On January 1st, 2025, the annual “Polar Bear Plunge” event took place once again on Coney Island in New York City, with thousands of brave winter swimming enthusiasts fearlessly diving into the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean to greet the new year in this unique way.
According to media reports, at 10 a.m. on January 1st, Coney Island’s boardwalk and beach were filled with winter swimmers ready to go, performers in various costumes, and visitors. As the countdown hit 11 a.m., a large group of participants dressed in swimsuits or various eccentric outfits excitedly ran across the beach and dashed towards the ocean. Meanwhile, the organizers played dance music on the boardwalk, and there was a percussion band of about 40 people on the beach cheering for the participants, creating an extremely lively atmosphere at the scene.
Despite the lower temperature (around 2.2 degrees Celsius) and strong winds, the enthusiasm of the winter swimmers remained high, and the audience enthusiastically supported the event, turning the Coney Island New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge into a New Year’s party, welcoming the brand new year of 2025 with abundant energy.
This traditional winter swimming event is organized by the oldest Coney Island Polar Bear Club in the United States, with its history dating back to 1903. Except for being canceled in 2021 due to the pandemic, this year’s event marks the 122nd edition.
It is worth mentioning that the New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge event is free of charge, but donations are encouraged. The funds raised will be used to support non-profit organizations in the Coney Island community to help the local community’s development.
The organizers reported that this year’s winter swimming event attracted over 4,000 participants and raised over $90,000 in donations.