Tuesday, February 24, 2026
35.0°F

PHOTOS: Frigid Whitefish Winter Carnival Penguin Plunge raises money for Special Olympics

CASEY KREIDER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year AGO
by CASEY KREIDER
Casey Kreider is a photographer for the Daily Inter Lake and was awarded the 2024 Mel Ruder Photograph of the Year from the Montana Newspaper Association. He is a graduate of Penn State University and previously worked as a photographer for Lancaster Newspapers in Pennsylvania. He can be reached at [email protected]. | February 8, 2025 2:30 PM

Participants jumped into the frigid waters of Whitefish Lake during the 24th annual Penguin Plunge as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, the event raises funds for Special Olympics Montana.

    Participants jump into Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Participants step out of Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Participants step out of Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Participants step out of Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Participants step out of Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    The team from Murdoch's in Columbia Falls gets ready to jump into Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Participants step out of Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


 

    Participants step out of Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Participants step out of Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Participants jump into Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Participants wait in line to jump into Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Participants step out of Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Participants jump into Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Participants step out of Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Viking divas watch the action at the Penguin Plunge, part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Participants step out of Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Participants jump into Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Participants jump into Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Participants jump into Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Participants step out of Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Participants react after jumping into Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    The Flathead Electric team jumps into Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Participants step out of Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Participants jump into Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Participants step out of Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Participants jump into Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Participants step out of Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Participants step out of Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Participants jump into Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Participants step out of Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Participants step out of Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Participants jump into Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Participants step out of Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 
    Participants jump into Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 



    The team from Murdoch's in Columbia Falls jumps into Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


    Participants jump into Whitefish Lake at the Penguin Plunge at City Beach on Saturday, Feb. 8. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, as part of the Whitefish Winter Carnival, the event raises money for Special Olympics Montana. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
 Casey Kreider 
 
 


ARTICLES BY CASEY KREIDER

PHOTOS: Winter Carnival Penguin Plunge splashes into Whitefish Lake
February 7, 2026 8 p.m.

PHOTOS: Winter Carnival Penguin Plunge splashes into Whitefish Lake

Participants splashed into the cold waters of Whitefish Lake during the Whitefish Winter Carnival's Penguin Plunge on Saturday, Feb. 7. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, the event raises funds for Special Olympics Montana.

PHOTOS: Winter Carnival Penguin Plunge splashes into Whitefish Lake
February 7, 2026 1 p.m.

PHOTOS: Winter Carnival Penguin Plunge splashes into Whitefish Lake

Participants splashed into the cold waters of Whitefish Lake during the Whitefish Winter Carnival's Penguin Plunge on Saturday, Feb. 7. Organized by the Law Enforcement Torch Run, the event raises funds for Special Olympics Montana.

Shots from the sideline: Daily Inter Lake photographer provides a peek behind the photos from the FCS Championship game
January 10, 2026 11 p.m.

Shots from the sideline: Daily Inter Lake photographer provides a peek behind the photos from the FCS Championship game

I sent my wife a text at halftime. “0 for 3,” it read. Referring to the number of touchdowns Montana State had scored in the first two quarters of their FCS Championship game against Illinois State, 3, and the number of quality photographs I had of each play, 0.