Charity harbour swim in fancy dress run by the Weymouth and Portland Lions Clubs, with a festive plunge for swimmers of all levels.
The Christmas Day Harbour Swim returns to Weymouth Harbour on Friday 25 December, from 11:00 to 13:00. It's run by the Weymouth and Portland Lions Clubs and has grown into a popular fixture of the town's festive calendar, with participants plunging into the harbour in fancy dress. It's a community gathering that suits seasoned swimmers and first-timers alike, and the day is billed as a charity event.
The swim sits within a wider British tradition of festive sea plunges. Organisers point to the health benefits of cold-water swimming — stimulated circulation, boosted energy, better skin tone and a release of endorphins — alongside RNLI safety advice on cold-water shock and open-water swimming. If you're planning on getting in, it's worth keeping that safety advice in mind, especially if you're new to the cold.
It's a morning that brings together a good cross-section of the town, from people who do this every year to those who've never even considered a winter dip. The fancy dress is a big part of it, so you'll see a fair few costumes alongside the swim caps. It's a charity event, so there's a bit more to it than just the swim itself.
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It all goes down at Weymouth Harbour, Weymouth, DT4 8BG, on Friday 25 December, from 11:00 to 13:00.
