Norwich ― The ducks will be back in the Yantic River on Saturday.

The Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its second annual duck race event from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Fireman’s Field adjacent to the Yantic Fire Engine Co. on Yantic Road. The event is free and will feature vendor booths, games, face painting, children’s activities and food trucks. Busy Bees Play Hive will bring a climbable play hive, and there will be a bounce house for children.

At 1 p.m., about 3,000 numbered yellow rubber ducks will tumble, splash, bob and slosh down the Yantic River to the finish line, where ticketholders for the first 10 ducks to cross the finish line will receive cash prizes and other awards.

Proceeds from the event will support the Rosalyn Allen Food Pantry a United Community and Family Services and the Greater Norwich Area Chamber of Commerce.

Duck tickets are $5 each and are available online at www.NorwichChamber.com or at the following Norwich businesses: CorePlus Credit Union, Busy Bees, Eastern Savings Bank, Scranton Chevrolet of Norwich, and Centreville Bank.

“This event is a great way to engage the community while giving back to support one of our local pantries,” said Angela Adams, GNACC executive director.

The Rosalyn Allen Food Pantry at UCFS Healthcare opened in 2017 and has provided more than 38,000 individuals with food given to those in need.

"We are humbled by the stories we hear from participants who wait in line for assistance with food and are honored to be able to assist those who are experiencing food insecurity in our community," said Pamela Allen Kinder, vice president for business development at UCFS Healthcare in the news release.

CorePlus Credit Union is the title sponsor of the event.