New Haven Independent

More than 100 people, including several children, plunged into the 40-degree waters of Long Island Sound at Lighthouse Point Park. Here are some awaiting the countdown to plunge. Click here to hear the countdown and the hysterical screaming as people ran in.

Besides a quick dip in the frigid waters, the event included horse-drawn wagon rides,

a rock band with the catchy, locomotionally-correct name, “25 Miles Per Hour,”

a full-course brunch,

and children’s activities.

Chris Ozyck (pictured), whose brainchild this was almost a decade ago, said, “We’re really trying to get people outside on a day like today.” Click here to listen to some of the challenges organizers faced with the weather.

Adam Sendroff of Hamden (pictured) was making his fourth annual plunge, along with a friend who was visiting from Seattle. “I’m importing a plunger,” he quipped. Click here to listen to his reasons for running into Long Island Sound every New Year’s Day.

Parks Conservancy president Cordalie Benoit said the event is a fundraiser. “We have something called Experience Your Parks grants, where people can get up to $250 for an event they hold in the park as long as it’s open to the public.”

After submerging in the Sound, plungers got to submerge in one of several hot tubs set up outside the carousel building.

The water and air temperatures were both 40 degrees, but a 20 mile-per-hour wind made it feel much colder to the plungers as they ran from the white-capped water into the welcoming hot tubs.