Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Estes Park as a benefit for more 67 nonprofit community organizations, the Duck Race traditionally kicks off a host of summer activities in this mountain community. Ducks can be "adopted" until noon on Saturday either downtown at the Wheel Bar on Riverside Plaza or at Nicky's Restaurant on Fall River Road.
Fun on Saturday starts with 11 a.m. entertainment from the Riverside Ramblers jazz band at Nicky's Restaurant and ends with more than 4,000 rubber ducks floating from that point to Riverside Plaza in the heart of downtown Estes Park.
After the ducks are dropped in Fall River at 1 p.m. all activity transfers to Riverside Plaza for more entertainment, including a 12:30 p.m. concert by the Estes Park Jazz Band. Bruiser, the larger-than-life-sized dog puppet, will perform beginning at 1 p.m. while balloon artists are on hand to create animals and other figures and caricatures are penned by "Local Herd" artist Tim Buck. Afternoon entertainment rounds out with a 2-hour gig by folk performer Dick Orleans beginning at 2 p.m.
Set to coincide with the end of the Winter season and the Estes Park Duck Race, the 2nd Annual Spring Sidewalk sale entices shoppers as merchants put tables and racks out on the sidewalk for the weekend. You'll also find special pricing on many items indoors as well.