The Great Waco Duck Race is an annual charity event benefiting Imagination Library where participants adopt rubber ducks that are set to “race” down the Brazos River. This year, the event took place on Sunday, October 20th, 2024 at Indian Spring Park. This year’s event surpassed previous attendance records as well as duck sales, as 12,000 ducks were sold out.
With lively music, food trucks, and kid-friendly activities, the festival atmosphere turned the riverbank into a hub of excitement. The crowd favorite? A giant inflatable duck that served as the perfect selfie spot! At 2:00 PM, the crowd helped to count down to the start of the race and a vibrant sea of yellow ducks was released into the Brazos River, each bearing a unique number linked to its adopter. Spectators cheered from the sidelines, eagerly watching as their ducks bobbed and weaved downstream, carried by the current.
While the race was all in good fun, there were serious prizes up for grabs. The first-place duck earned its adopter a Visa gift card prize of $1,500, second place with $750, and third place with $250.
Notably, volunteers from local schools, businesses, and organizations worked tirelessly to ensure the event ran smoothly. The Great Waco Duck Race was more than just a whimsical event but a testament to the power of collective action and the joy of giving back. Whether you adopted a duck, cheered from the sidelines, or simply enjoyed the festive atmosphere, the Great Waco Duck Race proved to be a great time supporting an even greater cause. We can’t wait to see what next year’s race has in store!
Imagination Library of Waco 