A Chilling Beginning To The New Year On The "Edge of America"--Bill Murray Style

It was a chilling beginning to the new year for many on the "Edge of America." Happy Lowcountry residents and visitors did more than "Freeze Your Bill's Off" at the "2nd Annual Bill Murray Look-a-Like Polar Plunge."

In the spirit of Bill Murray's request "Can I have another one of these with some booze in it?(Groundhog Day)," celebrants boozed their bills off. With four dollar Smirnoff Bloody Mary's and Seagram's Vodka Screwdrivers coursing through their bodies for anti freeze, thousands of new year celebrants joyfully ran into the 50 degree waters of Folly Beach. "I make it a rule never to get involved with possessed people... Actually, it's more of a guideline than a rule(Ghostbusters)," but I could not resist the urge to join them. As a footnote, I feel it necessary in light of my facetious reference to "boozed" to insert this: It was all done in modesty and for a good cause.

The event started at 11AM. The early morning sun warmed the cool sands of the beach in front of the Tides near Folly Beach Pier as the gentle, rolling waves of the ocean kissed the shoreline. Encouraged to dress as their favorite Bill Murray character, the steadily growing crowd gathered and waited for the judging to begin, which took place at 12:30PM--a half hour before the actual plunge was scheduled. Awards were given out for the Best Guy, Best Girl, Best Team and Best Overall Bill Murray costumes. By the time the judging ended, thousands of celebrants filled the beach and the wooden decks of the Tides. Not everyone came dressed as Bill Murray wannabes. In a way, it oddly looked like an overdue quasi Halloween event.

With awards handed out and 1PM rapidly approaching, the plungers gathered at the yellow taped starting line, while spectators holding cameras and cell phones lined the edges of a section of Folly Beach about three hundred feet long and a hundred feet wide that would serve as the corridor leading to the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

They cheered and chanted as the minutes ticked by. Some, probably second guessing their decision to be associated with this group of crazies and others repeating over and over, "I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful... I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful... I feel good, I feel great, I feel wonderful...(What About Bob)," as a way to psyche themselves up for the frosty awakening to the new year shortly to take place.

And then, the tape dropped and the herd of frenzied Bill Murray misfits ran into the calm, cold waters on the "Edge of America" and froze their Bill's off; many of them running out of the water quicker than they ran into it. After taking pictures of the initial plunge, I put my camera down, removed the unnecessary articles of clothing and joined them.

Actually, froze is somewhat of an exaggeration. Fifty degree water really isn't cold at all. I have swam in cold water before. The feet and the legs are the easy part. Acclimating the upper extremities is the difficult part of the experience, but if you dip into the water quickly without thinking about it, the shock is lessened. It's exhilarating and it's refreshing.

So, feeling good from head to toe, it was time to savor a four dollar Seagram's Vodka Screwdriver and high five fellow plungers on the decks of the Blu Restaurant. It was a polarific way to start the new year.

Celebrate Charleston's Bill Murray Connection--"Come Freeze Your Bills Off"

Bill Murray is a big name anywhere, but with pun intended, sliding around Charleston, South
Carolina, he is a huge name. Famous for unexpectedly slipping in and out of parties and gatherings, during a rain delay at a Riverdogs' game, he ran unto the infield like a ground hog and slid all over the rain-drenched tarp to entertain the crowd who laughingly soaked up the Murray hijinks. As the owner of the Riverdogs, he has been seen on any given night during baseball season catching and throwing out ceremonial first pitches or coaching first base.

Recently, before it was auctioned off in November, a painting of Murray hung in Coastal Coffee Roasters of Summerville as part of a "Bring Bill to Summerville" event and countless numbers of locals and visitors sought to have their pictures taken with the painting depicting Bill hoisting a cup of java into the air--painted by April Aldrich. The money from the auction was given to a charity of Murray's choice. However, Bill is no stranger to Summerville. He was a show stopper when he visited the James F. Dean Theatre in Summerville for a performance of "Forever Plaid."

As 2014 comes to an end and 2015 begins, Murray's Charleston connection is honored in the "Annual Bill Murray Look-a-Like Polar Bear Plunge" at the beachfront of the Tides Hotel on Folly Beach. Why anyone would want to plunge into the near 54 degree waters of the Atlantic Ocean on New Year's Day is anybody's guess, but I imagine it could be useful in shaking off a night of partying. This is the second year for this event and all attendees are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite Bill Murray character and "freeze their Bills off." Murray's Bob Wiley character in "What About Bob" is my favorite followed by Phil Connors of "Ground Hog Day."

Registration for the plunge and contest begins at 11am at the information booth and judging of the Bill Murray Look-a-Like Contest begins at 12pm. The panel of judges will present awards for Best Guy, Best Girl, Best Team and Best Overall Bill Murray. The plunge takes place at 1pm.

Folly restaurants and bars will open early so that guests can enjoy pre-plunge Screwdrivers and Bloody Marys for just $4 each. And post-plunge festivities will be happening all day at restaurants
and bars all over Folly.

Not connected to Bill Murray, there are two other plunges taking place around the area. The "Dunleavy's Pub Polar Plunge" has been around for 19 years and since 2003 the Pub and their patrons have helped raise thousands of dollars for Special Olympics South Carolina. Dunleavy's Pub at 2213 Middle Street on Sullivan's Island will open at 9:00am and the plunge takes place at 2:00pm. For this cold dip, you are encouraged to create a costume for this one or simply show up in your favorite swim suit.

"Plunge into the New Year at Kiawah" is the third--no connection to Bill. The plunge takes place at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort in front of The Sanctuary at 12:00pm. There is an "After Plunge Party at Loggerhead Pool Deck with music plus food and beverage offerings. Again, you are encouraged to dress up for Best Costume and Group Costume awards.

So, kick off the year shockingly right and slip into the chilly waters of the Atlantic Ocean Bill Murray style. It is a fun way to cap off a night of celebrations that will be taking place all over the Holy City. Let me know if you are going to be a participant and write a comment. For a list of end of the year celebrations go to Charleston events. Consider a visit to the Homegrown Brewhouse in Summerville and have a beer with Bill.