Harmony — Amid the festive atmosphere, music and swimmers preparing to leap into the chilly, swift-moving waters of the Connoquenessing Creek on Wednesday, one common question repeatedly was asked.

“Why are we doing this?”

The answer for 57 brave people at the Harmony Canoe Launch was to raise money for the Harmony Parks Department and the Harmony Volunteer Fire Company. The group was cheered on by a large crowd of spectators at the third annual Harmony Polar Plunge.

The swimmers doffed their clothes on the 28 degree, first afternoon of 2014 and leaped into the creek in groups of eight to 10 swimmers, all under the watchful eyes of members of the Harmony and Zelienople fire departments.

Some went for the gusto, launching themselves into the waters with a running start. Others opted to slowly immerse themselves in the frigid water until it was unbearable.

All of them had a look of shock and surprise on their faces when they emerged.

“It wasn't that cold,” said Harmony resident Pete Weiland as he walked up the canoe launch ramp dripping wet following his dip in the creek. “I'll probably do it again.”

Harmony Councilman Frank Luek, who was the only member of the council brave enough to jump in this year, said this was his first time swimming in the cold waters of the creek on New Year's Day.

“It's cold,” he said. “Actually, it feels good getting out. I was going to be a pansy if I didn't do it.”

A diverse and enthusiastic crowd of swimmers — many of whom were wearing costumes — were on hand and had the full support an estimated 200 onlookers who took photographs and cheered and clapped as the swimmers ran down the canoe ramp into the water.

Gregg and Debbie Richards of Harmony came with their two grandsons to watch the swimmers and have a good laugh.

“I'm doing just fine, staying dry and warm,” Gregg Richards said. “I think they're having fun.”

Debbie Richards said this was the first year the couple has brought their grandsons and she added the two young boys were excited.

“Small town fun is what this is,” she said.

The first group to make the plunge into the waters was a posse of seven middle school girls from the Seneca Valley Middle School.

Clad in pink T-shirts and yoga pants, two members of the group, Eliza Simmons, 13, and Maria Catalanno, 14, had conflicting answers to the question of why they were jumping in.

“Because we're Warriors,” Eliza said.

Maria, though, was less certain of the reasoning.

“We don't know,” she said.

Many of the swimmers were family and friends, including several members of the Yohn clan, who dressed as superheroes. Joining Mike Yohn were his son, Noah, dressed as a villain with a colorful mask; friend, Lou Carrick, dressed as Captain America; and brother, Matt Yohn, who was in a Batman outfit.

Mike Yohn of Harmony won the prize for best costume, a Superman outfit. He prepared for the plunge by standing next to the large bonfire and drinking a Labatt's beer.

“This will be my third year,” he said. “I've got my son, my brother, some of my family. We're all here.”

Young Noah said he wasn't worried about the cold water.

“It can't be that cold,” Noah said. “It'll feel warm when you get out.”

Susie Altemus, chairwoman of the Harmony Parks Board and organizer of the event, said she was happy with the turnout and said everyone had fun, despite one spectator being taken away by paramedics after collapsing and having a tree catching on fire.

“It is a lot of fun. It went fast,” Altemus said. “It's about like last year. The weather was better than last year. It was a good crowd, lots of spectators.”

Harmony Mayor Cathy Rape was on hand for the afternoon and said that although she didn't jump in this year, she's going to hopefully take part in 2015 with a good costume and fundraising effort.

“I think it's great,” Rape said of the plunge. “I can't believe people keep coming back. I think it'll keep getting bigger. The creek was down, it wasn't too cold, and the current wasn't bad.”

Rape said the award for most funds raised went to Fox's Pizza. Matt Yohn got second place in the costume category, and Nate Lloyd was third place after wearing a red dress when jumping in.

One of the braver participants was Kathy Mella of Harmony, who jumped into the creek three separate times clad only in a zebra-print bathing suit and wool hat.

“Three,” Mella yelled out after her third dip. “I'm nuts!”

Mella said the main reason she participated in the dip was to help raise money.

“I'll do it again, it's for a cause” a shivering Mella said. “It's OK, it's not bad. It's cold, but it's not bad. Have some adult drinks and you'll be good.”

John Sims of Fombell, who remained shirtless for at least 15 minutes after getting out of the water, said, “I've jumped in in February when the creek is iced over. I'd never done it in January, so I said what the heck.

“It was a blast,” he said. “I had a good time.”