The New Year’s Day polar plunge in Brigantine draws thousands of participants and spectators, but it started with a couple of friends daring themselves to jump into the ocean. That’s how Augie Peltonen recalls that first Jan.

Celebrate 2025 with a Polar Bear Plunge at two locations in the Bakersfield area. Community members can go down to the activity pool at the McMurtrey Aquatic Center to slide down the slide into the icy water and then swim 25 yards.

The largest Polar Bear swim around town is in Vancouver’s English Bay, but there’s several others going on around Metro Vancouver, so you don’t have to go far to prove your mettle. Whether you jump in with a wet suit or a crazy costume, start off the year on a high (and very, very cold note) with any of these events:

Cold plunge enthusiasts point to heart benefits as well. When plunged into frigid water, the body constricts blood flow to the core. Then the blood pumps back out through arteries and veins when exposed to warmth. (Note: Cold plunges are not generally recommended for people with heart conditions or other medical conditions.)