Event Information - Polar Bear Plunge at Seaside

The Polar Bear Plunge at Seaside Heights presented by New Jersey Law Enforcement as part of the year-round fundraising of Law Enforcement Torch Run® events is a unique opportunity for individuals, organizations, and businesses to support Special Olympics New Jersey athletes by jumping into the frigid Atlantic waters during February.

PLUNGE SCHEDULE & LOCATION

Saturday, February 22, 2025

9:00 a.m. – Registration Opens

Blaine Ave Seaside Heights, NJ 08751

11:30 a.m. – Plungers head to the beach
(Beach is opening earlier – arrive early as it will be crowded!)

1:00 p.m. – PLUNGE!

315 Boardwalk, Seaside Heights

Event Map

Personal Drones are not permitted on-site on the plunge

Bus and RV parking is on Grant Avenue, closest to the check-in tents. Spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

ACCESSING THE PLUNGE AREA

The plunge location is on the beach in front of Spicy Cantina. Plungers will enter in front of Lucky Leo’s Arcade and must present their wristband to security at the boardwalk entrance ramps to access the beach.

To facilitate the smooth flow of entering and exiting the beach, single-use entrances and exits have been implemented to access the plunge area. There are dedicated entrances onto the beach and exits off the beach upon the conclusion of the plunge.

Ocean Terrace will be closed to vehicle traffic from Sherman to Sumner Avenue and accessible to pedestrians only. Plungers are encouraged to travel along Ocean Terrace to access the beach entrance points. Plungers DO NOT need to enter the boardwalk near Spicy Catina to access the beach.

Plungers will enter the beach from one of three boardwalk access ramps, accessible from Ocean Terrace:

The ramp in front of Lucky Leo’s Arcade.
The ramp at Franklin Avenue.
The ramp between Lincoln & Dupont Avenue.

Plungers will exit the beach at one of three locations:

The ramp at Sumner Avenue in front of Spicy Cantina.
The ramp at Blaine Avenue.
The vehicle beach exit ramp at Grant Avenue, next to Casino Pier.

Click here to access a fully interactive Google Maps layout that provides directions to key areas.

FAMILY PLUNGE AREA

The Family Plunge Area is designated for families who are registered plungers participating together, or children 18 years or younger with a parent or guardian accompanying them.

Location: The Family Plunge Area is located on the southern side of the beach.

Wristband: To access this sectioned area, plungers must show their white wristband to security.

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR SPECTATORS

Due to the significant growth of the Polar Bear Plunge at Seaside Heights, which attracts upwards of 8,000 participants and thousands of spectators, spectators ARE NOT permitted on the beach. This decision has been made to ensure the safety of all participants and to address logistical challenges. Allowing spectators on the beach would hinder the smooth movement of participants entering and exiting the plunge area.

PLUNGE LIVESTREAM

To ensure everyone can enjoy the event, we will be providing a livestream of the plunge. Stay tuned for more details on how to access the livestream. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in making this event safe and enjoyable for everyone.

REGISTRATION TIERS

We encourage all plungers to register early to avoid the plunge minimum increase and to allow ample time for fundraising.

“Early” Bear ($100 minimum): September – December 31

“Now I’m Ready” Bear ($110 minimum): January 1 – January 31

“Better Late Than Never” Bear ($120 minimum): February 1 – February 16

“Almost Missed It” Bear ($125 minimum – FLAT RATE): February 17 – February 22

REGISTERING FOR THE IN-PERSON PLUNGE

Here’s how to get started:

Register online for $25 to get started and set up a customizable fundraising page
The great news is the $25 registration fee counts toward the minimum. Want to reach the minimum now? You can add an additional donation during the checkout process to get you there.
Once registered, share your fundraising page with family and friends via email and social media. Track donations from your fundraising page, respond to donors and monitor fundraising progress as you get closer to your minimum.
Do not stop there! As you raise more money for Special Olympics New Jersey, you will also earn fresh Polar Bear Plunge incentives. Check out the Plunge Incentive page to see what you can earn.

ALL PLUNGERS, INCLUDING TEAM MEMBERS, MUST RAISE THE MINIMUM TO PARTICIPATE.

