Next weekend, Noblesville Main Street will bring back a tradition of dumping thousands of small rubber ducks into the White River for its annual Duck Race.
The nonprofit is partnering with the City of Noblesville, Noblesville Fire Dept. and Nickel Plate Express, who will use its trains to hold the ducks, which will be dropped from the rail bridge, north of the Logan Street bridge.
The event will kick off at 3 p.m. featuring a DJ, food trucks, beer garden, interactive booths for kids, Donald and Daisy Duck, and the chance to purchase a Duck Race ticket until 4:45 p.m.
At 4 p.m., a kayak race in the river will take place. The winner will be awarded a new kayak, life jacket and paddle from Gander Outdoors. Those who are interested must register online by Sept. 7 at www.noblesvillemainstreet.org.
Ducks will be dropped into the river at 5 p.m. and will travel south, with the finish line just below the Logan Street bridge. Spectators by the hundreds typically line the bridge’s north sidewalk and the Riverwalk.
The first duck to cross the finish line will win $1,000. Second- and third-place ducks will each win $500, and 20 other ducks will win various prizes donated by downtown merchants. Duck Race tickets are available for purchase at the Noblesville Farmers Market (8 a.m. to noon Sept. 1 and Sept. 8 at Federal Hill Commons), Linden Tree (856 Logan St.) and A Corner Cottage (895 Conner St.). Tickets also will be on sale at the Noblesville Main Street tents during the event.
