One of White Rock’s chilliest free traditions is returning to the waterfront Jan. 1 to ring in the new year. The Polar Bear Plunge – presented by Rotary International, with support from Royal Canadian Marine Se arch and Rescue Unit 5 (Crescent Beach) and the City of White Rock – is set for noon on the first day of 2024.
Registration gets underway at 10:30 a.m. east of the pier, near the city’s namesake.
The event typically draws hundreds of dippers of all ages, as well as countless more onlookers to take in the largely-brief displays of icy-cool bravery.
READ MORE: Hundreds brave frigid waters for Polar Bear Plunge at White Rock beach Jan. 1
A record number of swimmers – 466 registered, plus “way more” unregistered, according to officials – made the plunge in 2023. That event followed a two-year hiatus of the in-person affair due to COVID-19 concerns, during which time, those who still wanted to mark the occasion were encouraged to do virtual plunges.
Among highlights planned for the 2024 dip are prizes for best costume.