Great Lake Plunge
About this race
The Great Lake Plunge is Evanston's only open water swimming event. The swim consists of three events: 4K, 2K, 1K. This is a not-for-profit event which provides grants to support local water safety training and awareness This is a unique, family friendly event that will leave an impression for years to come. Visit our website for detailed information.
The racecourse is a 1K GPS buoyed rectangle. Swimmers will start at the southwest corner and be directed clockwise, first heading northwest, then turning northeast before returning southeast and finally southwest, back to the starting area. Buoys will be placed at the corners and halfway points.
The 1K swimmers swim 1 loop, 2K swimmers 2 loops, and 4K swimmers 4 loops.
The Great Lake Plunge brings an exciting 4K, 2K, 1K to Evanston, Illinois on July 26, 2026. Don't miss this beautiful event!
Pick your distance
Swimming
4K Wetsuit
Cancellation Due to Conditions If weather or other issues prevent a safe swim as determined by the City of Evanston, we’ll cancel the race. We cannot offer refunds or deferrals, and there is no alternate date. The cost of the event is fixed, and all funds have been spent by race day.
4K Non-Wetsuit
Cancellation Due to Conditions If weather or other issues prevent a safe swim as determined by the City of Evanston, we’ll cancel the race. We cannot offer refunds or deferrals, and there is no alternate date. The cost of the event is fixed, and all funds have been spent by race day.
2K Wetsuit
Cancellation Due to Conditions If weather or other issues prevent a safe swim as determined by the City of Evanston, we’ll cancel the race. We cannot offer refunds or deferrals, and there is no alternate date. The cost of the event is fixed, and all funds have been spent by race day.
2K Non-Wetsuit
Cancellation Due to Conditions If weather or other issues prevent a safe swim as determined by the City of Evanston, we’ll cancel the race. We cannot offer refunds or deferrals, and there is no alternate date. The cost of the event is fixed, and all funds have been spent by race day.
1K Wetsuit
Cancellation Due to Conditions If weather or other issues prevent a safe swim as determined by the City of Evanston, we’ll cancel the race. We cannot offer refunds or deferrals, and there is no alternate date. The cost of the event is fixed, and all funds have been spent by race day.
1K Non-Wetsuit
Cancellation Due to Conditions If weather or other issues prevent a safe swim as determined by the City of Evanston, we’ll cancel the race. We cannot offer refunds or deferrals, and there is no alternate date. The cost of the event is fixed, and all funds have been spent by race day.
Weather Overview
These values represent the 5-year monthly averages for July in Evanston.
About Evanston
Great Lake Plunge takes place in Evanston, Illinois, United States. The local timezone is America/Chicago.
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Race information has been sourced from the event's official website and other publicly available resources. For the most up-to-date details, please refer to the official website directly. If you notice any incorrect or missing information, don't hesitate to reach out to us by email.
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