Race Discovery
The New Year's Plunge
The New Year's Plunge logo

The New Year's Plunge

Billings, Montana, United States View on map
Jan 01, 2027 (America/Denver local time)
Running

About this race

Start your New Year with a splash of adventure! Join us at Lake Elmo for the New Year’s Plunge, a refreshing way to kick off the year surrounded by community, crisp air, and a little bit of crazy fun. Run or walk around Lake Elmo, then celebrate your finish with an optional polar plunge into the icy waters to welcome the year with energy and courage! Have no fear, we have heated tents on site for you to hang out before you head home. 

Whether you’re chasing a personal best or just here for the plunge and laughs, this event is all about starting fresh, having fun, and saying Yes. You. Can. in the new year!

Each registration includes:

  • 1 Towel (Register by 12/20)
  • 1 Free Drink from 105 Brewery
  • Post-Plunge Heated Tents & Drinks

We will have Billings Fish & Wildlife on site to talk about ice fishing and snow shoeing around the area. Learn how you can continue to be active even in the cold months around the area. 

Start Times:

  • 10:00AM for 5K Runners
  • 10:15AM for 1.5 Mile Walkers/Runners (1 Lap)
  • Plunge-Only Participants can go any time between 10:05 - 11:00AM. 
  • The post-run plunge is optional. We will have a water team on site to assist until 11:00am. Take your time or hop right in! 

Packet Pickup will be at 105 Brewing.

  • Thursday, December 31st from 3:00 - 6:00PM.
  • Address: 815 Yellowstone River Road, Billings, MT 59105
  • Race Day Pick-Up is available starting at 9:30AM by the bathroom building. 

Same-day registration will be open from 9:30AM - 10:00AM. Find the 406 Race Series table under the heated tents. 

Any questions can go to mary406race@gmail.com 

Pick your distance

Running

5K Run/Walk + Optional Plunge

Walk.Run a 5K around the beautiful neighborhood surrounding Lake Elmo. After the run you will enter the water from the beach. Go out as far as you can handle then walk/run back to the shore for a heated tent. This event is not timed. Plunge is optional.

Jan 01, 2027 5K 10:00 AM
$30.00
Open

1.5 Mile Run/Walk + Optional Plunge

Walk/Run 1 full loop around Lake Elmo. After the run you will enter the water via the beach. Go out as far as you can handle then walk/run back to the shore for a heated tent. This event is not timed. Plunge is optional.

Jan 01, 2027 2.4K 10:15 AM
$25.00
Open

5K Run/Walk + Optional Plunge (Under 13)

Children 5 and under are free. 6-13 are at a discounted rate.

Jan 01, 2027 5K 10:00 AM
$20.00
Open

1.5 Mile Run/Walk + Optional Plunge (Under 13)

Children 5 and under are free. 6-13 are at a discounted rate.

Jan 01, 2027 2.4K 10:15 AM
$15.00
Open

Swimming

Plunge Only

Want to skip the run and jump right in the Lake? Join us for this amazing event to celebrate the New Year and have fun with other outdoor enthusiasts in our community. Fundraiser teams are available!!

Jan 01, 2027 Plunge Only 10:00 AM
$20.00
Open

Typical race-day weather

Based on 3 years of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Billings, plus the 3 days either side.

Temp (°C)
Minimum temperature (race-week average) -3.7° / Maximum temperature (race-week average) 4.3°
Feels Like (°C)
Minimum feels like — heat index / wind chill (race-week average) -8.9° / Maximum feels like — heat index / wind chill (race-week average) 1.7°
Peak wind (km/h)
Strongest wind of the day (race-week average)
15.6
Precip (mm)
Precipitation over the day (race-week average)
0.9mm
Humidity
Mean relative humidity (race-week average)
65.6%
Sunrise
Sunrise at the start line on January 1, 2027 (MST)
Sunset
Sunset at the start line on January 1, 2027 (MST)
Daylight
Hours between sunrise and sunset on race day
8h 45m

The sun rises at 7:55 AM and sets at 4:40 PM local time (MST) in Billings on January 1, 2027 — 8h 45m of daylight.

Course

No course map published yet.

The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.

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Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.

  • Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
  • Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
  • Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
  • Comparisons and counts — Race Discovery calendar, 45 Billings events

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