Ventnor Polar Plunge was last held President’s Day weekend, Feb. 16, 2019.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
It’s not even Christmas yet, but thoughts have already turned to New Year’s Day. Excitement is building as Ventnor re-establishes its New Year’s Day Polar Plunge and Robert’s Place agrees to hold Margate’s big event following a hiatus due to COVID-19.
The newly re-formed Ventnor Business Association is partnering with Ventnor Special Events to bring back the Ventnor Polar Plunge at 1 p.m. on New Year’s Day with changes that will please families with children.
According to Brenda Dowd of the VBA, the plunge was cancelled in 2018 due to the frigid temperatures and in 2019, the plunge was held during President’s Day weekend. There was no plunge in 2020, but 2021’s event is shaping up to be a fun family event.
Santucci’s Original Square Pizza restaurant will hold pre- and post-plunge events, Dowd said.
“We’ll start out at Santucci’s around noon and then walk to the beach between Newport and Portland avenues for the plunge. Afterward, we go back to Santucci’s to warm up and enjoy their offerings,” she said.
From 1:30-4 p.m., Santucci’s will have a complimentary hot chocolate bar, live band and heaters in their outside space. Both indoor and outdoor bars will be open.
“We want it to be a family-friendly event so the kids are more comfortable if they don’t want to be indoors,” she said.
Dowd said participants are welcome to come “as they want,” which could include costumes.
“My husband and I just got polar bear hats and there may be a few extras floating around,” the owner of the Makt Arts gallery on Ventnor Avenue said.
The event will be the recently reunited VBA’s first official event, she said. The sale of sweatshirts and other Polar Plunge memorabilia will provide some funds to get the organization going, she said.
“Bringing the plunge back on New Year’s Day will be our first official event – one that we can build on as the years go by,” she said.
Meanwhile, further downbeach, Robert’s Place on Atlantic Avenue in Margate is bringing back its annual Polar Bear Plunge after it was not held last year due to the pandemic. The event attracts thousands of revelers, some of whom start out the day early in the morning or never go to sleep after partying on New Year’s Eve.
The bar sells T-shirts with the proceeds going to the Wounded Warrior Project. The plunge will be held at noon, so really brave polar bears can double-dip in Ventnor an hour later.
This couple got engaged at the Margate Polar Bear Plunge, Jan. 1, 2020.
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