Ducks on the canal? An everyday sight. Well, maybe not the pink and blue and yellow variety. But dragons on the canal? That's a stretch of any imagination. Believe it or not, colorful ducks and Chinese dragons will both be present during the seventh annual Brockport Summer Arts Festival, August 11 and 12.

If they were racing against each other, the dragons would probably win, er ... wings down. But in two separate contests, the annual Duck Derby and the Dragon Boat Challenge are sure to appeal to race lovers of all types.

The Dragon Boat Challenge is the first of its kind in New York state, according to organizer Jeff Springut. The dragon boats will arrive in Brockport, fresh from races in Philadelphia, about five days ahead of the festival so that teams have a chance to practice. A crew of 20 paddlers and one drummer is needed for each dragon boat, a professional steersperson is provided. Races will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. The races will start on the canal just west of the post office, travel under the raised Main Street bridge and conclude just before the Park Avenue bridge.

Team prizes will be awarded, and the races are being touted as a great experience for families, groups of friends and co-workers. For those more inclined to let others battle dragons, the race promises to be a thrilling spectator sport.

A more sedate, though no less thrilling race, will be held Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. Between four and seven thousand plastic ducks will be ceremoniously dumped from the Main Street bridge. The first five ducks and the last five ducks to cross the finish line will win prizes for their "adopted owners."

This year, prizes include: a Cancun trip for two; a Las Vegas trip for two; Toronto show package; overnight at Comfort Suites plus Lodge at Woodcliff; an evening for 12 at the Blue Cross Arena Suite plus a 19 inch television from Page Appliances; a luxury get-a-way to Brockport for two; a $500 Chase Pitkin gift card; and a $500 Wegman's gift card.

Ducks cost $5 each to adopt. A junior flock of five ducks costs $20 and a flock of 10 cost $40. Several Brockport merchants are selling ducks; for locations call the duck hotline at 234-DUCK. Ducks will also be sold at an impossible-to-miss Duck Booth at the corner of Main and Market Streets right up until the race.

Crowds normally line the canal paths to watch the annual derby, while a couple of volunteer swimmers brave the Erie Canal waters to pluck out the lucky ducks. Winning duck numbers are usually announced shortly after the conclusion of the race, although winners need not be present.