PENDLETON — Friends of the Pendleton Community Library’s Eighth Annual Lucky Duck Race took place Saturday in Falls Park, with 762 rubber ducks riding the stream down a stretch of Fall Creek in a fundraiser for the local library.
The Friends group “adopted” out 700 yellow rubber ducks for $5 each and 62 orange sponsor ducks for $100 each, awarding prizes to several winners with proceeds helping to fund programs at Pendleton Community Public Library.
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“We only have 700 yellow ducks,” event organizer Coco Bill said. The group didn’t sell its last duck until race day.
Before expenses, the event raised $9,700.
To start the race, the individually numbered rubber ducks are ceremoniously dumped into the creek off a bridge west of Falls Bark Dog Park, then ride the current to Pendleton Historical Museum.
Sally Childress’ yellow duck won the race, earning her a golden egg containing $150 in cash and local gift cards.
Beau Tetrault’s was the second-place winner. He received a silver egg containing $100 in cash and gift cards.
Addie Bastin won the third-place prize of a bronze egg containing $75 in cash and gift cards.
A Last Duck In prize goes to the person whose duck finishes last. Rigley Zilafro received $50 for the honor.
Bill said the event went well, with music, games, sidewalk chalk and more for people to enjoy before and after the race.
The group has talked about buying T-shirts for the volunteers, dubbed the Quack Pack, Bill said, with special ones for the “Duck Wranglers,” those who work in the water making sure the ducks keep moving and don’t get stuck along the banks.
“We’re always looking for ways to improve,” Bill said.
