PORT ANGELES — Volunteers are preparing for the 28th annual North Olympic Peninsula Duck Derby on Sunday.
During the derby, some 30,000 rubber ducks will be dumped into the pond at Lincoln Park, which is in the area of 1500 W. Lauridsen Blvd. in west Port Angeles, and 45 prizes worth more than a total of $25,000 will be up for grabs.
About 21,000 ducks had been sold as of Tuesday, putting the derby in a position to possibly sell more than last year, said co-chair Bruce Skinner.
“A ton come in during the last week,” he said.
New this year is the kids’ race, Skinner said. Children younger than 18 can go to the kids’ pavilion to purchase and decorate a duck for $10 to be entered into the children’s event.
Winners will receive trophies and be able to keep their duck creation once the race is over.
Entrants must report by 1 p.m., Skinner said.
He said the idea came while he was in Bend, Ore., with his children and saw a duck derby for youngsters.
“We’ve always had a kids’ pavilion, and a lot of kids attend,” he said. “I thought it would be natural for our race, seeing that we have a lot of kids attending.”
During the derby, which is presented by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, all rubber duck “adoptive parents” will have chances to win prizes, including a 2017 Toyota Corolla provided by Wilder Toyota.
Proceeds will benefit the Olympic Medical Center Foundation and the Sequim Rotary Club’s charitable projects.
Duck tickets can be purchased at the Peninsula Daily News, 305 W. First St. in downtown Port Angeles, through Friday. They are on sale daily through Saturday at all Safeway stores in Port Angeles and Sequim, Swain’s General Store, Lovell’s Chevron and 76 convenience stores, Jim’s Pharmacy, Wilder Toyota, KONP, Thomas Building Center, First Federal and several other locations.
Duck tickets also can be purchased from members of the OMC Foundation, many Olympic Medical Center employees, Sequim Rotary Club members and the Forks’ Soroptimist International of the Olympic Rainforest and volunteers who pitch in to raise money for the project.
For each duck that is adopted, the purchaser receives a ticket with a printed number that corresponds to a number on the duck.
All of the numbered ducks are dumped into the Lincoln Park pond on race day, and the “owners” of the first 45 ducks to cross the finish line will win prizes.
Each duck ticket will cost $6. For $30, adopters receive an extra duck (six chances to win) in the race.
Just prior to the main race at 2 p.m., the Bub and Alice Olsen Very Important Duck (VID) Race will be held.
This is an opportunity for businesses and individuals, including those from outside the Peninsula who do business with local companies, to purchase special VID ducks emblazoned with their logo for $300, $600 and $1,200.
Entry into the corporate race also gets businesses entry into the main race. For $300, a business gets 60 ducks in the main race and one in the VID race. For $600, 120 ducks are purchased for the main race and two for the VID race. Paying $1,200 buys 240 ducks in the main race and four in the VID race.
On race day, the kids’ pavilion will be set up at Lincoln Park, along with refreshments. KONP Radio will make live announcements of the winners.
For more information, potential owner/racers can contact the OMC Foundation at 360-417-7144 or visits its website at www.omhf.org.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
