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Estes Park Duck Race Festival

May 4, 2024

Celebrate spring in the mountains and support the local community at the 36th annual Duck Race Festival! Enjoy live music and a family fun run, adopt a duck and cheer the rubber ducks along Fall River!
 

Adopt a duck for a chance to win

This year’s major prize will be $10,000 in cash, with second and third cash prizes of $6,000 and $4,000 respectively. In addition, major sponsor Delaware North Parks & Resorts will provide two vacation packages that include stays and activities at their properties, one at Yosemite National Park and one at Yellowstone National Park. Delaware North is the parent company of Estes Park’s Ridgeline Hotel.
 

Duck adoptions support local Estes Park charitable organizations. For every duck adopted ($25), the charity indicated on the adoption form will receive $22. The 2022 race returned $161,709 to 64 organizations providing non-profit or charitable services in the Estes Valley, and brought the total funds raised in the 34-year history of the event to over $3 million.
 

Visit EPduckrace.org for more information.
 

2023 Duck Race Festival Schedule

Stay tuned for a 2024 schedule!

9 a.m. – Duck Waddle 5K begins

10 a.m. – Festival begins at George Hix Riverside Plaza (111 E. Riverside Dr.)

11 a.m. - 4 p.m. – Face painting and ceramic painting at Riverside Plaza

11 a.m. - 12 p.m. – Highland Brass Quintet at Riverside Plaza

12 - 1 p.m. – Sunny Boy Jim Jack Jones - Childrens Musical Entertainer at Performance Park (435 W. Elkhorn Ave.)

12:30 - 1 p.m. – Opening Ceremonies at the Starting Line

1 p.m. - DUCKS DROP!

1:30 - 3 p.m. – $5 Duck Squat Game at Riverside Plaza

1:30 - 2:30 p.m. – Ballet Renaissance Dancers at Performance Park

2 - 3 p.m. – Skip Neilson & Karen Nicholson at Riverside Plaza

3 - 4 p.m. – Djembe Jive African Drum Group at Performance Park

4 p.m. – Festival concludes at Riverside Plaza

 

Duck Waddle 5K

Saturday, May 4, 2024

The Duck Waddle 5K race begins at the east side of the Estes Park Parking Structure. Runners and walkers of all abilities are welcome! Strollers and friendly pets are welcome too! Participants will follow the scenic Lake Estes Trail. Registration includes an adopted rubber duck to float down the beautiful Fall River. Sign up here.

 

duck race rubber duck drop