know exactly why they are jumping into the 30-degree water : for the athletes , '' said Doreen Pustizzi , senior director of communications for Special Olympics New Jersey . Last year 's event at Seaside Heights had more plungers than ever , despite being postponed a week because of bad weather . Illinois -- February 25 , 2011-March 19 , 2011 . More than 10,000 people attended the various Plunges in Illinois in 2010 , and with 18 locations in 2011 , Special Olympics Illinois is expecting plenty of participants . `` We strive to have a consistent , quality experience at all of our plunge locations around the state , '' said Michele Henson , director of communications and publications for Special Olympics Illinois .
Polar Bear Plunges are held all across the United States to raise money for Special Olympics . A variation consists of jumping into a body of water during the winter . Maryland raised the most money of all the states in 2010 .