Durban Duck Day

A ‘quacker’ of a day, the first ever Durban Duck Day takes place at Durban’s Yacht Mole (off Victoria Embankment/Margaret Mngadi Avenue) on 15 July, with a flock of 10 000 ducks set to race for a grand prize of up to R100 000.

In the photo: Kloof’s very own Olympian, Tanith Maxwell has got her ducks in a row having just qualified to participate in the 2012 London Olympics. Tanith is pictured coaching her ducks before they take to the water to compete in the Durban Duck Day. Pic by Sophie Thompson

Introducing a fabulous, fun family event for Durban that takes place in the new ‘Fun Season’ over the winter months, with a day of non-stop entertainment, be it duck dances for the younger participants, communal singing of specially adapted ‘ducky’ songs, or the quackier ‘Best Duck Hat’ or the ‘Best Duck Costume’ competitions. The colourful Duck Day ‘Duckettes’ will mingle in amongst the crowd to hand out spot prizes and giveaways.

The ducks will be carefully corralled to make sure that none escape into the wild

Durban Duck Day is a really simple concept - a maximum of ten thousand numbered rubber bath ducks will be released at the same time to float on the tide, with wind and current assistance, towards a demarcated finish post. R10 from the sale of every duck goes into the prize pool, with the first duck to cross the finishing line winning up to R100 000 for the person that has ‘bought’ that duck.

The race venue will be carefully demarcated according to the tides and wind on the day, and will have pool-cleaning hoses keeping the ducks neatly in their corral. As the race progresses, the corral will be drawn towards the shore, containing the ducks for ease of removal once the race is over. Duck ‘Wranglers’ will be present at all times ensuring no ducks end up ‘in the wild’.

Ducks are sold prior to the event and cost R40 each. Schools and non-profit organisations can get involved by using this fun event as a fund raiser, with a percentage of each bulk duck sold going to the selling school or organisation. Corporates can also purchase their own flock of ducks for employees or customers, and can take up a corporate hospitality area at the venue. Individual purchases of a single duck or a small flock can be made via the website below.

For more info or to buy a duck, go to www.durbanduckday.co.za or contact Creative Events on 031 266 9828.