AUBURN - Hundreds of area residents were met with fair weather and a fowl time Monday afternoon.
The Auburn Kiwanis Club held its 20th annual Duck Derby on the Owasco River as part of the city's Memorial Day festivities. Approximately 5,200 toy ducks floated down the river to the North Street bridge, with the top 10 winning prizes for their owners.
Hundreds of people lined the fence along the river, cheering on the ducks and hoping theirs would finish first.
“This was another successful year of the Duck Derby and we had perfect weather to do it,” said Ken Knight, Kiwanis vice president.
The derby serves as one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for the service organization. People pay $5 for every duck they want in the race. Each duck has a number, and the owner can give it a name.
Volunteers gather the ducks at a chute in front of the bridge. The first 10 ducks are always walked up to the Auburn Police Department, where Knight and other Kiwanis representatives verify the winners.
The winners were announced at Market Street Park, where DJs played music and vendors sold food and beverages.
The first prize, won by Cindy Warner, was a four-night trip to Disney World. Second and third place winners, Matt Hess and Anthony Pecini, won trips Las Vegas and Nashville.
Other prizes included trips to Toronto and Niagara Falls, as well as a YMCA membership, Auburn Players tickets and cash.
Knight said the Disney trip was donated by AmeriCu Credit Union. After paying for the other prizes, the club uses the remaining money for donations to local causes and organizations, Knight said.
“We get to give it away for the rest of the year,” he said. “That's the fun part.”
Owasco resident Candice Smith watched the ducks float by with her three-year-old daughter, Emma. They had a duck in the race that they named Emma Rose.
Smith said she has been coming to the derby the past five years to see all the people and listen to music.
“I can't believe this has been going on for 20 years,” Smith said.
Auburn resident Dave Pilipczak said he has been attending the Duck Derby for years. While he had a duck in the race as well, Pilipczak said the main reason he goes to the derby is to see old friends and acquaintances.
“I like to come down and stay for a couple hours, just to see a lot of friends I haven't seen in a while,” he said. “I just like to see how everybody's doing.”
Pilipczak said he always keeps hope alive that he will have the lucky duck. This year's duck was named Alli, after his daughter, he said.
“One day I've got to win,” Pilipczak said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
Hundreds of people lined the fence along the river, cheering on the ducks and hoping theirs would finish first.
“This was another successful year of the Duck Derby and we had perfect weather to do it,” said Ken Knight, Kiwanis vice president.
The derby serves as one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for the service organization. People pay $5 for every duck they want in the race. Each duck has a number, and the owner can give it a name.
Volunteers gather the ducks at a chute in front of the bridge. The first 10 ducks are always walked up to the Auburn Police Department, where Knight and other Kiwanis representatives verify the winners.
The winners were announced at Market Street Park, where DJs played music and vendors sold food and beverages.
The first prize, won by Cindy Warner, was a four-night trip to Disney World. Second and third place winners, Matt Hess and Anthony Pecini, won trips Las Vegas and Nashville.
Other prizes included trips to Toronto and Niagara Falls, as well as a YMCA membership, Auburn Players tickets and cash.
Knight said the Disney trip was donated by AmeriCu Credit Union. After paying for the other prizes, the club uses the remaining money for donations to local causes and organizations, Knight said.
“We get to give it away for the rest of the year,” he said. “That's the fun part.”
Owasco resident Candice Smith watched the ducks float by with her three-year-old daughter, Emma. They had a duck in the race that they named Emma Rose.
Smith said she has been coming to the derby the past five years to see all the people and listen to music.
“I can't believe this has been going on for 20 years,” Smith said.
Auburn resident Dave Pilipczak said he has been attending the Duck Derby for years. While he had a duck in the race as well, Pilipczak said the main reason he goes to the derby is to see old friends and acquaintances.
“I like to come down and stay for a couple hours, just to see a lot of friends I haven't seen in a while,” he said. “I just like to see how everybody's doing.”
Pilipczak said he always keeps hope alive that he will have the lucky duck. This year's duck was named Alli, after his daughter, he said.
“One day I've got to win,” Pilipczak said.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
