What’s a Duck Race?

During the summer, people in McHenry and Lake counties start hearing about duck races.

So what is a duck race?  The term immediately conjures up images of ducks wearing race ID numbers on their backs, waddling at top speeds down a track, or swimming from one end of a lake to another, as fans enthusiastically cheer them on from the shore.

As exciting as that may be to witness, the duck races in question are not quite like that. Hospice & Palliative Care of Northeastern Illinois (HPNI) organizes these annual events as fun and casual way to raise funds for its children’s hospice and palliative care program.

At the HPNI duck races, hundreds of colorful little plastic ducks careen down big water slides at local pools to the waiting arms of race officials who pluck the winning quackers out of the water.

As a fund-raising event, participants have a chance to win prizes by “adopting” (purchasing) ducks with the hope that they win in any of the several races. The ducks are numbered and winners announced after the races.

This year’s races will be held on July 30, at Woodstock Water Works, in Woodstock, and on Aug. 13, at Langendorf Park in Barrington. Duck adoptions, aka purchases, can be made online, by phone or in person at the events. Ducks are available for the following prices:

One Duck is $5

Family of six is $25

Flock of 25 is $100

Purchases can be made online after May 15, at www.HospiceDuckRace.com.

Admission to the events is free. Held from 4-7 p.m., they also include swimming, carnival games, DJ music and activities, face painting, coloring contest and a visit from Mr. Duck. Local restaurants will offer food and ice cream treats.