The new year Polar Bear Plunge is back for 2025.
What’s that you ask? New Year’s Day plunges are your family’s chance to greet 2025 with an invigorating — if crazy — dive into a chilly lake or other body of water.
For some, it’s an annual tradition. If this is your family’s first plunge, here are three big tips for making it through:
- Remember to pack a change of clothes
- Keep your feet warm before and after the plunge, and
- Don’t forget to breathe when you hit the cold water
Seattle Parks and Recreation offers these additional tips for enjoying a fun, safe Polar Bear Plunge:
- Make the plunge even more special by dressing up in a costume!
- Come early and carpool or take the bus
- If anyone in your family has problems or other serious medical concerns, consult your healthcare professional before taking the Polar Bear Plunge. If you can’t go in the water, come and watch!
- Stay in the water for no longer than 15 minutes—you lose body heat 25 times faster in water than in air.
- Keep your outer clothing on until you get in the water. After the plunge, remove wet clothing before getting into dry clothes.
Polar bear plunges around Seattle
Resolution Run and Polar Bear Dive
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Time: 5K starts at 10:30 a.m., Kids Dash begins at 11:30 a.m.
Location: Magnuson Park, 7400 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115
Cost: $35-$45 for 5K Run/Walk (Dry event) & 5K Trip-n-Drip Polar Plunge. Free for kids dash.
Celebrating the beginning of the new year, the event consists of a 5K run/walk with an optional Polar Bear Dive into Lake Washington just before the event finish line area. The post-race celebration includes a free kids dash for children 10 & under and a beer garden for those over 21. Free chili, coffee, hot chocolate, and more will be provided. Whether you want to run into Lake Washington or cheer as others do, this is a raucous way to start 2025. Register here.
Normandy Park Polar Bear Plunge
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: The Cove – Normandy Park Community Club, 1500 SW Shorebrook Dr, Normandy Park, WA 98166
Cost: Free
All ages
Start 2025 off with an invigorating dip at the Cove! This family-friendly event is open to all! Whether you go in to your shoulders, do a full dunk, dip your toes, or just want to watch, everyone is encouraged to join this fun family event.
New Year’s Day Polar Plunge – Matthew’s Beach
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Time: 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
Location: Matthew’s Beach, 5100 NE 93rd St, Seattle, WA 98115
Cost: Free
All ages are invited to participate, so jump in as a family. Those who immerse themselves up to the neck will receive a Commemorative Badge of Courage as proof of their participation in this frigid and invigorating annual craziness. All will be rewarded warm drinks as well. Younger polar bears (or any bears who need a little more room to navigate) are encouraged to take part in the Polar Cub Club dip at 11:45 a.m.
Eastside
Polar Plunge First Day Hikes Lake Sammamish State Park
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Time: Festivities start at 10:30 a.m. Costume judging at 11:30 a.m. The “plunge” will be at noon.
Location: Lake Sammamish State Park, 2010 NW Sammamish Rd, Issaquah, WA 98027
Cost: Requested donation of $10. Registration opens in December; register here.
Polar Plunge returns on New Year’s Day 2025, encouraging everyone to get outside and enjoy the state park. Festivities will begin with registration, music, and merriment on the shores of Sunset Beach. There will be a costume contest, and then the crowd will “plunge” into the chilly waters of Lake Sammamish. The first 300 registered participants will receive a Polar Plunge Swag Bag. Note: You do not need a Discover Pass to enter the park on this day.
North of Seattle
New Year’s Community Polar Plunge at Lake Stevens
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Location: Lundeen Park, 10020 Lundeen Park Way, Lake Stevens, WA 98258
Cost: Free
All ages
Join this annual community tradition that brings everyone together to welcome in a new year! Bring your friends and family to this polar plunge on New Year’s morning, where the first 150 cold plungers will receive a free sweatshirt.
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Time: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: Mukilteo Beach, 609 Front St, Mukilteo, WA 98275
Cost: Free, register here
All ages
Dive into the New Year at the Pyka Plunge in Mukilteo with the whole family! They will have a toasty bonfire, s’mores, hot chocolate and hot cider, and a few snacks.
South of Seattle
Polar Bear Plunge City of Renton
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Location: Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park, 1201 Lake Washington Blvd. N.
Cost: Free. Register for free at rentonwa.gov/register with keyword ‘polar
All ages
Bring in the New Year with an invigorating plunge into Lake Washington. Participants will meet at the South Beach of Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park. The plunge starts promptly at 10 a.m. Bring your towel and dry clothes!
Polar Bear Plunge Point Defiance – Tacoma
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Location: Point Defiance Marina, 5912 N Waterfront Dr, Tacoma, WA 98407
Cost: Admission is $10 per person; you can register here.
All ages
Kick off the new year by plunging into Puget Sound. Warm beverages and warming stations will be available at the event! All ages welcome. Youth under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Costumes are welcome but not required. Shoes/foot protection highly recommended. For the safety of participants, life jackets will be available, and lifeguards will be stationed on the docks. In addition to bragging rights, participants will receive a fleece headband and collectible commemorative patch with their registration fee. Those who sign up before December 20 can also purchase a Polar Bear Plunge t-shirt or hoodie for pickup at the event.
Polar Bear Plunge in Renton (Henry Moses)
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Time: 12 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Location: Henry Moses Aquatic Center, 1719 Maple Vly Hwy, Renton, WA 98057
Cost: Free. Register here.
All ages
Farther afield
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; the plunge will be at 12 p.m. sharp
Location: Birch Bay Park, 7930 Birch Bay Drive, Blaine, WA 98230
Cost: Free event, must register here.
Join in for the annual plunge in scenic Birth Bay, two hours north of Seattle. The Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce will be having the polar bear plunge to ring in the 2025 new year. Pre-registration is encouraged and event attendees highly recommend participants wear water shoes or old sneakers into the water because barnacle-bearing rocks are a site feature. To pre-register, visit this website. There will be hot cocoa, live music and games at the event. Participants will enoy a free bowl of chowder or chili from Blaine-Birch Bay Park and Recreation District 2.
Check out more family fun:
Seattle’s Child events calendar
First day hikes to ring in the new year
