The city of Auburn and a local service organization have all their ducks in a row for Memorial Day - literally and figuratively.
Sam Tenney / The Citizen
Auburn's annual Duck Derby sends more than 6,000 rubber ducks down the Owasco River every Memorial Day.
Auburn's annual Duck Derby sends more than 6,000 rubber ducks down the Owasco River every Memorial Day.
On Monday, the Auburn Kiwanis Club will hold its 20th annual Duck Derby downtown. The event will follow the city's Memorial Day Parade, which starts at 11 a.m.
During the derby, which is co-sponsored by AmeriCu Credit Union, Kiwanis members will send 6,000 toy ducks racing down the Owasco River. Each duck will correspond with a raffle ticket purchased by an individual, and those with the first 10 ducks across the finish line will win a number of prizes.
Duck tickets cost $5 each, and they can be purchased at businesses around town, according to Kiwanis Vice President Ken Knight. Each owner can name the duck, and individuals can buy as many ducks as they want, he said.
The money goes right back into the community, Knight said.
“We donate it to agencies that need help in various projects,” Knight said. “People know their money is going to a good cause, and there is a good possibility of winning a contest.”
The first prize is going to be a package for a four-night trip to Disney World, with the second and third ducks winning trips to Las Vegas and Nashville, respectively, for their owners.
Other derby prizes include trips to Toronto and Niagara Falls, as well as a YMCA membership, Auburn Players tickets and cash.
There were only a “couple hundred” ducks when the Kiwanis Club held the first derby, Knight said. Today, participants crowd the fence along the river to cheer their ducks.
“We have a festive audience,” Knight said. “Looking at 6,000 ducks coming down the Owasco River is always a thrill.”
While it is nice to win a prize, Knight said the derby has become more than just a fun race. After 20 years in downtown Auburn, the event has grown to be a way for the city to spend the day after watching the parade, he said.
This year, the city's Memorial Day parade will feature four bands and almost 40 floats and attractions marching along East Genesee Street. City, county and state officials will also be part of the festivities, as will be more than a dozen local veterans and military organizations.
“Since (the derby) is right after the Memorial Day parade and ceremony, it has become a continuation of the celebration of Memorial Day in Auburn.” Knight said.
Along with the parade and derby, local vendors will sell food and refreshments. Knight also said the Kiwanis club is putting a concerted effort into making the event as family-friendly as possible.
This year, local DJs will provide music instead of rock bands, he said. And families can expect new entertainment like clowns and face painters in coming years, Knight added.
“We're trying to bring out the kids to watch the races, and we want to have other things going on out there for them,” Knight said.
For more information about the derby or to view the list of vendors selling tickets, visit www.kiwanisclubofauburnny.org/duckderby/index.html.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
If you go
What: Memorial Day Parade and Kiwanis Duck Derby
When: 11 a.m. Monday, May 26
Where: Genesee Street, Auburn
Other Memorial Day events
What: Memorial Day service
When: 8 a.m. Monday
Where: Ira Hill Cemetery, Ira
What: Memorial Day service
When: 8:15 a.m. Monday
Where: Ira Union Cemetery, White Road, Ira
What: Memorial Day service
When: 8:45 a.m. Monday
Where: Cato Legion Monument, Legion Street, Cato
What: Weedsport Memorial Day Parade
When: 9 a.m. Monday for parade, 8 p.m. for watchfire ceremony
Where: From Weedsport Elementary School through South Seneca Street; watchfire ceremony at high school parking lot on East Brutus Street Road
What: Memorial Day service
When: 9:20 a.m. Monday
Where: Victory Union Cemetery, Old State Road, Victory
What: Savannah Memorial Day parade and service
When: 9:30 a.m. Monday
Where: Main Street, service in Veteran's Memorial Park, Savannah
What: Memorial Day service
When: 10:15 a.m. Monday
Where: Conquest Town Hall, Conquest
What: Memorial Day service and parade
When: 11 a.m. Monday
Where: Cato
What: Memorial Day observance and parade
When: 11 a.m. Monday
Where: Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Union Springs
What: Jordan Memorial Day Parade of Bands
When: 3 p.m.
