Think twice before taking the plunge. Polar plunges take place when groups gather — often to ring in the new year or raise money for charity — and jump into frigid bodies of water.

Though Vancouver claims to be the reason the polar plunge became a New Year's tradition, it isn't the oldest example of the plunge itself. In New York, the cold water dip dates back to 1903.

Lustgarten’s group – the Coney Island Polar Bear Club – hosted the first winter water plunge in the United States on New Year’s Day in 1903. The L Street Brownies in South Boston followed ...

Many people across the United States and beyond welcome the new year with a run into the water, known as a Polar Bear Plunge. It's a New Year's Day tradition in Canada and the Netherlands.

However, this Polar Plunge isn't isolated to just Fishkill — people across the state are taking part in their own local plunges.. In Dec. 2023, Buffalo had the highest amount of money raised in ...

More than 8,000 people participated in the 31st Polar Bear Plunge at Seaside Heights on Saturday, February 24, 2024. Jim Lowney | For NJ Advance Medi.

Tim Sherno, left, a Minnesota resident is joined by Chris Chamberlin of Millersville as they plunge during the 2025 Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge at Sandy Point State Park on Saturday.

Each Polar Plunge participant raised at least $99 for Special Olympics Indiana. “We have lots of school teams,” said Barb Michalos, regional manager for northern Indiana.

Polar Plunge 2024 at Lake Sammamish. Chill out at the Polar Plunge 2024 at Lake Sammamish on New Year's Day from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Take a hike at 10:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. with a Washington State ...

Staff Sergeant Peyton Shipley, 627th Force Support Squadron, a JBLM Polar Plunge organizer who has cold-plunged for about a year now, recognizes the mood-boosting effects of cold plunging.

The annual Polar Plunge Chicago, benefiting Special Olympics Illinois and Special Children’s Charities, took place Sunday, March 2, 2025, at North Avenue Beach. Over 4,000 people jumped into the ...