# Polar Bear Plunge at Point Defiance

Start the year in Puget Sound. Pick a half-hour slot, wear a costume if you like, and walk into very cold water off the Point Defiance Marina.

Canonical URL: https://tacomairl.com/events/polar-bear-plunge-2026/
Section: events
Area: North End
Published: 2026-10-12
Last fact check: 2026-10-12
Event status: Ended
Start date: 2026-01-01
Start time: 10:00
End time: 14:00
Timezone: America/Los_Angeles
Venue: Point Defiance Marina
Address: 5912 Waterfront Dr, Tacoma, WA, 98407, US
Price: $10 per person
Age policy: All ages; under 18 must be with an adult
Reservations: Register online for a 30-minute slot
Organizer: Parks Tacoma
Organizer URL: https://www.parkstacoma.gov/event/polar-plunge/
Venue details: https://tacomairl.com/places/point-defiance/

## Why go

It's the one morning a year when getting into Commencement Bay on purpose feels normal. People show up in silly hats and onesies, and the whole thing is over in minutes.

## What happens

You book a half-hour slot between 10am and 2pm and walk or plunge in off the marina. Parks Tacoma has lifeguards on the docks and divers in the water, and loaner life jackets are available. The boat launch closes for the morning. In 2026, people who registered by December 29 could check in early at the marina store.

## Good to know

Wear something on your feet; Parks Tacoma strongly recommends it. T-shirts and sweatshirts were add-ons at sign-up.

**Next year:** it's always New Year's Day. Registration usually opens in December on the Parks Tacoma event page.

## Sources

- [Parks Tacoma: Polar Bear Plunge](https://www.parkstacoma.gov/event/polar-plunge/)
- [South Sound Magazine: Point Defiance Marina Polar Plunge (Dec. 23, 2025)](https://www.southsoundmag.com/travel-outdoor/point-defiance-marina-polar-plunge-january-1-2026/article_3fdf8484-92d0-4cd7-aada-da1d08bbc6aa.html)