A group of friends dress as desserts during the Surf City Splash in Huntington Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 1, 2026. Denise Stanek, dressed as a sugary treat said they chose to costumes, “to ring in a sweet 2026”. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Donning Grinsh onesies, Richard Yang and Paola German run for the water during the Surf City Splash in Huntington Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 1, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Jeff Reimer celebrates the new year with his grandchildren, Ashley Cloud, center and Adrian Cloud during the Surf City Splash in Huntington Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 1, 2026. Reimer said he’d never done a polar plunge, but he has to, “knock it off his bucket list”. He added, “it isn’t that cold”. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A group of friends dress as desserts during the Surf City Splash in Huntington Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 1, 2026. Denise Stanek, dressed as a sugary treat said they chose to costumes, “to ring in a sweet 2026”. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Josh Finkle and his girlfriend, Brenda Lopez, play with Tinkle’s son, Sebastian Finkle, during the Surf City Splash in Huntington Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 1, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Joe Balisalisa and Rob Hill run though the water during the Surf City Splash in Huntington Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 1, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Donning Grinsh onesies, Richard Yang and Paola German run for the water during the Surf City Splash in Huntington Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 1, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Tony Vu and his daughter, Jacquelyn Vu celebrate the new year as they cheer during the Surf City Splash in Huntington Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 1, 2026. Tony Vu said he take the plunge every year. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Julie Toledo and Lori Sueki frolic ion the surf during the Surf City Splash in Huntington Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 1, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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Donning Grinsh onesies, Richard Yang and Paola German run for the water during the Surf City Splash in Huntington Beach, CA, on Thursday, January 1, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The tradition is about washing away the old to welcome the new.
On Thursday, Mother Nature helped by whisking away the storm clouds leaving some sun as revelers plunged into the Pacific Ocean for the New Year’s Day Surf City Splash.
Stormy weather clouded some of the holiday, but the annual plunge into the cold ocean water went on, as did its accompanying costume contest. It is a fundraiser for the International Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach that is now in its 26th year.
Jeff Reimer said he’d never done a polar plunge, but he wanted to “knock it off his bucket list.” After splashing into the Pacific with his grandchildren, he added, “It isn’t that cold.”
A sewage spill last week that has closed Cabrillo Beach in the days since forced the cancellation of the Polar Plunge, another of the region’s popular New Year’s Day events.
