Important Dates

Registration Opens: Sunday, February 1, 2026

Registration closes: 6pm Friday July 24, 2026- No race day registration this year

Packet Pick-up: Saturday, July 25, 2026

Event: Sunday, July 26, 2026

Packet Pickup
Packet pickup Saturday, July 25 from 2-4pm at Saint Errant Brewing Company - Evanston 2000 Dempster St. in Evanston, IL

If you can't make it to packet pick-up, you will be able to pick-up day of the event starting at 6am, but we highly encourage you to get your packet on Saturday to beat the crowds.

Choose Your Distance

All distances will adhere to the rules set up by the Open Water Lake Swimming Foundation. All races will take place off Dempster Beach in Evanston. 

Event Schedule

day of check-in 6-6:40am

safety talk 6:45am

swim starts at 7:00 AM with 4K swimmers first via a time trial start format (meaning 1-2 swimmers at a time roughly 3-5 seconds apart)

swim waves (2k and 1k) will be sent in approximately 5 minutes between waves, also using a time trial start format

all swimmers must complete their swim distance by 10am.

Race Course

Your 1K swim will take you along a semicircular course, outlined by GPS buoys. Starting at the southwest corner of the straight base, you'll swim clockwise, following the curved perimeter. Your finish will be at the southeast corner of the straight base, completing the half-circle. Buoys will guide you at the start and finish, and along the entire curved path.  

The 1K swimmers swim 1 loop, 2K swimmers 2 loops, and 4K swimmers 4 loops.

Event Pricing

  • 4K - $90 - Price increases to $110 after July 19, 2026 at 11:59am CDT

  • 2K - $80 - Price increases to $95 after July 19, 2026 at 11:59am CDT

  • 1K - $50 - Price increases to $60 after July 19, 2026 at 11:59am CDT

  • Registration closes at 6pm Friday July 25th. No same day registration in 2025.

What to Bring

Please remember to bring the following items: sunscreen, a baseball hat or equivalent to shade your face (not to swim in!), sweatshirt, sweatpants, wetsuit (optional), board shirt (this goes underneath the wetsuit to prevent chafing around the neck), Vaseline or BodyGlide (for under the arms, neck area), and of course goggles! Sorry, no pull buoys, hand paddles or fins.

Lake Conditions

Lake Michigan is a large body of water whose conditions can vary immensely. Great Lakes swim participants might swim in a mirror calm lake throughout--or confront four-foot waves with white caps. Your best options are to be prepared for possible rough spots, or to bow out gracefully if the conditions are beyond your experience. (We would rather you celebrate the beauty from the lakefront rather than drag you to shore dripping and dizzy.) Lake temperatures can also be challenging, varying from 54 degrees to 76 degrees Fahrenheit based on weather conditions. There will be swim suit and wet suit categories for each race. Should the lake temperatures drop overnight, “day of” changes will allow those interested to switch to the wet suit group. 

Safety

In collaboration with in collaboration with City of Evanston Parks and Recreation and the Evanston Fire Department, we will provide for water safety during the swim.  Lifeguards will be placed on land and water throughout the course. Fire, rescue, and first-aid staff will also be on site. 

Swim caps, color-coded for each distance category, are mandatory. Substitutes will be provided for swimmers who are allergic to latex.

Air Quality

The health and safety of our participants, volunteers, lifeguards, race officials, and our public safety partners is always our top priority.

We continuously monitor air quality leading up to and on race morning. If the Air Quality Index (AQI) is greater than 150, the Great Lake Plunge will be canceled. This threshold is consistent with the guidance used by the City of Evanston and the Evanston Park District, as an AQI above 150 is considered unhealthy for outdoor endurance activities.

If conditions are questionable, we will communicate updates through email, social media, and our website as early as possible. If race day conditions change, a final decision will be made by the Event Director in consultation with local public safety officials.

We appreciate your understanding as we make decisions with the safety of everyone involved in mind.

Wetsuits

Wetsuits will not be available for rent. You can purchase your own before the race, either online or from local retailers like REI and Dick’s Sporting Goods. 

Cancellation Due to Conditions

If weather or other issues prevent a safe swim as determined by the City of Evanston Aquatics Department, we’ll cancel the race. We cannot offer refunds or deferrals, and there is no alternate date. The cost of the event is fixed and the all funds have been spent by race day.