Freeze Fest 2011, an annual community event sponsored by the city of Whitewater, UW-Whitewater, Special Olympics Wisconsin and Downtown Whitewater, Inc., will be held this Saturday at Cravath Lakefront Park.

Most events from previous years, such as the Polar Plunge, will return to this year’s festival. In addition, a ski and snowboarding competition, called the Polar Jam, will also be added to the schedule of events. The competition will involve skiers and snowboarders doing tricks on different types of rails, boxes and pipes.

Michelle Dujardin, Whitewater parks and recreation program coordinator, said Freeze Fest is fun for people of all ages.

“Anyone and everyone can come to it,” Dujardin said. “We have family entertainment that is geared towards all ages. It’s a community event to bring different entities together.”

All of the events included in Freeze Fest will benefit Special Olympics Wisconsin. Events charging money will donate at least half of the money raised to the program.

Besides the Rail Jam, other popular events include the Polar Plunge and the chili cook-off.

As of last Friday, 306 people were signed up to participate in the Polar Plunge, not including the pre-registration on Friday or the registration on Saturday, Dujardin said. The majority of the plungers are college-aged students, she added.

The chili cook-off will take place in a warming tent. Up to 12 different organizations, people or businesses will make a roaster full of chili and be judged on aspects including table decorations and best chili, Dujardin said. Anyone can register for the cook-off.

Freeze Fest raised approximately $38,000 last year for Special Olympics Wisconsin, Dujardin said.

Dujardin said she expects this year to be “awesome.”

“I think with our new addition of the Rail Jam and the purchase of [our new] 18,000 gallon pool [for the Polar Plunge] and the atmosphere will bring people down,” Dujardin said.

For more information regarding registration for any of the events, contact Dujardin at 262-473-0121.