Each year at the Brockport Arts Festival Duck Derby, thousands of small, yellow plastic ducks are set afloat from the Main Street canal lift bridge in the Village of Brockport. Festival-goers eagerly line up to cheer on the floating ducks, as the first five and last five ducks that cross the finish line are the ten winners of this race.
“The Duck Derby is the biggest single event that takes place during the Brockport Arts Festival,” said Art Appleby, Brockport Arts Festival chairperson. “It’s also the biggest fundraiser.”
Care to make a dare on a duck? Wonder how much it costs to get in on this fun? One duckling costs $5, a family flock of five tickets costs $20 and a community flock of 35 tickets costs $100. Interested in taking a chance? Duck tickets are available from any member of these community groups, Sweden Senior Singers, Brockport Area Boy Scouts, Spencerport Ranger Robotics, BISCO members; plus two local businesses, Brockport Discount Beverage and the UPS Store at the Wegmans’ Plaza.
The prizes offered for this year’s race include $750 gift cards from Wegmans, gas grills from Lowe’s, gas gift cards donated by Mobil Express and The Brockport Rotary, passes to theater events at The College at Brockport or memberships to the new Special Events Recreation Center (SERC) at The College at Brockport and refurbished laptops from Sunnking Computers.
This year’s Derby will benefit the Brockport Area Boy Scouts, Spencerport Rangers Robotics and the Sweden Senior Singers.
“Each year, we choose different community organizations as beneficiaries of the proceeds from the Duck Derby,” Appleby explained.
Come out to the Brockport Arts Festival and watch this festival favorite on Sunday, August 10 at 3:30 p.m. at the canal lift bridge on Main Street in downtown Brockport.
The group has also supported an adult/child lawn swing for the Monika Andrews Park, Sweden Foundation’s pending playground, the Brockport Police Department Home Town Heroes project and provided ongoing support to the Brockport Toy Shelf.
Most BISCO members belong to community organizations like the Rotary, Lions Club, Kiwanis, Elks Club, or Brockport Fire Department but at-large memberships are open.
“We meet the first Tuesday of every month at 5:30 p.m. at the Seymour Library located at 161 East Avenue in Brockport. We encourage people to join,” Appleby said.
