Thousands of revelers will spend their New Year’s Day fulfilling a bucket list challenge for the ages. Some are repeat offenders with patches on robes to prove it; others only dabble in it occasionally; and none but the brave will try it for the very first time.
Mid-day polar bear plunges will be held in shore towns all along the Atlantic coastal region, but the ones in Downbeach offer the most fun for residents and visitors to the Jersey shore.
The weather will be perfect…for a polar bear – the temperature will be in the low-to-mid-30s, partly cloudy with sunshine peeking through. The wind will make it feel colder and there is little chance of precipitation.
Robert’s Place 31st annual Polar Bear Plunge starts in the early morning hours with pre-game at the bar. T-shirt sales benefit Wounded Warrior Project. Meet up at Robert’s Place, 7807 Atlantic Ave. in Margate. It starts with an overflow into the street about 10 a.m. and police and fire departments block the street at either end of the 7800-block as the crowd continues to grow. At 11:45 a.m. the crowd starts trickling onto the beach at Essex Avenue for a noon-time dip in the ocean with more than 1,000 other New Year’s revelers.
Others tailgate in pickup trucks and Jeeps just waiting for the man with the big American flag to signal it’s time for a refreshing dip in the ocean. They move in a giant wave into the water, followed by a few smaller waves as the first-timers work up some bravery.
Those who are really dedicated to the annual cleansing tradition make it to more than one plunge. The second plunge of the day in Downbeach is held about two miles away on the Newport Avenue beach in Ventnor. Although Ventnor’s Polar Bear Plunge hasn’t been around as long as Margate’s, it includes day-long festivities both on and off the beach.
Polar Plunge & Winter Festival will be held at St. James Hall, Newport and Atlantic avenues, starting at noon. The Polar Plunge moves to the Newport Avenue beach for a dip at 1 p.m. The indoor event Includes food, music, games and a Chili Cookoff. The party sponsored by the Ventnor Business Association lasts until 4 p.m. Polar Plunge swag is available for purchase in advance.
No reservations are needed, just show up and…plunge.
