Photos: Hundreds become honorary polar bears for annual New Year’s plunge

A New Year’s Day tradition for the bold, Renton’s Polar Bear Plunge makes its annual return.

By Bailey Jo Josie bailey.jo.josie@rentonreporter.com • January 3, 2023 4:10 pm

Ten hours into 2023, hundreds of people braved the cold water at Renton’s South Beach of Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park for the city’s annual Polar Bear Plunge.

An exhilarating way to kick off the new year, the Polar Bear Plunge includes running and jumping into the 47-degree Fahrenheit water with the added adventure of swimming to the safety ropes and back.

Those who took the plunge were rewarded with cheers from the crowd and triumphant stickers, along with free hot cocoa from Starbucks and free clam chowder from Ivar’s.