This article was underwritten in part by the Mickey Flacks Journalism Fund for Social Justice, a proud, innovative supporter of local news. To make a contribution go to sbcan.org/journalism_fund.
After a year-long hiatus, Santa Barbara’s polar dip has returned. On January 1 at 11:30 a.m. sharp, folks will greet the Pacific Ocean to ring in the New Year.
Artist Hugh Margerum organizes the dip each year; he founded it alongside friend and longtime collaborator Julie DeAngelis. The tradition started a decade ago when the pair, along with a few friends, took the plunge at East Beach. Since then, the dip has grown, with more than 200 people participating in 2024. That year, organizers partnered with Adam’s Angels, a nonprofit that gives toiletries and food to homeless people, low-income students, and at-risk youth in the area…