Thousands of Americans go for a swim on New Year's for charity

Brrr-inging in the New Year! Thousands of brave Americans plunge into icy waters to ring into the new year and raise money for charity

• Crowds of people were at the Coney Island boardwalk in Brooklyn on Sunday
• Many dressed up for the annual New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge charity event
• The tradition’s existed since 1903, with this year’s temperatures sitting at 40F
• Donations go to local charities including, The New York Aquairum, among others
• Racine, Wisconsin and Lake Mystery, North Carolina held Polar Bear plunges too

Thousands of Americans across the country have gone for a dip in icy waters to ring into the new year and raise money for charity.

While some dressed in New Year’s party props, Christmas colors, and Poseidon outfits, others wore nothing but underwear or bathing suits at the annual Coney Island New Year’s Day Polar Plunge, a New York tradition since 1903.

With the temperature sitting at 40 degrees, some said the water was a little warmer, at 41.5 degrees. Supporters of the hardy souls who dared to go for a swim stood by with towels and warm robes as they observed their loved ones returning from the sea. 

Coney Island is a neighborhood located on the southernmost tip of Brooklyn and is home to more than 50,000 residents with a poverty rate close to 30 percent. 

The Polar Plunge ensures that money is being raised for local charities including, the Alliance for Coney Island, The New York Aquarium, and others. 

Thousands of people participated in the annual Coney Island Polar Bear Club New Year’s Day Plunge in Brooklyn, New York, on January 1, 2023, as a couple kiss in the Atlantic Ocean during the event

Thousands of brave and dressed swimmers met outside the Coney Island boardwalk before rushing into the Atlantic Ocean, which was set at at 41.5 degrees on Sunday

NEW YEAR, NEW FACE: A man wearing a black top hat in a suit shaved his facial hair in the freezing water while enjoying the clear sky and sunshine

People dressed as polar bears run into the Atlantic Ocean to kick off 2023 in original fashion

A man waves the U.S. flag as he runs into the Atlantic on a sunny but cold day in New York City

Swimmers dressed up as birds put their feet in the frigid water before diving into the Atlantic

THIS.IS.CONEY ISLAND: A man in a Roman or Greek outfit carrying a trident is seen running into the Atlantic Ocean during the annual Coney Island Polar Bear Club New Year’s Day Plunge

In 2022, there were more shark sightings off New York City’s coastline than in recent years. Pictured: A man dressed up as a shark is seen coming out of the Atlantic during the Polar Bear Club New Year’s Day Plunge in Brooklyn, New York

Funds are also donated to free local public programming, as well as environmental and educational programming, and the arts.

‘The Alliance for Coney Island is proud to partner on this great event,’ Steve Cohen, chairman of the Alliance for Coney Island, told SILive.com prior to the start of Sunday’s event. ‘The Polar Bear Plunge marks the official start of the new year in Coney Island and is a fun event, even for those not brave enough to take the plunge.’

‘We appreciate all the support from fundraisers that help our local nonprofits,’ he added. ‘We hope that plungers and spectators will stop into our local businesses that will be open on the boardwalk and throughout Coney for their New Year’s Day celebrations.’ 

As of Sunday evening, the club raised more than $80,000, and will still be accepting donations until January 8. 

The Coney Island plunge was just one of several other polar plunge events that took place on the first day of the year.

Three women held hands as they were brave enough to swim in the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday 

NEW YORK OR RIO?: A woman was fearless enough to get into the water in a two-piece bikini

Swimmers in one-piece bunny costumes entered the water at Coney Island beach in Brooklyn, New York, on January 1, 2023

There was a large amount turnout for the 2023 Polar Bear Swim in Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY

After the event was over, many people stayed to enjoy the remainder of the first day of 2023 at the beach

Men, women, and children of all ages also gathered on Sunday morning in Racine, Wisconsin, jumping into the frigid Lake Michigan for the 30th annual Splash and Dash Polar Plunge.

The air temperature was in the low 40s and the water temperature was 36.9 degrees in a part of the U.S. where there it is not uncommon to see sheets of ice on the sands of local beaches in the winter. 

All donations from this year’s event will go to Racine County Food Bank, H.A.L.O. Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization, and The Hospitality Center.   

More than $20,000 was raised each of the last three years, according to the fundraiser’s official website.  

Another Polar Plunge took place at Lake Michigan in Racine, Wisconsin, on Sunday. Hundreds of local residents gathered to celebrate the new year together

The air temperature was in the low 40s and the lake’s water temperature was 36.9 degrees

Men, women, and children of all ages participated in the event, which will benefit several local charities 

SUPERMAN’S GONE FOR A SWIM: A man immediately ran out of the lake after taking a quick dip 

Elsewhere, a dozen of people participated in the sixth annual New Years’ Day Polar Plunge at the Mystery Lake Scuba Park in Wendell, North Carolina. 

All proceedings were donated to N.C. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), as an estimated 432 people were killed in the Tar Heel state by impaired drivers. 

This year about 70 fewer people have died since 2021 but the 2022 death toll is still seven percent higher than in 2019, according to ABC 11.

The 50-degree Mystery Lake is a 15-acre granite quarry lake for the exclusive use of scuba diving and scuba training. It is also 105 feet deep. 

As of Sunday, $895 out of a $3,000 goal was raised, according to the fundraiser’s website. 

A dozen of people participated in the sixth annual New Years Day Polar Plunge at the Mystery Lake Scuba Park in Wendell, North Carolina, on Sunday

The 50-degree Mystery Lake is a 15-acre granite quarry lake for the exclusive use of scuba diving and scuba training

A couple held hands as they jumped into the water together. Lake Mystery is believed to be 105-feet deep

NEW YEAR, NEW SMILE: A woman is pictured swimming in the lake on Sunday. Donations will be given to N.C. Mothers Against Drunk Driving after 432 people were killed in the Tar Heel state by impaired drivers

In New Jersey, temperatures were in the 50s, but the waters were about ten degrees colder when thousands jumped into the ocean in Atlantic City.

Proceeds for this event went towards the Cancer Support Community New Jersey, according to resortsac.com.

Similar events took place off the New Jersey coast in Brigantine and in Long Branch.

‘What I tell everyone, even if they’ve never gone in or intimidated by the thought of it, is, wear your bathing suit under your clothes, because you’ll go in. You’ll get caught up in the energy of the crowd,’ Sean Clifford told NJ.com.

He’s been swimming on New Year’s Day for the last 21 years. 

‘It’s exhilarating because everyone is screaming and hitting the water at the same time,’ Clifford added. It’s a total rush.’

Boston and Pittsburgh also held local polar plunge events on the first day of 2023.

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