Some communities celebrate the start of the New Year with an official party or a parade.

Not here. On New Year’s Day, we gather in swimwear at the beach below Neahkahnie Mountain and, at the signal, make a mad dash into the Pacific Ocean. Afterward, we huddle around a bonfire and feel proud of ourselves for taking part in the annual Polar Plunge. Organized by locals, the first plunge, held in 2004, saw about a dozen participants. Today, hundreds of people join in.

Later in the summer, you can visit Nehalem for its annual arts and crafts festival and Wheeler for its yearly crab festival. Both events feature food vendors and live music.

If you are a dog lover, you can bring your furry, four-legged companion to Muttzanita, an annual celebration of all things canine. Muttzanita takes place in downtown Manzanita. It is a day filled with doggy activities, including a fashion show and parade. Look for pet-oriented vendors, and be sure to visit the event sponsor, Four Paws on the Beach, Manzanita’s boutique pet store. Proceeds benefit the Rotary Club of North Tillamook County and United Paws.

Finish the year by joining the Manzanita Tree Lighting event, where you can have your photo taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus, sip a cup of hot cocoa and shop for gifts from local merchan