4 minute read
Something to Quack About
SOME THING QUACK TO
ABOUT!
Advertisement
by Jean Eisenmann photos courtesy of Mixed Media Creations
Aday packed with family fun is coming to Flower Mound, and we’re betting you’ll take to it like a duck to water!
Rhythms at the River Walk is the annual fundraiser for the Cross Timbers Rotary Club, and the highlight of this signature event is their Duck Derby race. Whatever your plans for Saturday, September 18th, make time to duck into Flower Mound’s beautiful River Walk development for this 4th annual charity drive.
Beginning at 10 a.m., the Riverwalk at Central Park will be brimming with food trucks, music, vendor booths, activities for the kids, a duck mascot – and then there’s the duck race. “This year, we’re anticipating 3,000 people, if not more,” President-Elect for Cross Timbers Rotary, Jim Moll predicted.
Each rubber duckie entered in the race is “adopted,” or purchased. Every adoption supports the Cross Timbers Rotary Club’s efforts to benefit our local community’s non-profits and youth organizations.
“Anyone at least 18 years old can adopt a duck,” Jim explained. “Parents can adopt on behalf of their child. That said, last year a six-year-old won first prize!”
One duck can be adopted for only $5, but to increase your chances of winning, there are plenty of options for purchasing:
Bundle of Ducks: 6 for $25 Flock of Ducks: 12 for $50 Brood of Ducks: 24 for $100 Flight of Ducks: 50 for $200 Dynasty of Ducks: 125 for $500
“Our goal for 2021 is to sell 25,000 ducks,” Jim declared enthusiastically.
At the rate these ducks are flying off the shelves, that goal could become a reality.
“Typically, the Duck Derby race begins at 12:30 with the Duck Drop,” Jim announced. The race begins when the river becomes awash with a mustardyellow hue, as thousands of ducks descend onto the water, bobbing like buoys toward the finish line. The first lucky duck to reach the designated finish line will win a $2,500 VISA gift card for its owner – complete with bragging rights!
Ten additional VISA gift card prizes will be awarded: 2nd place = $1,500, 3rd place = $1,000, and gift cards for 4th through 10th places! It all started early in 2018.
“At that time, our incoming Cross Timbers Rotary Club President and Co-Founder, Chuck Elsey, and former Charter President and Co-Founder, Andy Eades, traveled to Graham, Texas and visited their duck derby,” Jim reflected. “From that, they concluded Flower Mound didn’t have to be limited solely to a duck race, but something bigger, and it would become a signature event for the community. That’s how Rhythms at the River Walk came to be.”
Founded in 2015, Cross Timbers Rotary is the largest rotary organization in Denton County, with 130 members. Their mission is to “provide services to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.”
“In March of each year, we issue a grant request to any non-profits in Denton
County. Beneficiaries are chosen in April, and grants are awarded in June,” Jim pointed out. “We presented 24 different grants from 2020’s event proceeds.”
Rhythms at the River Walk’s Duck Derby is the highlight of the day.
“Attendee estimates for 2018-2019 were about two thousand people, and 15,000 ducks were sold,” Jim said. “Last year, even during COVID-19, folks attended.”
In addition to adopting a duck – or ducks – online, if you can’t get your ducks in a row to adopt early, they can be adopted on race day. But keep in mind they are subject to availability.
Another avenue to duck adoption is the Buck-a-Duck program. Many nonprofit organizations have chosen a team name for the event, and they are selling duck adoptions, too. For every duck they sell, Cross Timbers Rotary gives that organization a buck to be awarded in October.
Every number is unique to a duck.
“Twelve teams already have formed for this year,” Jim mentioned. “In 2020, 4,000 ducks were sold through our non-profit partners.”
No sitting ducks among this group, a lot of work behind the scenes goes into the event.
A randomly computer-assigned identification number is placed on the bottom of each duck using waterproof tags. Every number is unique to a duck.
“On the Thursday before the race, we hold a tagging party for rotary members and volunteers to tag the ducks,” Jim said.
September 18th will be here before you know it, so adopt some ducks and have some fun while helping the Cross Timbers Rotary contribute to so many worthwhile organizations.
THIS YEAR’S EVENT WILL BE ALL ITS QUACKED UP TO BE AND MORE! Visit www.rhythmsattheriverwalk.com or www.duckrace.com/crosstimbers
