The Coney Island Polar Bear Plunge Will Go On Despite Freezing Temperatures

CONEY ISLAND – The brave members of the Coney Island Polar Bear Club are forging ahead with their 114th Annual Polar Bear Plunge on New Year’s Day despite forecasts of temperatures only reaching 20 degrees.

Two towns in New Jersey have cancelled their annual New Year’s Day dips, the New York Post reports, but here in Brooklyn, the Coney Island club has never cancelled a plunge in its 114 year history, the paper notes.

The Coney Island Polar Bears have advised this year’s estimated 4,000 plungers to bring appropriate footwear—”old tennis shoes or water shoes…we want you to protect your feet – not only is the water cold – so is the sand,” a message on the club’s Facebook page reads.

The annual plunge is a free event, however participants are encouraged to pre-register online and make a $25 minimum donation as well as raise funds. The club is aiming to raise $80,000 with this year’s event to help support a number of Coney Island nonprofits including the Alliance for Coney Island, the New York Aquarium, and various local art and history organizations.

Walk-up registrants are advised to arrive early and to complete a waiver and release agreement beforehand. On-site registration tents will open at 10am.

All participants must stop by the registration table to pick up their wristbands which must be worn to partake in the plunge.

The plunge starts at 1pm sharp on Monday and ends by 1:30pm.

Find out more about registering for the 114th Annual Polar Bear Plunge at polarbearclub.org and here.