Plunge Postponement Statement

Due to this week’s severe weather, the 2026 Polar Bear Plunge at Seaside Heights is being postponed from February 28 to March 14, 2026. The public safety of everyone involved is always our top priority and was key in making this collaborative decision between the Borough of Seaside Heights, the law enforcement community, and Special Olympics New Jersey.

Here are the next steps to participate:

Attend the rescheduled Polar Bear Plunge at Seaside Heights on March 14, 2026. We’ll have the same lively environment you’ve come to love!
If you cannot attend on March 14, you can still “Plunge Your Way”, which could be from home, somewhere nearby, or anywhere you wish. Water balloons, jumping in the snow, and buckets of water are all things we’ve seen before, so be creative. Get your team together or plunge alone but be sure to send us pictures and/or video of how you decided to celebrate your virtual plunge. Get dressed up in those costumes and break out the usual plunge props you use every year. Show off the banners and signs like you normally would. Virtual plunge examples video

Some good news – we are extending the fundraising deadline for hitting your minimum raised and earning incentives items to March 14, 2026. So now you have two extra weeks if you’re looking to go home with some great plunge gear.

Unable to attend on March 14?

Please let us know if you are unable to attend and we will ship your incentive item(s) to you. You can also arrange a pickup at the SONJ Sports Complex in Lawrenceville, NJ, once the in-person plunge has concluded.

Arrange shipping or pickup

What is the minimum amount that I need to raise to participate in the Plunge?

ALL PLUNGERS must raise the minimum to plunge based on their registration tier. If plunging as a team, ALL TEAM MEMBERS are still required to raise the minimum. Charitable contributions are non-refundable, and the minimum plunge requirement is considered a contribution, and therefore, non-refundable.

This deadline has been extended to March 14, 2026.

What incentives are available to participants who raise more than the minimum?

Our participants look forward to the awesome Plunge gear every year! Please take a look at our incentives page for the levels based on individual fundraising goals.

The deadline for earning incentives has been extended to March 14, 2026.

Is my registration fee refundable?

Charitable contributions are non-refundable, and the minimum plunge requirement is considered a contribution, and therefore, non-refundable.

Who can I contact if I have additional questions?

Please send any additional questions to pbpinfo@sonj.org.

If I arrange for shipping or pickup, when is my fundraising deadline?

The deadline for fundraising in terms of hitting incentive totals will be as of March 14, 2026 when you check-in or at 1:00 pm. Nothing will be shipped until after that date.