The P-P-Penguin Plunge!

Rí Rá is proud to sponsor Burlington’s annual Penguin Plunge, where participants brave the freezing waters of Lake Champlain to raise money for Special Olympics Vermont.

Back in 1996, a few hardy souls jumped into Lake Champlain during the Burlington Winter Carnival and raised $8,000 for Special Olympics Vermont. Today, the Penguin Plunge is Special Olympics Vermont’s largest annual fundraising effort with events in North Bennington and Burlington.

In 2016, over 1,200 people participated in the Plunge and raised $474,000 for the organization to support sports training for more than 1,500 Special Olympics athletes. Special Olympics Vermont aids the physical, social, and psychological development of persons with intellectual disabilities.

The Penguin Plunge continues to be one of Burlington’s most popular winter events and we are honored to be a part of it. The pub is the perfect place for plungers and spectators alike to warm up by the fire with a hot chocolate or an Irish coffee after the big event.