Birch Bay will kick off the New Year with two of its longstanding traditions of the Ring of Fire and Hope and the Polar Bear Plunge.
The Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce will start the countdown to the New Year with the Ring of Fire and Hope as people light flares along the Birch Bay shoreline at 7 p.m. Sunday, December 31.
The chamber will give out one free biodegradable flare per family on a first-come, first-serve basis. Flares will only be given to adults and cannot be picked up on behalf of others. The chamber will distribute flares 12-4 p.m. Friday, December 29 and Saturday, December 30 at the Birch Bay Visitor Center, 4819 Alderson Road, suite 103, and 4-7 p.m. Sunday, December 31 at Beach Cat Brewing, 7876 Birch Bay Drive.
The chamber will have disposable flares for sale, and additional flares can also be purchased at nearby marine and hardware stores.
After the Ring of Fire and Hope lights up the sky on New Year’s Eve, the Birch Bay Polar Bear Plunge will mark the event’s 41st year as participants run into the chilly Birch Bay waters at noon, on the beach across from Beach Cat Brewing.
The chamber will have a booth set up inside a warming tent at Beach Cat Brewing where people can register for the plunge and purchase themed wear.
RE Sources and Surfrider Foundation will host a beach cleanup before the polar plunge, 9-10:30 a.m. at Beach Cat Brewing. Cleanup crews will receive cleanup supplies and free coffee. Cleanup RSVPs are encouraged at p2a.co/gHYZY2e.
Musician Michael Dayvid will perform from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the warming tent.
Whatcom County residents Linda Cline and Gary Sytsma will be collecting blankets and winter clothing donations for the Community Assistance Program (CAP) clothing bank during the polar plunge. The pair will have a booth from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. January 1 at Beach Cat Brewing.
CAP’s biggest need is winter blankets, Cline said, followed by winter clothing for children, women and men. For more information on donating, Cline can be reached at 425/387-9263 and Sytsma at 360/303-1307.
Cline, who has done over 30 Birch Bay plunges, and Sytsma said they saw the popular event as an opportunity to fundraise. CAP is a nonprofit serving people in Birch Bay, Blaine, Custer and Point Roberts.
“We just want to meet as many people’s needs as possible,” Sytsma said.
Chamber event coordinator Sacha Sanguinetti encouraged attendees to register for the Ring of Fire and Hope and the Polar Bear Plunge.
“Even though both events are free, registering gives the chamber numbers to use for future funding,” he said.
To register for the New Year’s events, visit birchbaychamber.com/events.
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