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\n\t\t\t\t \t\t\tGet a daily rundown of the top stories on Urban Milwaukee<\/em>\n\t\t\t\t \t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The 2018 Polar Plunge at Bradford Beach. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Happy New Year! If you aren\u2019t burnt out from the holidays, there\u2019s still plenty of reasons to get off the couch this weekend.<\/p>\n Jump into Lake Michigan with your friends to ring in the New Year as part of the Polar Bear Plunge, or choose the warmer option and participate in the Cool Fool Kite & Snow Carving Festival at Veterans Park<\/a>. There are a couple of makers markets to check out, including the start of the Shorewood Winter Market, and Milwaukee Record<\/a>\u2019s N\/A Day will introduce you to your new favorite alcohol alternative.<\/p>\n January 1: Polar Bear Plunge<\/b><\/p>\n Signal the start of the \u201cnew year, new me\u201d mentality by cleansing yourself of all things 2025 and jumping into the frigid Lake Michigan \u2013 emerging ready for 2026. The Polar Bear Plunge, the annual Milwaukee tradition of jumping into Lake Michigan at Bradford Beach<\/a>, continues in 2026. The event will officially kick off at noon, but feel free to jump into the lake whenever the \u201cnew year, new you\u201d feels like it. This event is free and open to the public.<\/p>\n January 1: Cool Fool Kite & Snow Carving Festival<\/b><\/p>\n While bodies pack into Lake Michigan for the Polar Bear Plunge, kites will fly overhead as part of the Cool Fool Kite & Snow Carving Festival at Veterans Park. Celebrating its 39th year, the festival will bring dozens of kites (some over 100 feet long) and encourages guests to either bring their own kites to fly or purchase new kites from Gift of Wings at a reduced price of 30% off. The event will also feature \u201cThe Quiet Snow & Ice Carvers,\u201d and hot food and drinks will be available for purchase. The event will start at 11 a.m. and run until around 5 p.m. or whenever it gets too cold to fly kites.<\/p>\n \t\tGet a daily rundown of the Milwaukee stories<\/em>\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n January 3: Family Free Day at Milwaukee County Zoo<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n The Milwaukee County Zoo is starting the New Year off with free admission. Check out the new Ladish Co. Foundation Rhino Care Center, where the Eastern black rhinos Kianga and Zuri reside, and bring your holiday lights in to recycle as part of the zoo\u2019s effort to help keep wildlife safe. The Milwaukee County Zoo will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.<\/p>\n January 4: Handcrafted<\/b><\/p>\n