CLT’s 23rd Annual Great Calusa Rubber Duck Race Saturday
The Calusa Land Trust’s 23rd Annual Great Calusa Rubber Duck Race is scheduled for Saturday, March 5, at the Low Key Tiki in St. James City.
The festivities will begin at noon comprising of live entertainment, raffles, spin-the-wheel games and a large and diverse silent auction consisting of prizes and gift certificates donated by local businesses and individuals.
The event also includes a live auction (featuring the spirited chant of Johnny Glisson) of some 20 larger ticket items. Registration for live auction bidders will take place at CLT’s information table.
Also for sale will be the newly published 7th edition of The Nature Lover’s Guide to Pine Island.
Low Key Tiki will be offering luncheon specials and a convenient beer tent for happy celebrants.
The big event will be the duck races occurring between 3 and 4 p.m. (wind and tide are factors). The Super Duck Race is first with 200 baby ducks ($20 each, sold only on race day) with the winning duck sharing the 50/50 winnings. The major attraction will thereafter be the adult rubber ducks consisting of 3,000 numbered ducks ($5 each and already on sale) racing for cash and gifts.
The winning duck will earn $1,000 cash, second scoops in $500, third place $250 plus five runners-up each waddling home with a bag of goodies worth at least $200.
Buy early, since tickets are usually sold out by race day. Rubber duck tickets are now available from member volunteers at various area restaurants and on its website (calusalandtrust.org).
After resting in the off season, all ducks have been in training and are just itching and quacking in anticipation of race day. Even if you are not the owner of a winning duck, you can be proud of your support of the Calusa Land Trust, Pine Island’s all volunteer land conservancy and its mission to acquire, preserve and protect this special place called Pine Island.