Ducking and diving

help the straggler ducks down the creek.

People bought ducks before the drop, each with a number. Prizes of $1,500, $1,000 and $500 were awarded to the ducks who crossed the nish line in rst, second and third places.

Proceeds from duck sales are used to fund other downtown Evergreen events such as the Holiday Walk plus a portion of the proceeds will go toward a new mural in downtown Evergreen organized by Leadership Evergreen.

In addition to the duck drop, children blew bubbles, had their faces painted, played games and painted ceramic ducks. e ceramic ducks were at a tent hosted by the Evergreen Art School and Go Paint! e two businesses have been teaming up for children’s summer art camps, so they decided to coordinate a duck-painting e ort at the duck derby to showcase art opportunities o ered for kids in Evergreen.

Before the duck drop, children already had painted 73 ducks, according to Jules Elders, owner of the Evergreen Art School.

e Dam Ducky Derby is an event attended by veteran duckdrop watchers and newcomers alike. Cameras were out everywhere as they took photos of the duck drop, their families and their friends. Of course, photos with ducks were a highlight.

Ali McCann and Nick Jungwirth, who live on Lookout Mountain, stopped in front of Cactus Jack’s where two oversized ducks were situated. McCann took a photo of Jungwirth holding a duck just like a photo she took of him last year when they attended the derby.

“We made it just in time (for the duck drop),” McCann said.

Jungwirth added: “ is is awesome.”