Cheers and loud music filled the air on Onset Beach on New Years Day, followed shortly by quick gasps and splashing as hundreds of people charged into the frigid water.

The New Year's Polar Plunge hosted by the Buzzards Bay Coalition and the Onset Bay Association brought out large crowds to ring in the new year by washing away the old one.

“I think I'm doing it for metaphorical reasons to start the year fresh, wash off the negative of 2024 and go into 2025 positive,” said Matthew Vega of Todd, who was one of many dressed in costume for the event.

Vega dressed as a shark and said his goal was to, at a minimum, submerge himself fully in the water.

Lance Benoit and his wife Penny participated in last year's plunge and said the air temperature was similar, around 49 degrees, but this year was much windier.

“I’m going to start the year off right, freeze off all the bad,” Lance Benoit said.

Penny Benoit said she was glad to celebrate the Onset community and bring in the new year surrounded by friends and neighbors.

“Also, If I make it to my waist I will consider that a win for the day,” Penny Benoit said.

Mark Rasmussen, President of the Buzzards Bay Coalition, said the event is all about getting residents connected to the bay.

“This is the beginning of environmental stewardship,” Rasmussen said. “We operate on the true belief that anybody who gets connected to the bay in any way makes them better stewards, they want to take care of the bay.”

Kat Jones, Executive Director of the Onset Bay Association said this year’s plunge was in honor of Earl Fowler, a former organizer of the event who died in 2021.