Provincetown bid farewell to 2023 and welcomed 2024 with its seventh annual Polar Bear Plunge last week. Attendees woke up early on New Year’s Day and gathered in the Johnson Street parking lot to learn more about the vital work of the Center for Coastal Studies. Then at noon, they ran into the icy waters of Provincetown Harbor and took the plunge.

Post-plunge bears warmed up at the Harbor Lounge and Provincetown Brewing Co. to recharge for the disco later in the afternoon.

In addition to the Polar Bear Plunge, the queer enclave rang in the New Year with fireworks, stellar shows and performances, dance parties, special New Year’s dinners at local restaurants, and end-of-year sales during its highly anticipated First Light Festival.