ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
September is just around the bend, which means it is almost time for people in the community to get their ducks in a row.
This year's Duck Race Festival will be Saturday, Sept. 14 at Light Park, with everything beginning at 10 a.m. and the duck race itself starting at 2 p.m., with the day ending at around 2:30 p.m. Ducks are available for adoption at the Chamber of Commerce office and any business with a 'Ducks Sold Here' sign, and like every year, people can adopt individual ducks for $10 each, or they can adopt a 6-Quack for $50 or a Lucky Pack of 13 ducks for $100. The total prize money will be $10,000 (1st place = $5,000; 2nd place = $2,000; 3rd place = $1,000; 4th place = $500; 5th place = $400; 6th place = $300; 7th place = $200; 8th place = $100; and Lucky Duck = $500).
“Like every year, our Chamber of Commerce ambassadors and board members will all have ducks for adoption, so people can get in touch with them if they're interested in having ducks in the race, and ducks will also be available for adoption the day of the event until about 1 p.m.,” Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rozelle Webb said. “We'll also have our big duck out across the street from Adventure Bay Water Park, and people will be able to adopt ducks there too. We'll also have the kiddie train out there again this year to take children throughout the park, which children really seem to like every year. The Corporate Trike Races will also be happening this year, and anyone who wants to put together a team of four can sign up, and teams can sign up the day of the festival. There will also be the bounce houses courtesy of Crosspoint Liberal Church, and there will also be many business booths featuring lots of duck-themed games and other activities. There will also be a cornhole tournament, and we invite anyone and everyone who wants to, to enter that tournament, and anyone interested can contact the Liberal Chamber of Commerce office at (620) 624-3855 and let us know. Another big attraction is the United Way Chili Cookoff, and we thank the Seward County United Way for sponsoring that for us, I know they're putting in a lot of work for that already, and anyone interested in participating in that would need to call that office at (620) 624-5400, and they'll guide you in signing up for that. There will also be pulled pork sandwiches available courtesy of Seaboard Foods, so no one should go away that day hungry.”
Webb said there is a lot to be excited about with this year’s festivities.
“The Duck Race Festival is always a fun time, and it's great seeing families come out and enjoy the day,” Webb said. “It's great seeing everyone lined up by Ducky Downs watching the race and cheering on their duck(s), especially the children. We're looking forward to seeing another great crowd and providing some fun for everyone in the community that day, and I think we'll have a bunch of great business booths out in the park sharing their respective wares.”
Webb also offered encouragement for businesses to put together a booth for that day.
“If you want people to know about your business, the Duck Race Festival is a great way to let hundreds of people know about what you do, and it's a great way to get all of those people 'through the doors,' so to speak, at the same time,” Webb said. “Or, if you're updating something with your business and would like people to know about that, or if you've got upcoming specials/sales, or if you're looking for employees, having a business booth at the Duck Race Festival is a great way to advertise yourself. The main focus is, of course, the race, but we do want to use this as a way to help area businesses get a bit of a boost and maybe get some new customers/clients. Any business wanting to set up a booth for that day just needs to get in touch with the Chamber of Commerce office at (620) 624-3855 and let us know your plan.”
Webb added she hopes to see a big crowd again this year and said she is proud of the event for reaching its 23rd year.
“Like I say every year, the Duck Race Festival is just a really fun day for everyone. There'll be food and games/activities throughout the day, so it's just great family bonding time, and like I said earlier, the race itself is always really exciting,” Webb said. “The cookoff also always has some great food for people, and I can't give enough thanks and praise to the Seward County United Way for coordinating all of that. The prize money is also pretty substantial, and the winners always go home happy. The Duck Race Festival has made it this long because it is so popular, and so many people love it. Each year, we see hundreds of duck adoptions, which tells us people are still invested in this event, and we also try to make each year a little different and have something new for everyone. Plus, again, you can win some money, which is always really neat. We also would like to thank all of our sponsors for this year, which include Advance America, Ashley Homestore, Bank of the Plains, Black Hills Energy, Brown's Shoe Fit, Chrysler Corner, Community Bank, CrossPoint Liberal Church, Dreamz Childcare Center, Electric Motor Service, EPICTouch, Equity Bank, Farmers Insurance Group – Candi Prater, Golden Plains Credit Union, Heifer Source, Horizon Stone & Cabinets, IdeaTek, KSCB/The Legend, La Mexicana Radio, the Leader & Times, Lewis Chevrolet of Liberal, National Beef, New Beginnings Church, Scantlin's Furniture, Seaboard Foods, Southern Office Supply, Southern Pioneer Electric Company, Southwest Medical Center, State Farm Insurance – Crystal Kinsinger, Sunflower Bank, Truck Center Companies, United Wireless, and Versus Signs.”
Many ducks will be up for adoption in the coming weeks, and Webb said she hopes to see a lot of feathered race participants.
“As I say with every Duck Race, if you DON'T adopt a duck, you have NO chance of any of the prize money. It's just a fun event to participate in, and I know a bunch of people who are excited every year to see if their duck ultimately swims the fastest toward the finish line,” Webb said. “We'll also have a little contest this year where we'll distribute some little ducks throughout local businesses, and if you find one and bring it to the Chamber of Commerce office by Sept. 6, you'll be entered to win a 6-Quack. That contest will start Aug. 29, and I'm really excited to see how that ends up since it's something new for this year. The main inspiration for that contest was we just wanted to do a little something new, and the idea of a little hunt seemed fun. We'll also be at the Farmer's Market Sept. 7 and host a scavenger hunt, which should also be fun.”
Overall, Webb said, she is looking forward to another great Duck Race Festival.
“It's always a lot of work, but the reward is great because everyone ends up having a lot of fun that day. We always enjoy giving local businesses the chance to participate in the Duck Race Festival and get a boost to their business,” Webb said. “Last year's Duck Race Festival was great, the weather ended up being perfect, and we had great turnout and a lot of businesses put booths together, so we were really happy with all of that. If you want any chance at all of being one of the winners, get yourself out and adopt a duck, because again, if you don't do that, you can't win.”
