ENTERTAINMENT

Less-than polar Polar Bear Plunge draws thousands to brave the bay

With sunny skies and temperatures in the 50s, a scaled-down Polar Bear Plunge kicked off Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis on Saturday afternoon after the Special Olympics Maryland fundraiser was canceled in January for the first time ever for dangerous weather. Some 7,000 plungers had signed up for the event last month, but it was not clear how many were expected for Saturday, with a trimmed down schedule of events. Organizers had said the event held in partnership with the Maryland State Police was expected to raise about $1.8 million, short of the $2.5 million goal.

• 
  VIDEO: Sights and sounds 2014 Polar Bear Plunge

• 
  Thousands plunge for Special Olympics at rescheduled Polar Bear event

• 
  Best of the Polar Bear Plunge through the years [Pictures]