Volunteers for Literacy of Habersham County is getting ready for its 10th Annual Rubber Duck Race fundraiser. The event will be held on Saturday, May 15, at 3:45 p.m. at Pitts Park in Clarkesville.
The race returns this year to the Mountain Laurel Festival. The race and festival were both canceled last year due to COVID.
As in past years, the ducks will race a quarter-mile stretch of the Soque River starting at Sutton Bridge on GA Highway 197. The first duck to cross the finish line wins $1,000. The second-place finisher gets $500, and third prize is $250.
VFL is also hosting its 4th Annual DecADuck contest. Sponsors are invited to compete by decorating a large rubber duck provided by VFL.
“We have seen ducks turned into chickens, trout, fishermen, fairy tale and book characters, and even Scrooge McDuck,” says Phylecia Wilson, VFL Executive Director. “It’s amazing what our creative sponsors come up with.”
Prizes will be awarded for Most Creative, Best All-Around, and Best Children’s Book/Fairy Tale Themed Duck. There will also be a People’s Choice winner.
DecADucks will be on display for the public to view and vote on them from May 1-14 at the Clarkesville and Cornelia Libraries. You may also vote for your favorite on the VFL Facebook page and at the VFL Duck Race booth in downtown Clarkesville during the Mountain Laurel Festival.
Trophies will be awarded to the top three displays, and ribbons will be awarded for Honorable Mention in each category.
It’s not too late to enter. VFL Rubber Duck Race sponsorships begin at $100. Contact [email protected] for more information.
Annual traditions
“We are excited to be able to hold the rubber duck race and DecADuck contest during the Mountain Laurel Festival after many events being sidelined a year,” says 2021 Duck Race Chair Johnny Bailey. “Our volunteers are happy to be able to work together safely during this annual community event. The rubber ducks are ready for the race, and we know they will perform swimmingly.”
“The VFL Rubber Duck Race and now the DecADuck contest have become a tradition at the Mountain Laurel Festival,” says Wilson. “We love being part of this community celebration after so many months of dealing with COVID-19.”
Wilson invites festival-goers to visit the VFL booth next to the Clarkesville gazebo on May 15 to purchase race tickets and vote in the DecADuck contest. “Then come down to Pitts Park at 3:45 to see which three ducks swim fastest and win the big bucks!”
Tickets now on sale
Duck Race tickets are now on sale. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20.You may purchase them at the Clarkesville and Cornelia Libraries and in Clarkesville at Elizabeth & Company Resale Treasures, A to Zinc Health Store and Smoothie Bar, and the Soque River Watershed Association office. Tickets are also available online at www.vflhabersham.com or through the VFL Facebook page.
VFL board members and volunteers will be selling tickets at the VFL booth on race day until 3:15 P.M. They also will be selling tickets at Ace Hardware in Cornelia today, Saturday, April 24, from 9 am until 2 pm.
All proceeds benefit programs that promote and foster literacy in Habersham County.
VFL also will be handing out children’s books during the Mt. Laurel Festival Parade, which will begin at 10 a.m. on festival day in downtown Clarkesville.
