PORT ANGELES — Tickets will go on sale Friday for the 30th annual Duck Derby.
The Duck Derby is planned May 19 at Lincoln Park in Port Angeles.
More than 30,000 yellow plastic ducks will be dumped into the Lincoln Park Pond to see which crosses the finish line first. The first 50 ducks will win prizes for their “adoptive parents.”
The top prize is a 2019 Toyota Corolla provided by Wilder Toyota.
Just before the main race at 2 p.m. will be the Bub and Alice Olsen Very Important Duck (VID) Race.
A kids’ pavilion will open at noon, offering crafting activities, face painting and entertainment by the Happy Tymers Clown Group.
Each duck ticket costs $6. For $30, adopters receive an extra duck (six chances to win) in the race.
Proceeds will benefit the Olympic Medical Center Foundation, which has given over $4.8 million to, or on behalf of, Olympic Medical Center (OMC) during the past 10 years.
The duck race is presented by the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe.
Tickets for the Duck Derby, which operates under the rules of the Washington State Gambling Commission, can be purchased from members of the OMC Foundation, Olympic Medical Center employees and many students from Sequim and Port Angeles high school, plus students of Peninsula College, who are raising money to support medical education and treatment in Clallam County.
Ducks also will be on sale daily at all Safeway stores in Port Angeles and Sequim, Swain’s General Store, Lovell’s Chevron and Shell convenience stores, Jim’s Pharmacy, Wilder Toyota, Thomas Building Center, First Federal and several other locations.
The Bub and Alice Olsen Very Important Duck (VID) Race 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 each.
On race day, the Kids’ Pavilion will add to the entertainment and excitement.
“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,” said Bob Lovell, who co-chairs the race along with Rick Smith. “So many individuals and organizations are tireless with their donations and work in this community to help make it what it is.”
“It’s a pretty awesome sight to see 30,000 ducks race,” Smith added. “It’s not really about expecting to win; it’s just knowing that you’re donating to a worthy causes that matters. Winning is secondary.”
For each adopted duck, the buyer receives a ticket with a printed number, which 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 lead ducks will win prizes.
For more information, see www.omhf.org or call 360-417-7144.
