It’s icy, frosty and just plain cold: it’s Renton’s Polar Bear Plunge. This annual New Year’s Day tradition at Gene Coulon Park will start your 2025 with a jolt!
Renton’s Polar Bear Plunge is at 10 a.m. on January 1, 2025. It’s free to participate, but you need to pre-register.
The goal is simple: make a run into the chilly waters of Lake Washington – and run back out as fast as you can. Expect the water to be about 45- to 47-degrees. Sometimes, it feels colder because of the wind. The crowd will cheer you on as you immerse yourself in Lake Washington – or just dip your toes. Either way, it’s a fun-filled morning that’s guaranteed to wake you up.
Renton hosted its first Polar Bear Plunge in 2008. Ever since, residents and visitors alike have made it a tradition to take a dip in Lake Washington on New Year’s Day.
Here’s all you need to know about the Polar Bear Plunge 🐻❄️❄️
- Registration is FREE.
- Pre-registered participants get coffee, hot cocoa, and chowder after taking the plunge!
- Meet at the South Beach of Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park.
- Bring your towel and dry clothes to warm up after.
- U.S. Coast Guard approved flotation devices are permitted for those with limited water/swimming experience.
Fun Fact: The first Polar Bear Plunge took place in Boston in 1904 in some mighty chilly waters.
Photo credit: City of Renton
