By Ashley M. Casey

Associate Editor

For most people, summer is the time to enjoy the Seneca River: kayaking, fishing and the like.

This time of year, it’s a little chilly, but that won’t stop dozens of people from diving on in for the 13th annual B’ville Big Chill, which takes place Saturday, Jan. 18. The event helps raise money for local charities.

“Winter happens every year, so we might as well have fun with it,” MaryAnne Williams, executive director of the Greater Baldwinsville Chamber of Commerce, told the Messenger in 2018.

The fundraising juggernaut — it’s raised about $200,000 since its inception — is a joint effort between the Greater Baldwinsville Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Baldwinsville.

Individuals and teams compete to raise money, and the top three fundraisers will receive a donation for local charities of their choice. The remainder of the proceeds goes to the chamber and Rotary.

In addition to supporting local businesses, the chamber funds a scholarship for Baker High School students and promotes events such as Taste of B’ville.

Rotary fills numerous community needs by offering scholarships and donating school supplies, assisting with disaster relief efforts and improving B’ville’s parks and roads.

The organization has also held a backpack program to provide weekend meals for schoolchildren in need.

Williams told the Messenger in 2018 that the event also has a “wonderful partner”: the Baldwinsville Department of Public Works. The DPW prepares the site and makes sure Mercer Park is accessible. In the past, the DPW has had to chop a hole in the ice on the river.

At the B’ville Big Chill itself, plungers and spectators can warm up in a heated tent, enjoying music and munchies. The Best in Bowl competition features local eateries vying for judges’ choice and people’s choice awards.

The 2020 B’ville Big Chill takes place from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, at Mercer Park in the village of Baldwinsville.

In addition to raising money for good causes, the B’ville Big Chill brings the community together with events before and after the river plunge.

The Big Chill fun begins with the annual Pre-Registration Party, which takes place 5:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at WT Brews. Teams can drop off their donations and sign up for a plunge time (and song, if they are the first to choose that time slot). Guest bartenders will donate their tips to the Big Chill.

On the evening of Jan. 18, community members are invited to join the Poker Bear Express Pub Crawl. Tickets are $10. Participants draw a card at each location to build a poker hand. The person with the best hand wins a cash prize and a gift card to each participating location. If you’re not so lucky, don’t worry — a prize will be awarded to the worst hand as well.

Among the confirmed locations participating in the pub crawl are Sammy Malone’s, The Chef & The Cook, WT Brews, Angry Garlic and Pizza Man Pub.

Visit facebook.com/BVilles.Big.Chill for more event updates.

Sign up for the B’ville Big Chill

Sign up: Create or join a team — or sign up as an individual participant — at bvillebigchill.com. All plungers need to raise $100 or more to jump in the river.

Sponsorship: You can sponsor the 2020 B’ville Big Chill with opportunities ranging from $100 to $2,000. Learn how you can promote your business or organization throughout the community by contacting the Greater Baldwinsville Chamber of Commerce at [email protected].