It’s time to get your ducks in a row.
Duck Day at the Flats returns to Sooke on Saturday, May 6.
The 11th annual free family event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and features the always popular rubber duck race along the Sooke River.
Raffle tickets are sold for each duck in the race. Ducks are “adopted” out for $5 per duck. A five-pack “Quack Pack” sells for $20. All the ducks are numbered and the first six ducks across the finish line win cash prizes for their adopted parents. Prizes, from first to sixth, are for $1,000, $400, $300, $200 and $100.
Gates open at 11 a.m., and duck tickets will be sold until noon. The ducks are dropped in the river at 1 p.m., crossing the line between 1:30 and 2pm, depending on wind, currents and tides.
The duck race started 11 years ago as a fun way to raise money for juvenile diabetes research and Easter Seals Camp Shawnigan. It’s turned into a fun family day, that includes a bouncy castle, arcade-type games, a balloon-making clown, face-painting, cupcake decorating, and old-fashioned races.
Tickets for the duck race are available at Pemberton Holmes, the Sooke River Campground office or any Sooke Harbourside Lions member.