Rinse off the old and welcome the new! The 12th Annual South Walton Fire District Polar Bear Plunge is taking place on New Year’s Day.

12th Annual South Walton Fire District Polar Bear Plunge Set for New Year’s Day

Costume contest at noon; plunge at 1 p.m. at Ed Walline Beach Access

The event begins at Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar at 11 a.m. with towel pick-up. The annual costume contest follows at 12 p.m. and includes categories for best adult, child, and group costumes. Once the contest is over, attendees will meet at Ed Walline Beach Access at 1 p.m. to take the plunge into the Gulf.

Online registration is ongoing through the time of the plunge and costs $20 per person, plus attendees in this age bracket will receive a custom event towel. Children 12 years old and under are allowed to participate for free.

“This is a signature, New Year’s Day kick-off event for our District to show our commitment to connecting with our residents and visitors,” said SWFD Fire Chief Ryan Crawford. “It’s a locally loved tradition and funds raised benefit our community education programs. This allows us to hold free CPR classes and incorporate community risk reduction strategies throughout South Walton every year.”

SWFD Beach Safety personnel will monitor the surf conditions and weather forecast leading up to the event. SWFD will communicate any changes to the event format through social media and the free SWFD smartphone App.

Please direct all inquiries related to the Polar Bear Plunge to the SWFD Public Information Officer at pio@swfd.org. The online registration portal can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/SWFDPBP26.

SWFD thanks all local public safety partners and host location Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar for the cooperation and work done in hosting the Polar Bear Plunge.

Event Details

• Event: 12th Annual South Walton Fire District Polar Bear Plunge
• Date: New Year’s Day
• Towel Pick-Up: 11:00 a.m. (Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar)
• Costume Contest: 12:00 p.m. (Best Adult / Child / Group)
• Plunge: 1:00 p.m. (Ed Walline Beach Access)
• Registration: $20 per person (includes custom towel); kids 12 & under free
• Register: https://tinyurl.com/SWFDPBP26

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