Norwich Sunrise Rotary 6th annual duck race to be held Saturday
Norwich – With frequent rain showers predicted for this week, conditions should be good for a lively duck race Saturday in the Yantic River at Firemen's Field.
The sixth annual Norwich Sunrise Rotary Great Duck Race and festival will be held Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Firemen's Field, 151 Yantic Road, behind the Yantic Fire Company No. 1 station. Sunrise Rotary is partnering with the Rotary Community Corps of Norwich for this year's event, which features hundreds of numbered yellow rubber ducks floating in the rushing water from a bridge upstream to a funneled booms set up in the water to catch the winners.
Contestants may purchase ducks either in advance from Sunrise Rotary members or during the festival up to a few minutes before the 3 p.m. race time. Ducks are $5 each. Winners will receive cash prizes: first place, $2,000; second place, $1,000, and seven $500 prizes.
Prior to the general race, at about 2:30 p.m., nearly two dozen larger, costumed corporate sponsor ducks will race in the Yantic. Visitors can view the dressed ducks – including one dressed as The Donald duck, complete with a “Make America Great Again” baseball hat – and vote for the best decorated duck.
The festival will feature craft vendors, a Rotary Community Corps plant sale, information tables by local civic organizations and children's activities. Admission is free.
At the close of the Great Duck Race festival, the Yantic fire department will hold its annual chicken barbecue at the Firemen's Field pavilion. Barbecue tickets are $10.
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