Get ready — Plunging for Pink is almost here.

The dip into the icy waters of East Side Lake will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, part of the Paint the Town Pink that raises awareness of and donations for breast cancer and research.

Plunging for Pink adds some wet and wild fun to Austin’s campaign, inviting plungers to jump into the icy waters of the lake after raising a minimum donation of $50. Over the course of the past four years, $170,000 has been raised.

New fun events have been added to the event this year. One is the Chicken Coop for three citizens who were “just a little too chicken” to jump in the water without some motivation. Solution: Raise $1,000 for each participant to urge them on. Corey Anderson from Games People Play, Matt Cano from Ameriprise and Katie Baskin, principal at Austin High School, are all willing to jump if the funds are raised.

They urged everyone to utilize the new crowdfunding online tool provided in partnership with the University of Minnesota and The Hormel Institute for their particular event. However, anyone can donate to the plunge with the same tool. Each team will have a crowd funding page that will allow them to share their page with friends and family. Go to: https://crowdfund.umn.edu/campaign/10 to make an online donation.

Another new event this year is the Pinky Plunge, for those faint of heart who don’t want to do a full-body plunge. Dip a pinky, finger or whatever body part you want, into the lake.

Everyone will plunge at the same time and are asked to raise a minimum donation of $30.

Plungers must be 18 years or older, except for the Pinky Plungers. For more information on this popular event, go to the event website for all details, at http://www.plungingforpink.com/

Saturday’s festivities will also include the Snowmobile Speed Run, which starts at 11 p.m. on East Side Lake.

Here are some other Pink events this week, mixed with a few other happenings of note:

Thursday

First Thursday – Pretty in Pink, 5 to 7 p.m. at the SPAM Museum, 101 Third Ave. NE. Meet with a Disney princess and get your photos taken with them. Donations will be taken to benefit this year’s Paint the Town Pink. For more information, call 507-434-6401.

Friday

Pledging for Pink Radiothon, KAUS. Donate during hours of 6 to 9 a.m.; 10 to noon; 3 to 5 p.m.

Austin Big Band – Pink Swing, 6 to 8 p.m., Hormel Historic Home, 208 Fourth Ave. Basic dance instructions will be led by Peter Jacobs and Ann Hokanson beginning at 5:45 p.m. $12 per person, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Paint the Town Pink. Appetizers and dance lessons included. Tickets available at the HHH in advance or at the door or at www.hormelhistorichome.org/event.

Tonic Sol-fa, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., Historic Paramount Theatre. Emmy-award winning a cappela group with an international following. Tickets $20 in advance, $25 at the door, $15 for students. For more information, call 507-434-0934.

Saturday

Plunge for the Pink/Speed Run (see above) from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., East Side Lake. Jump in the lake for a good cause – fundraising for cancer research at The Hormel Institute. The After party will be at the Austin VFW Post 1216. For more information, go to www.hi.umn.edu/pttp.

Sunday

16th Annual Spaghetti Dinner “Superb-Owl Sunday,” 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Austin Masonic Lodge, 303A N. Main St. Let someone else do the cooking and the dishes. Spaghetti with sauce, garlic bread, salad, beverage and dessert, for a donation of $10. Tickets at the door or available in advance from any chapter officer, or call Mary Hanson at 437-7292, Betty Volkert at 433-8712, or Kathy Foster at 433-7489.Sponsored by the Unity Chapter #29 of the Order of the Eastern Star.