Add New Year’s Day polar plunges to the list of New Jersey traditions disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Polar bear plunges on Jan. 1 typically involve large crowds of spectators, swimwear-clad or costumed participants dashing in and out of the icy water — few linger beyond a couple of minutes — and a big indoor celebration afterward.
The events are festive and fun, and the antithesis of social distancing.
Except, perhaps, in 2021.
The polar plunge in Ocean City — more than 1,000 bravely ventured into 46-degree waters last Jan. 1 — has been cancelled along with all other First Night and First Day events, city spokesperson Doug Bergen said.
The Atlantic City Polar Bear plunge also has been cancelled, though it appears some may attempt to keep the tradition going with an unofficial New Year’s Day dip into the ocean.
In Asbury Park, the Sons of Ireland Polar Bear Plunge — it drew about 700 participants and 1,500 spectators last time around — is being turned into a virtual-type event. It will not be using the Convention Hall as in prior years but socially-distanced plunges will begin at 10 a.m., three hours before the usual start time, according to the event’s website.
Organizers of the Brigantine Polar Bear Plunge haven’t given up on proceeding, though it claims to have drawn more than 1,000 swimmers and 6,000 spectators last New Year’s Day. That’s well beyond Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive order capping outdoor gatherings at 25. The directive goes into effect Monday, due to the worsening pandemic.
“It might be postponed, or we might not have it. We’re proceeding from the point of view we will have it,” Emmett Turner told NJ Advance Media on Friday.
Atlantic City Polar Bear Plunge, on the beach in front of Resorts Casino Hotel, Monday, Jan. 1, 2018. (Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)(Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)
New Jersey is not alone in surrendering some New Year’s Day fun out of necessity.
In New York, the nation’s best-known polar plunge, on Coney Island, was holding out hope of proceeding until Monday, when it canceled the iconic event.
“With the ongoing concerns regarding mass gatherings amid the COVID-19 pandemic, we have made the difficult decision to cancel what would have been the 117th annual New Year’s Day plunge,” the Coney Island Polar Bears Club announced on Monday.
The polar bear plunge in Atlantic City featured indoor registration and a party at Landshark Bar & Grill at Resorts Casino, the event sponsor. In announcing the cancellation in September, the organizer explained that limits on indoor capacity would have undercut its ability to effectively raise money for local charities.
Even so, the Atlantic City Polar Bear Club is encouraging members via a Facebook post to “celebrate 2021 by jumping in the icy cold waters on New Year’s Day and bidding 2020 a final farewell.”
Turner said something similarly impromptu may happen in Brigantine if the event is cancelled.
“I would imagine there’s going to be a lot of people who show up anyway,” Turner said.
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Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com.
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N.J. is usually home to massive New Year’s polar plunges. Here’s the plan this year. - NJ.com
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