By Mackenzie McClintock, South Walton Fire District Public Information Officer
Splashing into the New Year has never looked quite like this. Nearly 1,000 people joined the South Walton Fire District at Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar for the 11th Annual SWFD Polar Bear Plunge on January 1, 2025.
The New Year’s Day fun kicked off at 11 a.m. with event towel pick up staged at the restaurant for plunge participants. At 12 p.m., the annual costume contest ensued with four separate winners for youth, adult, and group categories taking home a custom event trophy. Then at 1 p.m., the thousand people-strong crowd walked over to Ed Walline Beach Access to take the plunge into 2025 by rinsing off the old and welcoming the new year.
Once out of the water, participants told SWFD the plunge was exhilarating, fun, and memorable as they enjoyed the balmy, 60-degree weather and water.
“This event has been historically loved by our residents and visitors, but we’ve never seen attendance quite like this,” said SWFD Fire Chief Ryan Crawford. “We are blown away by the support, it’s a testament to how this community has embraced the event over time and how strongly they feel about the services we provide. 2025 is off to a fantastic start and we can’t thank everyone enough for joining us.”
Two key components to the event’s success were the SWFD Beach Safety Division and the Walton Couty Sheriff’s Office posse members, who ensured the event was held safely both streetside and in the Gulf of Mexico.
Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar also played a significant role as the host site, keeping the large crowd well-fed with a designated menu for the holiday.
All proceeds raised at the event will benefit SWFD’s Community Education Programs throughout the year, including Free Community CPR Classes. To learn more about the classes, visit SWFD’s Eventbrite page at: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/south-walton-fire-district-58123334093, or scan the QR Code.
Author: Sowal Editor
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