January 1st, 2025 at NOON

Bradford Beach

2400 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53211

Please let it be clear we are an independent organization and NOT the organizers of the this event. We strictly share information gathered from multiple sources and share it in one place for people who plan on jumping into lake Michigan on New Years Day.

The event is a free non sponsored event, open to the public and does not require registration. If you are driving to the event, you’ll want to make sure to give yourself plenty of time, as parking will be limited.

This is a Milwaukee Tradition made to share with friends and family. Most importantly make sure to follow all safety precautions and have someone help you get warmed up and safe after you’re out of the water.

If you need more information on the Polar Bear Plunge contact one of the many Polar Bear Clubs in your area. 

   There are several other Polar Plunges in 2024 when the weather conditions may be more favorable.  If you choose to participate in this event, you are doing so at your own risk.  

What to wear.

We recommend wearing layers which are easy on and off as well as comfortable.  Before you plunge consider how much clothing you want getting wet, remember you want to be able to get out of it as soon as possible and into dry loose-fitting clothing.  Plan on wearing some type of footwear during the plunge the lake bottom could be rocky.

What to expect.

Take deep breaths and walk slowly into the water. Running may cause you to fall and get hurt. The water maybe icy. The bottom tends to be rocky and it’s always extremely cold, prepare yourself for your body to feel like it’s going into shock. The Milwaukee Fire Department Paramedics are in the water waiting in the event of someone needing assistance.

After the Plunge.

Get dried off and dressed before you leave the beach. Remove all wet clothing and get into dry clothes as soon as possible. Bring Warm dry socks and winter boots. Your feet are your first warming priority. Bring heating packs for your hands and feet. Layering sweatshirts and sweatpants are recommended after you get out of the water.  Towels and wool blankets, a sleeping bag is also highly recommended.

Bragging Gear

Check out the official merchandise with 2023 Commemorative Polar Bear Plunge design these items are great to wear on site and later to brag that you Survived the Plunge.

Fun for the whole Family.

The event is a free non sponsored event, open to the public and does not require registration. If you are driving to the event, you’ll want to make sure to give yourself plenty of time, as parking will be limited.

This is a Milwaukee Tradition made to share with friends and family. Most importantly make sure to follow all safety precautions and have someone help you get warmed up and safe after you’re out of the water.

The Polar Bear Plunge Milwaukee at Bradford Beach, has a history that goes back several decades as a local New Year’s Day tradition.

In Milwaukee, the plunge itself became a part of the city’s social fabric in the 1970s or 1980s. Early on, the event was largely a spontaneous gathering of daring individuals who would jump into the icy waters of Lake Michigan to celebrate the New Year. It wasn’t organized by any one group or institution but became an annual ritual for people who embraced the thrill of taking a dip in freezing temperatures, often as a dare or a test of endurance.

By the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Beach Polar Bear Plunge in Milwaukee began to see more structure and organization. Participants, usually numbering in the hundreds, would gather at the beach, some in costumes, to take the frigid plunge into the lake. Over the years, the event became increasingly popular. It still remains a community celebration of New Year’s Day and a quirky way for locals to mark the start of the year.

The Polar Bear Plunge Milwaukee at Beach typically features music, festivities, and camaraderie among participants. It’s known for its bold and sometimes humorous participants, who dive into Lake Michigan’s freezing waters, and the event often draws large crowds to watch.

Though it is not as widely publicized, the Bradford Beach Polar Bear Plunge is still a unique and beloved Milwaukee tradition that emphasizes community spirit and a shared love of the outdoors—even in the dead of winter.