Portsmouth: Will you b-r-r-r-r-rave the cold water on Jan. 1?

Polar Dive will ring in 2025 at Island Park Beach

Posted 12/26/24

PORTSMOUTH — It’s almost splashdown time.

New Year’s Day revelers will ring in the new year again at Island Park Beach off Park Avenue on Wednesday, Jan. 1.

As usual, …

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Portsmouth: Will you b-r-r-r-r-rave the cold water on Jan. 1?

Polar Dive will ring in 2025 at Island Park Beach

Posted

PORTSMOUTH — It’s almost splashdown time.

New Year’s Day revelers will ring in the new year again at Island Park Beach off Park Avenue on Wednesday, Jan. 1.

As usual, participants will run into the frigid water at noon sharp.

A massive bonfire will be lit at 11:18 a.m., according to John Vitkevich, one of the organizers.

Vitkevich said he met with Fire Chief Paul Ford and Battalion Chief Mark Reimels of the Portsmouth Fire Department and received clearance for the fire, which will use 387 pallets — one for every year since the Town of Portsmouth’s founding in 1638.

A Park Avenue resident has complained about nails form the pallets being left on the beach from past bonfires, but Vitkevich has assured the town he will be responsible for making sure they’re all picked up afterwards.

Vitkevich, as he does every year, reminds all divers to wear beach shoes.

Following the dive, New Year’s Day celebrators will head to Tremblay's Bar and Grill, 514 Park Ave., “for libations, back-slapping” and raffle prizes to raise money for the Island Park Preservation Society. That organization raises funds for special events — such as the September fireworks from Sunset Cove — and beautification projects throughout the neighborhood.

“We’re going to be frugal, but there are things we think Island Park would like to have,” Vitkevich said. “A couple of volunteers will be working the beach on Jan. 1 for those who can’t make it to Tremblay’s to donate.”

And it you are jumping in or just witnessing the festivities on Jan. 1, make sure you get the event’s name right; it’s not a “Penguin Plunge,” Vitkevich said.

“It’s a ‘Polar Dive,’” he said. “I’m so adamant about the word ‘dive’ because 20 years ago, Island Park was known as a dive. That’s cool, but look at Island Park now.”

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