The Incredible Rubber Duck Race 2023 will return to Derby Pond in Waterworks Park as part of Port Clinton’s Fourth of July festivities. United Way officials April Fenton, left, and Jessica Singerling have been busy preparing for their fundraising kickoff of the year. Singerling’s dog, Penny, might swim with the ducks on race day. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

Life will be just ducky at Derby Pond on July 4th as hundreds of rubber ducks race across the water during The Incredible Rubber Duck Race 2023 hosted by United Way in Ottawa County. The fundraiser will be part of the city’s Independence Day festivities at Waterworks Park.

“They’ll have music and a dance party. The race happens before the fireworks,” said Jessica Singerling, Development Officer for United Way in Ottawa and Lucas counties.

The Family Dance Party hosted by Port Clinton Radio and featuring DJ Von and the Port Clinton Lions Club Food Wagon will run from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Waterworks Park. The Incredible Rubber Duck Race begins at 8:30 p.m., and fireworks will begin at 10 p.m.

The Incredible Rubber Duck Race features a 1st prize of $1,000 and a 2nd prize of $500. Tickets are $10 for one ticket, $25 for a Mighty Ducks pack of 3 tickets, and $100 for a Quack Pack of 15 tickets. Quack Pack purchases are also entered into a gift basket drawing. Ticketholders do not need to be present to win.

Tickets can be purchased at the United Way in Ottawa County office at 1854 E. Perry St., Suite 300, in Port Clinton or online at https://ocrdr2023.eventbrite.com/. For more information, call 419-734-6645.

All of the proceeds from the duck race stay in Ottawa County. Overhead costs for the Ottawa County office are funded by United Way of Greater Toledo, so all donations made in Ottawa County stay in the county.

“Our goal for the duck race this year is $20,000. The beautiful thing about United Way in Ottawa County is that every single dollar we raise goes back into the community,” Singerling said.

United Way of Ottawa County provides financial support to numerous social service organizations and initiatives in the county, as well funding “211,” a free, confidential health and human services hotline. The hotline provides resource information for many needs, including food, housing, healthcare and veteran services.

Sponsors for The Incredible Rubber Duck Race are U.S. Gypsum, Great Lakes Community Action Partnership, Catawba Island Club, Carbo Forge, Commodore Perry Federal Credit Union, and Gerner-Wolf-Walker Funeral Home.

“This is a great collaboration with the fire department and the city. Mayor Mike Snider has done an amazing job letting us use the pond,” Singerling said.