BY ROSE ADAMS
Coney Island’s popular Polar
Bear Plunge will not take
place this coming New Year’s
Day because of concerns about
mass gatherings during the
COVID-19 pandemic, its organizers
said.
“While we are deeply disappointed
that our great New
Year’s tradition will not be
taking place in 2021, we know
this is the right decision to
make for the health and safety
of our members, thousands of
attendees, and tens of thousands
of spectators who show
up for this event every January
1st,” said Dennis Thomas,
the president of the Coney Island
Polar Bear Club.
The 117-year-old tradition
draws thousands of swimmers
to Coney Island’s beach
each year to brave the frigid
Atlantic Ocean temperatures
— which can reach 45 degrees
or below.
The lively event — which
features creative costumes,
DJs, dancing, and food — has
become a beloved tradition
among many attendees, who
say they go to the plunge to
ring in the new year and reunite
COURIER L 14 IFE, DECEMBER 4-10, 2020
with friends.
“At this point, it’s kind of a
New Year’s tradition to start
the new year off by challenging
yourself,” Bay Ridgeite
Matt Huff told Brooklyn Paper
last year, adding that he
goes to the event each year to
see about a dozen high school
friends.
The plunge also raises
needed funds for local nonprofi
ts, including the Alliance
for Coney Island, the New York
Aquarium, Coney Island USA,
and the Coney Island History
Project. Last year, the event
raised more than $80,000 in
total, Thomas told Brooklyn
Paper.
Instead of the plunge, the
Polar Bear Club — which
has also canceled its weekly
swims in the frigid Atlantic
Ocean this year because of the
pandemic — will team up with
the Alliance for Coney Island
to host an online fundraiser
at www.PolarBearClub.org,
where donors can give money
or buy Polar Bear Plunge merchandise.
The funds from the effort
will go towards educational
programming, local cultural
institutions, free public events
such as Friday Night Fireworks,
and Coney Island businesses
struggling amid the
COVID-19 pandemic, the organizers
said.
This year’s plunge may be
canceled, but Thomas said that
next year’s plunge in 2022 will
be among the best ones yet.
“We will be back bigger
and stronger in 2022,” he said.
“Until then, we urge all our
former and future participants
to help us continue to
support non-profi ts in the Coney
Island community by visiting
our website.”
Swimmers often don fun costumes during the annual Polar Bear Plunge.
The 2021 Polar Bear Plunge has been canceled because of the COVID-19
pandemic, File photos by Erica Price
Brr-eaking tradition
Polar Bear Plunge canceled amid COVID-19
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