Brave souls will descend en masse on East Hampton's Main Beach on New Year's Day for the annual Polar Bear Plunge, a bracing event the $40 entry fee of which benefits the East Hampton Food Pantry. The plunge itself takes place at 1 p.m., but those who plan to dive in or watch the plungers should allow for plenty of extra time to park and possibly walk a good distance to the beach.
Registration can be done online in advance at bit.ly/3S05Qms or in person at the beach starting at 11:30 a.m.
The winner of this year's logo contest was Gizel Espina, an East Hampton High School student. Her artwork will adorn the hats given to participants and merchandise available for purchase at the beach.
There's another plunge, too, off Beach Lane in Wainscott. Participants can join Colin Mather, the owner of the Seafood Shop on Montauk Highway, at the store no later than 1:50 p.m. on Monday. First comes a 1.6-mile group jog to the beach before the plunge at 2:30.
The Wainscott plunge benefits the Sag Harbor Food Pantry. The cost to sign up is a tax-deductible $25, and the website to sign up is sagharborfoodpantry.org. The first 250 participants will receive a hat with a logo designed by a student at Pierson High School in Sag Harbor, donated by a community member.