Where: Hamilton, North Main, Mechanic and Chappell streets; Jordan
During the derby, which is co-sponsored by AmeriCu Credit Union, Kiwanis members will send 6,000 toy ducks racing down the Owasco River. Each duck will correspond with a raffle ticket purchased by an individual, and those with the first 10 ducks across the finish line will win a number of prizes.
Duck tickets cost $5 each, and they can be purchased at businesses around town, according to Kiwanis Vice President Ken Knight. Each owner can name the duck, and individuals can buy as many ducks as they want, he said.
The money goes right back into the community, Knight said.
“We donate it to agencies that need help in various projects,” Knight said. “People know their money is going to a good cause, and there is a good possibility of winning a contest.”
The first prize is going to be a package for a four-night trip to Disney World, with the second and third ducks winning trips to Las Vegas and Nashville, respectively, for their owners.
Other derby prizes include trips to Toronto and Niagara Falls, as well as a YMCA membership, Auburn Players tickets and cash.
There were only a “couple hundred” ducks when the Kiwanis Club held the first derby, Knight said. Today, participants crowd the fence along the river to cheer their ducks.
“We have a festive audience,” Knight said. “Looking at 6,000 ducks coming down the Owasco River is always a thrill.”
While it is nice to win a prize, Knight said the derby has become more than just a fun race. After 20 years in downtown Auburn, the event has grown to be a way for the city to spend the day after watching the parade, he said.
This year, the city's Memorial Day parade will feature four bands and almost 40 floats and attractions marching along East Genesee Street. City, county and state officials will also be part of the festivities, as will be more than a dozen local veterans and military organizations.
“Since (the derby) is right after the Memorial Day parade and ceremony, it has become a continuation of the celebration of Memorial Day in Auburn.” Knight said.
Along with the parade and derby, local vendors will sell food and refreshments. Knight also said the Kiwanis club is putting a concerted effort into making the event as family-friendly as possible.
This year, local DJs will provide music instead of rock bands, he said. And families can expect new entertainment like clowns and face painters in coming years, Knight added.
“We're trying to bring out the kids to watch the races, and we want to have other things going on out there for them,” Knight said.
For more information about the derby or to view the list of vendors selling tickets, visit www.kiwanisclubofauburnny.org/duckderby/index.html.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
If you go
What: Memorial Day Parade and Kiwanis Duck Derby
When: 11 a.m. Monday, May 26
Where: Genesee Street, Auburn
Other Memorial Day events
What: Memorial Day service
When: 8 a.m. Monday
Where: Ira Hill Cemetery, Ira
What: Memorial Day service
When: 8:15 a.m. Monday
Where: Ira Union Cemetery, White Road, Ira
What: Memorial Day service
When: 8:45 a.m. Monday
Where: Cato Legion Monument, Legion Street, Cato
What: Weedsport Memorial Day Parade
When: 9 a.m. Monday for parade, 8 p.m. for watchfire ceremony
Where: From Weedsport Elementary School through South Seneca Street; watchfire ceremony at high school parking lot on East Brutus Street Road
What: Memorial Day service
When: 9:20 a.m. Monday
Where: Victory Union Cemetery, Old State Road, Victory
What: Savannah Memorial Day parade and service
When: 9:30 a.m. Monday
Where: Main Street, service in Veteran's Memorial Park, Savannah
What: Memorial Day service
When: 10:15 a.m. Monday
Where: Conquest Town Hall, Conquest
What: Memorial Day service and parade
When: 11 a.m. Monday
Where: Cato
What: Memorial Day observance and parade
When: 11 a.m. Monday
Where: Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Union Springs
What: Jordan Memorial Day Parade of Bands
When: 3 p.m.
Where: Hamilton, North Main, Mechanic and Chappell streets; Jordan
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