Polar plunge marks New Year tradition in Pittsburgh
Dozens of people jumped into the Monongahela River
Updated: 11:37 AM EST Jan 1, 2026
Dozens of people jumped into the 35-degree Monongahela River for the annual polar plunge, marking the start of the New Year with a chilly tradition.”It’s kind of something I’ve done over the years here. I guess it’s my version of a flu shot, so I don’t get sick. I figured if the germs in this river don’t get me, nothing will,” Johnny Cavaliere, who has been participating in the polar plunge for seven years, said. Some, like siblings Robin and Darren, made the jump for the first time. “We always said we wanted to do it and this is the year we committed. It was really cold,” Robin Makar said. Others, like Frank Nelson, who has been jumping in since 1966, look forward to the experience every New Year. “It’s a way to start the year no matter what the weather is like. It’s a lot of fun, camaraderie,” Nelson said.Whether it’s a first jump or a 61st, it signals a new beginning for the New Year. “Every year people say, ‘you still going to do it again?’ I say, ‘yeah, but the one thing is, when you get older, you get colder,'” Eddie Hollinger said.Proceeds from the event’s T-shirts go towards WTAE’s Project Bundle-Up.
PITTSBURGH —
Dozens of people jumped into the 35-degree Monongahela River for the annual polar plunge, marking the start of the New Year with a chilly tradition.
“It’s kind of something I’ve done over the years here. I guess it’s my version of a flu shot, so I don’t get sick. I figured if the germs in this river don’t get me, nothing will,” Johnny Cavaliere, who has been participating in the polar plunge for seven years, said.
Some, like siblings Robin and Darren, made the jump for the first time.
“We always said we wanted to do it and this is the year we committed. It was really cold,” Robin Makar said.
Others, like Frank Nelson, who has been jumping in since 1966, look forward to the experience every New Year.
“It’s a way to start the year no matter what the weather is like. It’s a lot of fun, camaraderie,” Nelson said.
Whether it’s a first jump or a 61st, it signals a new beginning for the New Year.
“Every year people say, ‘you still going to do it again?’ I say, ‘yeah, but the one thing is, when you get older, you get colder,'” Eddie Hollinger said.
Proceeds from the event’s T-shirts go towards WTAE’s Project Bundle-Up.