Polar Plunge put on ice due to virus,

COVID-19 has forced yet another popular Pittsburgh event to be canceled for the sake of safety.

Every year, people gather Downtown at the Mon Wharf on New Year’s Day to jump into the Monongahela River as part of the Polar Plunge, put on by the Pittsburgh Polar Bear Club. The bone-chilling event helps raise money for Project Bundle-Up, a charity that provides winter clothing such as coats, scarves and gloves to those in need.

Project Bundle-Up announced the cancellation Tuesday on Facebook.

This is the second cancellation of this type this month — the Connellsville Polar Bear Club earlier in December also announced it would not be holding its annual river-jumping event.

Daredevils have been jumping into Pittsburgh’s rivers at their coldest since the Polar Bear Club formed in the 1920s. Project Bundle-Up has been around for 35 years and in that time has raised more than $15.5 million and given almost 290,000 people new winter gear, according to its website.

For those still looking to immerse themselves in icy river water while supporting a good cause, Special Olympics PA appears to be going ahead with its 2021 Polar Plunge, and it’s even offering a virtual option.

An in-person plunge is set to take place Feb. 27 on the North Side, and there will also be a “burrr-tual polar pop” in which participants can send a video of themselves popping a water balloon over their heads. They also can attend a Virtual Plunge Party on Feb. 27.