PORT ANGELES — Ducks are on sale for the 32nd annual Great Olympic Peninsula Duck Derby presented by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, with racers having the opportunity to win a 2021 Toyota Corolla provided by Wilder Toyota at the Duck Race on May 23.
The event’s proceeds benefit the Olympic Medical Center Foundation, which has given nearly $5 million to, or on behalf of, OMC in the past 10 years.
Duck tickets can be purchased from members of the Sequim High School leadership class, the OMC Foundation, Olympic Medical Center employees, Port Angeles High School senior class parents, the Franklin Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization and students from Peninsula College.
Ducks also will be on sale daily at all Safeway stores in Sequim and Port Angeles, Saar’s Super Saver Foods, Wilder Toyota, Lovell’s Roadrunner Shell convenience store, Swain’s General Store, Sound Bank, First Federal and several other locations.
How the race works
The race is set for Sunday, May 23, at Lincoln Park in Port Angeles, where all “adoptive parents” will have a chance to win prizes. It is operated under the rules of the Washington State Gambling Commission.
For each duck that’s adopted, the purchaser gets a ticket with a printed number that corresponds to a number on the duck. All of the numbered ducks are “raced” at Lincoln Park on race day, and the “owners” of the lead ducks 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, The Bub and Alice Olsen Very Important Duck (VID) Race will be held, which is an opportunity for businesses and individuals, including those from outside the Peninsula who do business with local companies, to purchase special V.I.D. ducks emblazoned with their logo, for $300 each.
“The time, effort, labor and equipment that various groups put into the Duck Derby, to make this event successful year after year, shows how each of us contributes to make this area such a great place to live,” event co-chair Bob Lovell said.
“So many individuals and organizations are tireless with their donations and work in this community to help make it what it is.”
Added co-chair Rick Smith, “It’s a pretty awesome sight to see 30,000 ducks race. It’s not really about expecting to win, it’s just knowing that you’re donating to a worthy cause that matters. Winning is secondary.”
For more information, potential owner/racers can contact the Olympic Medical Center Foundation at 360-417-7144.
