Great Lake Plunge
Great Lake Plunge is a swimming race on July 26, 2026 in Evanston, IL, with entry fees from $60 to $110.
- Date
- July 26, 2026 (3 days to go)
- Price
- $60–$110
- Sport
- Swimming
From the Organizer
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.
Events
Weather
Race-Day Forecast
Live forecast from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Race Day
Sunday, 7/26
High
87°
Low
76°
Conditions
Mostly sunny
Chance of Rain
31%
Wind
5 to 10 mph
Host City
About Evanston, IL
Population
76,552
as of 2023
City Elevation
610 ft
Nearest Airport
ORD
Chicago O'Hare International Airport · 12 mi
Time Zone
Central Time
From Endurance Grid
A mid-size host city. Enough lodging and amenities to keep race weekend easy, without big-city sprawl.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at Great Lake Plunge, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
3
Days to train
- Race
- Great Lake Plunge
- Date
- July 26, 2026
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From Endurance Grid
About This Sport
Endurance Grid is here to help you understand the sport, decide if it’s the right fit, and learn how to prepare. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer’s event page.
Swimming events drop you into something that demands navigation, feel, and focus all at once. It's a sport that rewards the quietly competitive — the ones who do the work in the water before anyone's watching.
Open Water Swimming
Open water races take place in lakes, rivers, bays, and oceans. Distances can run anywhere from a short 500m swim to 10K marathon events. Just you and the water.
Coming Up
More Swimming races near Evanston, IL
Rock the Quarry Triathlon and Mile Swim
1500m · From $45 · Fidler Pond Park
100 miles away
A Long Swim
5K · 500m · 1500m · 1 mi · 2 mi · From $60 · 899 Tower Road
5 miles away
Emerald City Classic-Annual World Graded Championships
1 mi · 2 mi · From $85 · N8465 Townline Rd
63 miles away
Swim of Legends
10K · From $170 · 1550 S Lake Shore Dr.
53 miles away
Plan your trip
Make it a Racecation
Coming from out of town? There's more to Evanston than race day. We'll help you line up nearby lodging, flights, a rental car, and things to do so you can make the most of your racecation.
Plan your trip to EvanstonFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Great Lake Plunge?+
When and where is the Great Lake Plunge?+
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Great Lake Plunge
Jul 26, 2026