It was a ‘quack’ of a time Saturday at the annual Coldwater Duck Race.
“It’s a great day for a duck race,” said Ken Cadeau, a longtime member of the Coldwater Lions Club, which organizes the event.
The festivities got underway at about 11 a.m. A parade took place at 12:30 p.m. Then, at 2 p.m., the rubber ducks were loaded into the Coldwater River.
Spectators found their favourite spots along the river’s edge to watch the ducks pass by and hope theirs was leading.
As the ducks floated down the river, people made their way to the finish line to watch the finale and hear the numbers of the winning ducks announced.
There were 46 winning ducks this year, with prizes totalling $19,000. From gift cards to golf packages, there were many prizes for the winners.
In addition to the race, the event included live music, a kids’ area with games, fire truck tours provided by Severn Fire and Emergency Services, vendors, and a barbecue.
Events like this in small towns and villages are mainly run by volunteers, Cadeau noted.
“Volunteers are our gold … Without the help of the volunteers and the community, we couldn’t have done a stellar job like we have done today,” he said.
“From the people who write the numbers on the ducks to the people in the river who help maintain the flow of the ducks, and to every volunteer in between, we thank you for your dedicated and continued support.”
Organizers are already planning for next year’s event.
A full list of the winners from Saturday’s race will be posted here soon.
