The Gainesville Rubber Duck Derby will return to Lanier Olympic Park on May 14 for its 24th annual race. The event will have up to 24,000 rubber ducks racing toward the finish line for a grand prize of $10,000.
The Duck Derby benefits the Boys and Girls Clubs of Lanier. According to Savannah Popham, marketing and communications director for Boys and Girls Club of Lanier, the organization has 25 club sites across Hall, Habersham and Forsyth counties.
“We serve about 7,500 students and kids annually through after-school and summer programs with all sorts of enrichment, like Club Fit basketball, girls empowering movements, [and] chess,” Popham said. “They also get tutoring hours to help them succeed academically and improve their graduation rate and overall health and lifestyle.”
Last year, the Boys and Girls Club released 20,000 rubber ducks on the lake. The organization decided to release 4,000 additional ducks for the race this year.
“We really just have hope in our community to adopt all those and get all those ducks adopted,” Popham said.
According to the Gainesville Rubber Duck Derby website, some other prizes include a pendant with a chain or Tiffany-styled ring valued at $5,000 or a Main Event family package valued at $1,000.
The Rubber Duck Derby is a family-friendly event and will also have live music, food trucks, a petting zoo and a bounce house. The festivities start at 11 a.m. and the ducks will race at 2:30 p.m..
One duck can be purchased for $6, while a pack of six ducks costs $30. The largest pack, with 25 ducks, is $125.
“I'm looking forward to just being with our community and seeing how many people are out here to impact the lives of the kids and the youth in our community and are passionate about just the next generation and pouring back into them,” Popham said. “I think it's really important for our communities in Forsyth, Hall and Habersham Counties to come together and support these programs, because these kids are our future.”
