(Nadia
Peters and Zahra Suleman get their ducks in a row, ready for the event!)
A ‘quacker’ of a day, the first ever Durban
Duck Day takes place at Durban’s Yacht Mole (off Victoria Embankment/Margaret
Mncadi Avenue) on October 6 where a “flock” of ducks will be released
simultaneously to race, with the victorious duck winning the grand cash prize
pool.
This event was originally scheduled for
July, but gale-force wind conditions forced a postponement.
The day features non-stop entertainment
with an obvious duck theme, be it duck dances for the younger participants,
communal singing of specially adapted ‘ducky’ songs, or the quackier Best Duck Hat or the Best Duck Costume competitions. The
colourful Duck Day ‘Duckettes’ will mingle in amongst the crowd to hand out spot
prizes and giveaways.
Durban Duck Day is a simple concept; a
maximum of 10,000 numbered rubber bath ducks will be released at the same time
to float on the tide, with wind and current assistance, towards a demarcated
finish post. R10 from the sale of every duck goes into the prize pool, with the
first duck to cross the finishing line winning the prize “pool” for the person
that has ‘bought’ that duck.
The race venue will be carefully demarcated
according to the tides and wind on the day, and will have pool-cleaning hoses
keeping the ducks neatly in their corral. As the race progresses, the corral
will be drawn towards the shore, containing the ducks for ease of removal once
the race is over. Duck ‘Wranglers’ will be present at all times ensuring no
ducks end up ‘in the wild’.
Ducks are sold prior to the event and cost
R40 each. Non-profit organisations such as Highway Hospice are using this fun
event as a fund raiser, with a percentage of each duck sale going towards
much-needed funds. Individual purchases of a single duck or a small flock can
be made via the website below, with the NSRI as the beneficiary.
Durban Duck Day takes place on October 6 from
11h00 until 15h00. For more information or to buy ducks go to www.durbanduckday.co.za or contact
Creative Events on 031 266 9828.
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