Coney Island New Year's Day Polar Bear Plunge

Celebrating our 122nd year, the Coney Island Polar Bear Club New Year's Day Plunge welcomes thousands of BRRave souls from NY to Paris and everywhere in between to check off one of the "coolest" events on their bucket list! A great way for everyone to get involved in supporting our local non-profit organizations, every dollar donated helps make a difference!

HOW FUNDS HELP OUR COMMUNITY

Coney Island is a neighborhood located on the southernmost tip of Brooklyn, NY, home to over 50,000 residents with a poverty rate close to 30%. The Coney Island Polar Bear Club New Year's Day Plunge helps raise funds to support the local organizations in our community that are helping to make a difference. Some of those organizations include the New York Aquarium, Alliance for Coney Island, Coney Island History Project, the Coney Island YMCA, and a variety of others with initiatives that range from producing our free public programming, such as Friday Night Fireworks, to educational resources for our local youth, workforce development programs to connect our residents to job opportunities, as well as advocacy for clean water and education about waste in our oceans and the impact it has.

FAQ'S

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO PLUNGE? There is no fee to participate; however, a minimum donation of $25 is strongly encouraged and greatly appreciated. Anyone who reached $50 in donations will receive a limited edition New Year’s Day beanie while supplies last. To see the limited edition merchandise available on New Year’s Day, click here

WHAT SHOULD I BRING TO THE PLUNGE? You can wear whatever you want to the Plunge - a bathing suit or even a costume! We've seen it all!

After the plunge, be sure to bring a towel to dry off, some old shoes, and warm clothes!

WHERE CAN I CHANGE? NYC Parks Department provides changing facilities on the Boardwalk at Stillwell Avenue. NYPD enforcement will be on the boardwalk to monitor the area, but please note that neither the event committee, NYPD, nor the City of New York Parks Department is responsible for your personal belongings left unattended during the event. Leaving any items unattended is at your own risk.

IS THERE A MINIMUM AGE TO PLUNGE? There is no minimum age requirement to participate in the plunge. Young children are welcome to join, but anyone under 18 must register and have a completed waiver signed with a parent or guardian present during the check-in.

DIRECTIONS

We strongly encourage the use of mass transit to the plunge

Via Subway 

D,N,F or Q to the Stillwell Ave. Station

Via Brooklyn Buses

B36 | Coney Island / Avenue U

B64 | Coney Island / Bay Ridge

B68 | Brighton Beach / Windsor Terrace

B74 | Sea Gate / Coney Island

B82 | Coney Island / Spring Creek

Via Manhattan Express Buses

X28 | Bensonhurst / Midtown

Driving

If driving, please use Google Maps for directions. There is limited street parking on Stillwell Avenue, West 15th, and West 10th Streets. Parking is also available at the Maimonides Park Parking Lot at 1904 Surf Avenue.

SCHEDULE 

10:00 AM - On-site check-in opens
11:00 AM - Plunge shoot opens
1:00 PM - Registration Closes
1:30 PM - Last opportunity to plunge!
2:00 PM - Plunge Ends

TO REGISTER

How to Register Before the Event:  Click the Register button in the top header. You MUST click on "complete registration" at the end in order to be registered. You will then receive an email with the QR code you must present at the event check-in

How to Register At the Event:  Online registration does not close until the plunge starts.

We strongly encourage you to register at home or on your phone before visiting the check-in tables.  

Participants who register at the event will be asked to scan a QR Code with their phone to register digitally.

CHECK-IN

Check-in is located on Stillwell Avenue in the Luna Park Scream Zone Lot. When you arrive at check-in, please have your confirmation email with QR Code ready to be scanned. EVERYONE MUST CHECK IN and receive a wristband. Failure to check in and plunging without a wristband can result in a fine.