ROCKWALL, TX. (August 20, 2015) Mark your calendar – the 4th Annual Rockwall Rubber Duck Regatta returns September 25 and 26 to Lake Ray Hubbard in Rockwall. Thousands of onlookers will flock to The Harbor District for family fun, live music, inflatables, fireworks, a 5K run and vendor booths – and of course, to cheer on their rubber ducks as they race down the fountains for cash and prizes.
The Duck Regatta has become a beloved community tradition benefiting the Boys & Girls Club and Meals on Wheels Senior Services of Rockwall County. “Adopt” baby ducks ($5 each) or larger corporate ducks ($100 each) at rockwallduckrace.org, and get ready to make a splash!
People of all ages can take part by entering their “adopted” ducks in Friday evening’s glow-in-the-dark race or Saturday afternoon’s baby duck race. Businesses are encouraged to participate by “duckerating” their corporate ducks for the Pageant on Saturday. There will also be a Corporate Duck Race. Early birds can begin Saturday’s festivities by registering for the 5K.
MOWSS board member Arianna Hargrove, who is co-organizing the event along with MOWSS board VP Brenda Cross, said this year’s event schedule is a little different.
“We are going back to the one-and-a-half day format,” Hargrove said. “The event will kick off Friday evening at 4 p.m. and includes a live concert, fireworks and of course the main attraction, the Glow-In-The-Dark Flashing Rubber Duck Race. On Saturday we get things started with the Running of the Nerds 5k and all-day vendors, a Kids Zone, Duck Beauty Pageant judging, the Corporate Duck Race and baby duck races.”
Hargrove said in addition to the traditional prizes awarded to the fast and the furious ducks, there will be several new prize categories as well.
Every lucky ducky knows to normally avoid the number 13. But this year, the unlucky duckies who cross the finish line in the baby duck race and the glow duck race in 13thplace will have the opportunity to win $10,000, if the number on your duck matches a predetermined winning number in a sealed prize envelope. Ducks in 1st-12th places will also receive great prizes.
Meals on Wheels Executive Director Margie VerHagen stressed the importance of the regatta to the community as a whole.
“MOWSS needs to raise extra funds this year because the demand for senior services continues to grow as the aging population increases,” VerHagen said. “Fortunately, the proceeds from the Duck Regatta go directly to life-sustaining services that allow seniors to remain independent in their homes for as long as safely possible. The community’s continual support for the organization enhances the quality of services that make an immediate impact in the lives of homebound seniors. ”
Hargrove explained that for her, that’s what the regatta is all about.
“It means the world to me,” Hargrove said “I am truly honored to be a part of it. I just can’t put into words how it feels to hand over the checks to the benefiting organizations knowing what good things they are going to do with the money. It makes such a huge impact on the community.”
Hargrove asked her fellow Rockwallians to flock together in an effort to support the regatta. A full schedule of events and duck adoptions are available at rockwallduckrace.org.
Submitted by BRN Media.