NOTE: “Today” and “tonight” refer to Friday, May 29.
PORT ANGELES — A raft of 26,000 rubber ducks, big and small, will race across the Lincoln Park pond Sunday in the 26th annual Great Olympic Peninsula Duck Derby.
Oversized yellow racing ducks will float through the Bub and Alice Olsen Very Important Duck Race at 2 p.m., followed by about 26,000 of their smaller cousins for the main Duck Derby at 2:30 p.m.
The Grand Prize Duck — the one that reaches the end of a chute first at race’s end — will win the duck’s sponsor the choice of a 2015 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck or a Toyota Corolla sedan, donated by Wilder Toyota.
The next 43 ducks at chute’s end will earn prizes worth more than $25,000 in total.
Prizes include cash, gift certificates to local businesses and donated materials or services.
Hospital, Rotary
Proceeds benefit the Olympic Medical Center Foundation and the Sequim Rotary Club’s charitable projects.
Last year, the Olympic Medical Center Foundation donated $400,000 to Olympic Medical Center — $26,000 from the derby — to help fund hospital needs in the cardiac unit, the cancer center, the obstetrics unit and the physical therapy center, said Bruce Skinner, foundation executive director.
This year, the foundation expects to contribute to the cardiac unit, the cancer center and likely the expanded emergency room project, Skinner said.
“It changes from year to year,” he said.
Still available
Ducks are still available for “adoption” in Sunday’s Duck Derby.
About 20,000 had been sold as of Wednesday, and sales will continue right up to the race itself, said George Hill, director of events for the foundation.
Ducks cost $5 each, or $25 for six.
Last-minute duck adoptions will be available today at the Peninsula Daily News main office at 305 W. First St., Port Angeles.
They can be purchased today and Saturday at both Port Angeles Safeway stores; Haggen Food and Pharmacy at 114 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles; at Swain’s General Store at 602 E. First St., Port Angeles; and at Thomas Building Center, 301 W. Washington St., Sequim.
On Sunday, contestant ducks will be available only at Lincoln Park, and sales will end at 2 p.m., Hill said.
Spectator show
Winners do not need to be present, though hundreds of spectators watch each year from the banks of the pond.
Once verified, a list of winners and their prizes will be posted Sunday afternoon at www.peninsuladailynews.com.
The Kids Pavilion will be open before the races for children’s activities and entertainment.
Ducks are dumped into the water, then sent racing across the pond by firehoses — using water from the pond itself — staffed by members of the Port Angeles Fire Department and Clallam County Fire District No. 2.
The Duck Derby is operated under the rules of the Washington State Gambling Commission, according to the Olympic Medical Center Foundation website.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
