Tennesseans start new year with a cold plunge into Percy Priest Lake

About 100 people started their new year off by willingly running into the cold waters of Percy Priest Lake.

Amber Melman dressed up as Elsa from the movie "Frozen" for the quick swim on the first day of 2020. 

"It's a great way to start the New Year and it's for a good cause," Melman said. 

The Polar Bear Plunge is held annually at the YMCA of Middle Tennessee's Camp Widjiwagan. The longstanding New Year's Day tradition is a fundraiser that helps pay for kids to go to camp. In addition to racing into a chilly Percy Priest Lake, this year's event also featured zip lining and winter festival games. 

With the air temperature rising to about 52 degrees, Levi Custer also plunged into the roughly 49-degree lake.

"Diving into the frigid waters is the worst day of the year. It can only get better from here," Custer said.