The largest Polar Bear swim around town is in Vancouver’s English Bay, but there’s several others going on around Metro Vancouver, so you don’t have to go far to prove your mettle. Whether you jump in with a wet suit or a crazy costume, start off the year on a high (and very, very cold note) with any of these events:

Celebrate 2025 with a Polar Bear Plunge at two locations in the Bakersfield area. Community members can go down to the activity pool at the McMurtrey Aquatic Center to slide down the slide into the icy water and then swim 25 yards.

Seven days out is your guide to entertainment events, concerts, festivals and activities in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

Cold plunge enthusiasts point to heart benefits as well. When plunged into frigid water, the body constricts blood flow to the core. Then the blood pumps back out through arteries and veins when exposed to warmth. (Note: Cold plunges are not generally recommended for people with heart conditions or other medical conditions.)

In Kamloops, the Kamloops Polar Bear Swim is happening at Riverside Park at 12 p.m. on New Year’s Day. Dippers are cautioned to wear something on their feet to protect from rocks, to bring lots of friends, and to wear a costume or a bikini.