By LISA CAPOBIANCO
STAFF WRITER
This weekend, 5,000 rubber ducks will be dumped into the Pequabuck River, competing to the finish line.
Co-sponsored by the Forestville Village Association and the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, the Pequabuck River Duck Race is entering its 12th year as a community event. The event will kick off at 10 a.m. on Sunday, as spectators watch the rubber ducks race to be one of the first 41 ducks to cross the finish line, earning prizes for the ticket holder with the corresponding number. From the $1,000 grand prize to a large screen TV to gift certificates for local restaurants and businesses, the event will offer a variety of winning items. The event has no fee for admission.
“It’s a very fun day,” said Cheryl Thibeault, who serves on the chamber’s Beautification Committee. “There’s so much to do, so much to enjoy.”
Thibeault said the turnout for the event last year was fantastic, adding how the race brings out a few thousand people throughout its duration.
Thibeault, one of the main driving forces behind the event, said the idea to bring a duck race to the community began after seeing a similar event organized by the Thomaston Opera House. The event has grown every year since its inception, transforming into a block party with vendors lined up on both sides of Central Street.
The Block Party will kick off at 11 a.m. this Sunday, and will include food vendors, local businesses, shopping, face painting and more. The event also will feature a craft fair, bounce houses and free children’s games, in addition to music provided by 102.9 the Whale, and race mascot Waddles the Duck.
“When we first started, it was just a duck race, and we had a few vendors,” said Thibeault. “Over time, we added the children’s games…the craft fair…more vendors, music.”
Thibeault said the chamber and Forestville Village Association has made a great team to put on the event. Proceeds from ticket sales support beautification projects in Forestville and Bristol. Past projects included Welcome to Bristol signs, planting flowers and new Christmas lights for the town poles, among others.
“We just have this dynamic team,” said Thibeault, adding how event organizers put their heart and soul into selling tickets for the race each year. “It’s done by individuals who have a passion to do this for the community. All of these funds go back into the community.”
During the duck race, approximately 5,000 rubber ducks will be dumped off a payloader into the Pequabuck River at 2 p.m. The ducks will float down the river to the finish line, located at the Central Street bridge. The first 41 ducks to cross the finish line win the corresponding prize for their “owner” with the matching raffle ticket number. Clean Harbors, an environmental group, donates its services to collect the rubber ducks as they finish.
Winning numbers will be announced at the race and on Bristol Observer’s website. All prizes can be picked up starting the Monday after the race at the Bristol Chamber of Commerce, located at 200 Main St., Bristol. Winners will need their winning ticket stub and a photo ID.
Last year, for the first time, the duck race had a new start location on Broad Street near the pump station, across from Leether Automotive. The change was a success, as the race was shortened and the ducks had a more dynamic finish.
Thibeault said the new start location will be in place again at this year’s duck race.
“It worked out very well,” said Thibeault. “It actually made the finish a lot more exciting…and it helped us with the cleanup afterward.”
The 12th annual Pequabuck River Duck Race will take place this Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Central Street, Forestville. Tickets are still on sale for $5 each, and will be sold at Nuchie’s Restaurant in Forestville and at the Bristol Chamber of Commerce.
During the race, Central Street in Forestville will be closed from Church Avenue to Broad Street from 9:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. The rain date is scheduled for Sunday, May 8.
For more information, visit www.centralctchambers.org/ or the Pequabuck River’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/PequabuckRiverDuckRace/timeline.
The 2015 Forestville Duck Race