PORT ANGELES — Saturday marks the start of ticket sales for the 20th annual Great Olympic Peninsula Duck Derby on May 17, with a kick-off for ticket sellers on Friday.
Team captains and sales people will pick up ticket packets and souvenir ducks at the Seasons Café at Olympic Medical Center, 939 E. Caroline St., between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Ticket sales will begin Saturday.
For the next 30 days, tickets will be available at various locations, including the Peninsula Daily News at 305 W. First St., Port Angeles.
Ducks also will be sold at PDN offices in Sequim and Port Townsend (addresses on A2).
Some 200 people will be out selling chances to win in the duck race in the Nippon Paper Industries canal.
Last year, 36,660 ducks were sold to benefit the OMC Foundation and Sequim Rotary Club’s charitable projects. That topped the prior year’s sales of 35,567 ducks.
Each $5 duck ticket comes with more than $20 in coupon savings.
People who purchase five ducks tickets for $25 also will receive a rubber duck to take home or a sixth duck to enter in the race.
Duck purchasers will receive a ticket number for each adopted duck that corresponds to a number on the duck.
Businesses and individuals, including those from outside the Peninsula that do business with local companies, can purchase special VID — Very Important Ducks — emblazoned with their logo for $250 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 contribute to make this area such a great place to live,” said Bob Lovell, Duck Derby co-chair, 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.”
Day of the race
All ducks will be dumped, via a dump truck, into the Nippon Paper Industries USA canal at 1902 Marine Drive in Port Angeles.
The first 45 ducks to cross the finish line will receive prizes, including a new Toyota Tacoma extended cab pickup truck, provided by Wilder Toyota.
In addition to the truck, people will also have a chance to win cash prizes sponsored by 7 Cedars Casino, gift certificates worth up to $500 and other prizes.
The VID business race will precede the main race at 11:30 a.m.
At the Nippon site, the Kids’ Pavilion will be set up and refreshments will be available.
KONP radio will broadcast the live event at 1450 AM, 102.1 FM and online at www.konp.com.
For more information, phone the OMC Foundation, 360-417-7144.
