MEDICINE PARK – Saturday kicks off every week of actions celebrating the ever-remarkable Medication Park Polar Bear Plunge.
As all the time, they do it their means.
On this eccentric cobblestone group, a way of bohemian fantasy fills the ambiance at its numerous occasions. That continues as the primary huge occasion of 2021 kicks off the yr with a puff of smoke, an deserted Head City topped, and culminates with a splash in Medication Creek.
There will likely be seven days of enjoyable and occasions throughout Plunge Week, based on Trisha Parker, director of promoting for the Medication Park Aquarium & Pure Sciences Heart, and one of many publicists for the occasion. She mentioned Pat Shaughnessy is the generator of the occasion, half preacher and PT Barnum of the character of the group.
“For Plunge Week, that idea was actually dreamed up by Pat Shaughnessy,” he mentioned. “He advised me that his first function is to offer Medication Park residents a enjoyable solution to join, construct relationships, and simply have a very good time. The second objective is to ask guests to affix within the enjoyable and discover what Medication Park has to supply, even through the winter months. “
These factors are true, however while you speak to Shaughnessy, you perceive that the which means behind enjoyable is solely to loosen up, take pleasure in and have a good time the group. It is distinctive, he mentioned.
Starting with Saturday night time’s Sock Hop on the aquarium, some subsequent occasions are tailor-made to the extra, say, “festive” aspect of Medication Park, based on Shaughnessy.
“Thursday is just like the day that we, our core values, creep in,” he mentioned, adopted by a aware snort of what is to return.
A selfmade air and water tubing competitors will start judging at 2 pm Thursday at The Therapeutic Clinic, 204 E. Lake Drive. Entrance to the festivities is free. Pipes will start to be accepted on the dispensary for judging beginning at 10 am on Wednesday.
As you learn this and add two and two, the competitors is strictly what you suppose it’s. Shaughnessy determined to elaborate.
“Basically, supposedly, we have heard over time that earlier than marijuana was legalized individuals smoked it,” he started. “Folks took it upon themselves to invent their very own smoking equipment. We need to reward creativity and ingenuity within the smoking enterprise. “
The pipes should be clear and sterilized to be judged and, in fact, it’s essential to have your medical marijuana card to enter. And based on Shaughnessy, oh what a judgment there will likely be.
“The dispensary workers will decide the pipes primarily based on the effectiveness of the smoke,” he mentioned. “Every decide will exit into the yard and take a look at them one after the other. We hope to have a stable smoking judging panel as a result of we anticipate there to be a dozen or two dozen pipes if we are able to get that many. “
Though the winner will get a $ 40 retailer credit score on the dispensary, occasion sponsors Shaughnessy mentioned there’s a higher good behind the competition.
“It is within the spirit of science and tradition,” he mentioned.
Thursday night time will likely be a spotlight at Medication Park Tavern, 198 E. Lake Drive. That is as a result of at 7pm, the Head City Derelict title will likely be introduced. It is honoring town’s lineage, based on Shaughnessy. He is a little bit of a storyteller.
“The very first thing I say is that town of Medication Park was populated by twisted people,” he mentioned. “These individuals have been the center and soul of town in some ways, a lot of what has made town what it’s. We now have misplaced 5 followers of town within the final yr. “
This conventional distinction stems from the originals who have been there within the “days earlier than” on the Halloween events that ended at daybreak and stood first on the catwalk that strains Medication Creek, Shaugnessy mentioned.
“Somebody closes the door when the final deserted city dies,” he mentioned.
The town’s occasions coordinator, Rodney Whaley, will carry out that night time on the Tavern and the 2 occasions will likely be interconnected, based on Shaughnessy.
A field to gather the ballots will likely be positioned within the Tavern this weekend and you may depart your alternative through the week till the rely begins on Thursday. Shaughnessy mentioned an awesome alternative might sway issues.
“Folks can fill the polls with as many votes as they need,” he mentioned. “We all know who’s going to win this except there’s a huge shock.”
A Head City Derelict consort may also be topped and there could also be nominations for Future City Derelict. You’ll be able to have what it takes, based on Shaughnessy.
“The qualities it takes to be a dropout: no technique of assist, no cash for drinks, so that you go to the bar and there’s all the time somebody there to purchase you a drink,” he mentioned. “You see an deserted man and you might be completely satisfied to ask him to drink.”
There are occasions deliberate for all ages and virtually any curiosity. Shaugnessy cited a few of the cultural packages and occasions through the week. It is a part of why the group is named a fun-time vacation spot for everybody.
Parker mentioned that on a busy day in Medication Park, you may see individuals of all ages, ethnicities, and revenue ranges come collectively for a good time within the cobblestone group of the Wichita Mountains.
“It is such a beautiful place for all types of recreation and it attracts such a various crowd of individuals, that is what I like essentially the most about it,” he mentioned. “Everyone seems to be welcome and might discover one thing to take pleasure in there.”
Now in its 23rd yr, Polar Bear Plunge has taken on a lifetime of its personal since its inception as a problem sparked by liquid braveness among the many regulars at Medication Park Tavern. What began with a handful now options lots of lining the shores of Medication Creek and / or leaping into the all the time chilly however invigorating waters as a primary weekend right-of-way in February.
Issues kick off with the Polar Plunge Sock Hop at 7:30 pm Saturday on the Aquarium, No. 1 Aquarium Drive. Slide your hair again and tuck the shirts into your rolled-hem denims or slip right into a sweater and poodle skirt and prepare for the night time.
Parker mentioned that enjoyable is the essence of the numerous actions within the coming week. It’s one thing that town imbues in its occasions and actions.
“It additionally has a quirk you can’t discover anyplace,” he mentioned. “An underlying nonsense that’s hilarious to experiment with. Plunge Week is certainly a mirrored image of that. “
