Hundreds showed up for the 4th annual Polar Bear Plunge at Golden Gardens on this sunny New Year’s Day in Ballard. Here are a few shots of the brave plungers.

Christmas tree bonfires kept people warm after racing into the chilly water.

Rick Sandvig, who started the Polar Bear Plunge at Golden Gardens after seeing it happen in Vancouver, B.C, said people started running in at about 10:30 a.m. The big rush was at 11 a.m.; after a short countdown, hundreds dashed into the freezing water.

Send us your plunge photos at tips@myballard.com.