OFFLINE DONATIONS

If you have donation checks to submit, please use the offline donation form that contains instructions on how and where to send them. Please send offline donation forms and checks postmarked no later than February 20.
If you have cash to turn in, we suggest you consider donating to your fundraising page online for the cash total. Alternatively, you can use cash to purchase a money order. You can then send a money order just as you would send a check using the offline donation form. Please DO NOT send cash via mail.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

I have a group of people that want to Plunge together. Can we form a team?

Yes! Forming a team is a great way to motivate one another to raise more money for Special Olympics New Jersey. When registering, select the “Create a Team” option.

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.

How old do you have to be to Plunge?

There is no age requirement to participate in a Polar Bear Plunge. Young children are welcome to join, but that decision is left to the sole discretion of the child’s parent or guardian. A waiver is included in the online registration process, and it must be approved or “clicked,” by an adult. Those under 18 years of age are required to have a parent or guardian present at the event. If you do not register online, paper waivers are available at registration, as well.

How long does check-in take?

We have streamlined our check-in process but can never predict when crowds will be heaviest. We encourage you to arrive early to check-in on the day of the event and enjoy the Plunge atmosphere. All participants MUST check-in prior to Plunging to turn in funds, receive incentives, and receive Plunger access materials to be allowed to the site. Bring all donations with you when you come to check-in. Cash, charge, and checks are accepted.

What are some tips to make check-in go faster?

Register online. We take registrations on the day of but it's MUCH faster if you've already registered online...plus you'll save yourself $25 (Late Registration = $125).
When possible, contact us prior to arriving at registration with questions about online donations or issues regarding registration. If questions arise that day, we will do our best to help you with them in a timely manner.

What do I wear to Plunge?

You can wear whatever you want to Plunge - a bathing suit, street clothes, and even costumes!

Where can I change before and after I Plunge?

We provide changing tents on the beach for men and women. Law enforcement personnel will be at the entrance to monitor the area, but please note that neither the event committee, City of Seaside Heights nor Special Olympics New Jersey is responsible for personal belongings left inside the changing rooms that are lost or stolen during the course of the event. Leave items at your own risk. Spectators are not allowed access to the changing areas. If an individual needs to be accompanied for a certain reason, please explain to the law enforcement at the entrance of the rooms to gain access.

What else should I bring to Plunge?

For the best Plunge experience, make sure to bring the following:

A towel to dry off and warm up with.
Old shoes, aquatic shoes, etc. Don't forget to bring a pair of dry shoes to wear afterward.
A duffel bag, backpack, garbage bag, etc. It's a good idea to bring a bag for dry clothes and your Plunge incentives, as well as a plastic bag for your wet clothes.
Dry replacement clothes. After you're done Plunging, it's nice to have some warm and dry clothes for the journey home.
Another Plunger! Recruit a friend, family member, co-worker, or acquaintance and get them to Plunge with you. It's always more fun to Plunge with someone!

How else can I have an awesome Plunge experience?

Do NOT dive or flip into the water. This is a safety precaution for all Plungers that is strictly enforced by the Dive Team.
We advise you not to Plunge after drinking alcohol. Intoxicated people will not be permitted to Plunge.
Leave valuables at home or with a spectator. Special Olympics New Jersey is not responsible for items that are lost or stolen.
Try not to run out of the water after you Plunge. Keep in mind that everything is wet and slippery.
Bring along warm clothes to wear after you Plunge that are easy to put on. The last things you want to deal with when you're cold and wet are clumsy zippers and buttons!
Carpool! Parking can be crowded so help us out by coming as a group.

Can I bring my drone to the plunge?

For the safety and enjoyment of all participants, personal drones are strictly prohibited at the Polar Bear Plunge. This includes bringing drones onto the event grounds, flying drones anywhere near the event area, including before, during, and after the plunge. Drones that violate this policy are subject to local police interception and confiscation.

Can team captains check-in and pick up their entire team's sweatshirts and incentive items?

Team Captains can NOT check-in their entire team. All plungers must check themselves in and pick up their own incentives. The plunge has grown to a point where all participants must be responsible for themselves.

Contact Us

If you still have questions about the Plunge, contact us at pbpinfo@sonj.org.