The Great Rubber Duck Derby
Sponsored by the PLAY Boulder Foundation and raising funds for the EXPAND Program of the Boulder Parks and Recreation Department. EXPAND offers year-round recreation opportunities for people with disabilities.
Duck Derby and the Duck Race
Every Memorial Weekend, two important events happen as part of the Boulder Creek Festival: The Duck Derby for companies and the Duck Race for individuals.
Duck Derby: These large “bodyguard” ducks herald the beginning of the duck race. These large ducks are decorated with logos from corporate sponsors and make an exciting procession down the creek. The Duck Derby is the primary fundraiser for PLAY Boulder and allows us to support amazing programs like EXPAND, the Youth Services Initiative, and sports scholarships for children in need. For more information on how your business can take part in this fabulous event, please contact us.
Duck Race: The Duck Race is put on by the City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department. These little ducks are available before the race at community centers and Creek Fest booths. Each little duck is assigned a sponsor number for thank you gifts. A team of volunteers rescues these little ducks and determines the top finish times. This event serves as a primary fundraiser for EXPAND.
Learn more about EXPAND.
The Duck Derby and Duck Race are two wonderful ways to help our community. Thank you for your support.
About The Duck Derby
The Duck Derby is a float parade down the Boulder Creek for sponsors and supporters of EXPAND and the PLAY Boulder Foundation. All the floats will race down the river and the first float through will win bragging rights. Immediately following the Duck Derby the Great Rubber Duck race will begin. Thousands of ducks will be dumped from the 9th street bridge by a front loader and will finish near the Boulder Creek Library lawn also known as the Peace Garden.
How does the Race work?
Each duck in the Great Rubber Duck Race is marked with a number, and each duck has a ticket to correspond with this number. When you sponsor a duck (for a $5 suggested donation), you will actually be receiving a ticket with your duck’s number written on it.
As the ducks are sponsored, staff and volunteers painstakingly register each duck and ticket. On Monday of the Boulder Creek Festival (Memorial Day), the ducks are dropped into the Boulder Creek at 4:00 pm. They float down the Creek to the finish line, and at the finish line there is a chute so that only one duck can pass through at a time. As they cross the finish line, we record the ducks’ numbers and determine the winner!
How do I sponsor a duck?
Online Duck Registration is available! Click here to sponsor your duck today! Tickets are also available at the City of Boulder Recreation Centers and throughout Boulder several weeks prior to the Duck Race, as well as at the Boulder Creek Festival on Memorial Day Weekend.
Where do you get the prizes?
The 2010 Great Rubber Duck Race prizes include a grand prize of $1500 cash, a 2nd place prize of $1000 cash, a 3rd place prize of an overnight stay at the Hotel Boulderado, plus 94 other great prizes for slower ducks. Prizes are generously donated from local and national agencies.
Winners of the Duck Race
You do not have to be present to win. The Winners of the 2010 Duck Race will be posted at www.EXPANDduckrace.org after the event. All winners will be notified within 14 working days after the event.
How can I become involved?
We have lots of great opportunities to volunteer! From helping with the Great Rubber Duck Race to volunteering in EXPAND recreation programs. If you are interested, email Colleen Fitzgerald.
