Two-thousand numbered rubber ducks will be dropped into the Nubanusit River from Putnam Park Saturday, June 25, at 2 p.m. to begin the 18th annual Lucky Duck Race sponsored by the Peterborough Lions Club.
Ducks will race to the confluence of the Nubanusit and Contoocook rivers. The “owner” of the first duck over the finish line at Depot Park will win $1,000. Second place wins $200, and third place wins $100.
Fourth prize is a gift certificate an airplane ride for as many as three people over Mount Monadnock and vicinity, courtesy of Lee and Harvey Sawyer of Silver Ranch Airpark, Jaffrey. Winners will be announced at the finish line at Depot Park. Ticket-holders do not have to be present to win.
Club members will be selling tickets downtown on Saturday beginning at 10;30 a.m. in Putnam and Depot parks. Duck tickets are also available at Copies & More and the Peterborough town clerk’s office, as well as from members of the Lions Club.
Funds raised by the Lucky Duck Race will allow the club to pursue its core mission of supporting eyesight. The club pays for free exams and low-cost glasses for the needy, and also recycles eyeglasses. Other charities to benefit include Monadnock Area Transitional Shelter, Monadnock At Home, Monadnock Community Early Learning Center, Recreation Department drumming program, Monadnock Worksource, Peterborough Food Pantry and The River Center.
The Lions have dinner meetings once or twice a month, except in July and August. If interested in becoming a member of the club, call Roland Patten, membership chair, at 603- 924-6421.
People can also visit downtown Peterborough merchants from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. People should look for the yellow balloons at each participating location and the Find The Yellow Duck Contest. Prizes include gift certificates valued at more than $150. Entrants should fill in their names and contact information, and no purchase is necessary. Winners will be announced at 5 p.m.
This event is free and open to the public. Some locations require masks but for most, masks are optional. For information, visit the Depot Square website at shopdepotsquarenh.com, the Depot Square Facebook page or contact Pelagia Vincent at pelagiavincent@earthlink.net.