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.
This event has ended. See what’s coming up.
- When
- Jan 1, 2026 · 10:00am – 2:00pm
- Where
- Point Defiance Marina · 5912 Waterfront Dr, Tacoma, WA, 98407, US · Venue details
- Price
- $10 per person
- Ages
- All ages; under 18 must be with an adult
- Reservations
- Register online for a 30-minute slot
- Organizer
- Parks Tacoma
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.
Links
- Parks Tacoma: Polar Bear Plunge
- South Sound Magazine: Point Defiance Marina Polar Plunge (Dec. 23, 2025)
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