Thousands of participants rang in the new year with a cold jump into the water at Coney Island for the 122nd annual Polar Bear Plunge on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025.

About 50 brave souls rang in the new year Wednesday by wading into a chilly creek at Valley View Park. The 15th annual Polar Bear Plunge was a fundraiser for the Pine Creek Trout Nursery.

: A group of hardy souls make an exuberant leap off a dock during the Polar Bear Plunge Monday, Jan. 1, 2020, at the Point Defiance Marina boat launch. Dozens of participants braved the cold waters, saying the annual event is a way to cleanse the soul,

Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge drew thousands of people to the beach on New Year's Day as participants took a freezing dip to ring in 2025 while

Strangers volleyed dismissive colloquialisms back and forth as they emerged from the frigid waters of Lake Coeur d’Alene on New Year’s Day, partaking in the annual Polar Bear Plunge. Though trivializing the feeling, hundreds of sets of chattering teeth and cherry-red skin told a different story.

While some Austinites dipped their toes into 2025, others dove head first as part of the annual Barton Springs Polar Bear Plunge.

Under the Radar, Prototype, Live Artery, and the Exponential Festival all administer a series of shocks to the system, like polar-bear plunges, but for the mind. The season’s marquee festival, Under the Radar,

Hundreds celebrated New Year’s Day with a Polar Bear plunge in San Pedro. The 73rd Annual Cabrillo Beach Polar Beach Plunge kicked off with the Polar Bear king and queen leading the crowd into the Pacific Ocean.