The Great Pootatuck Duck Race, hosted by Newtown Lions Club, took place on September 4, kicking off Labor Day weekend. The annual event was canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it returned in 2021 for its 20th outing.

This year there were activities for for all ages to enjoy, vendors, local organizations, and live entertainment volunteered by Unclaimed Baggage Band, Ashurst Academy of Irish Dance, and Lathrop School of Dance.

Duck Race Committee member Neil Randle helped run the ticket booth on the sidewalk of Sandy Hook center and told The Newtown Bee that “It’s wonderful to be back.”

He explained that the rainfall from Hurricane Ida caused the Pootatuck River’s water to be above waist level, which is much higher than usual. In addition, the storm also knocked a large tree into the river making the area unpassable for floating race ducks.

With those factors in mind, the Lions Club made the difficult decision that for the safety of their river crew who go in to collect the ducks and for the fairness of the race itself, the traditional duck dump off the bridge would not be taking place.

Instead, Duck Race Committee Chairman Bob Schmidt and his wife Josie, as well as Chief River Engineer Doug Body, helped First Selectmen Dan Rosenthal select the winning duck race tickets from the stage platform near the river.

The Newtown Lions Club sold a total of 2,906 tickets with 577 of those tickets being sold specifically at the event on Saturday.

Between selecting winning tickets, Rosenthal told those crowd that the Newtown Lions Club is a “wonderful organization” that has been helping Newtown beyond its time with the duck race. He also took time to thank the many businesses that participated in donating prizes for the event, who do so "not because that have to, but because they care about the community."

After drawing the last winner’s name, Rosenthal concluded the event saying, “Congratulations to all the winners and my thanks to the Lions Club for all you do.”

Duck Race Winners

The 2021 Newtown Lions Club Duck Race list of prizes and winners are as follows: a $2,000 check to ticket #1025, Jillian Hoag; $500 gift card for a weekend getaway to ticket #2421, Donna D’alessandro; Three Porco Karate Academy one month memberships gift cards to ticket #2086, Mark Scibck; $159 value NYA gift card to ticket #2827, Nancy Morse; $100 Sal e Pepe gift card and $20 Burgerittoville gift card to ticket #0112, Linda Laurenco; $100 Farmhouse Gift Card and $20 Burgerittoville gift card to ticket #2416, Donna Linnetz; $100 Pizza Palace gift card and $20 Sandy Hook Diner gift card to ticket #0239, Amanda Leone; $50 Big Y gift card and $50 Superior Cleaners gift card to ticket #2039, Jacqui Kling. Also, a $75 Figs Restaurant gift card and $20 Sandy Hook Diner gift card to ticket #1529, Jill Beaudry; $75 Sabrina Style gift card and $20 Fun Kuts gift card to ticket #2841, Wanda McGavry; $50 Cover Two Grill gift card and $30 Ten Edmond Town Hall movie passes to ticket #1726, Ben Schaedler; $50 Lucas Local gift card and $25 Barnwood Grill gift card to ticket #1127, Kallie Carroll; $50 The Villa gift card and $25 Nouveau Monde Wine Bar gift card to ticket #0572, Caitlyn Garvy; $50 My Place gift card and $25 Toy Tree gift card to ticket #1296, Walt Schweikert. Also, a $50 Tambascio’s gift card and $25 Blue Colony Diner gift card to ticket #0802, Bill Brett; $50 Nassar’s Hair Salon gift card and $25 Carminuccios gift card to ticket #0679, name not listed; two $25 Marketplace gift cards to ticket #1370, Dr Ratna Vedullapalli; one year subscription to The Newtown Bee to ticket #1244, Cindy Curtiss; two tickets to the Little Theater ticket #3054, Rachel Mele; and $40 Berkshire Motors gift card to ticket #3000, Jen Rogers.

Chairman Schmidt shared in a statement on September 7 that "Even though Hurricane Ida forced the ducks to stay out of the river at the last minute, we expect our profit to be almost $11,000 after all the expenses. That money will all go into our charities budget, so we can help the local charities more than last year."

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Reporter Alissa Silber can be reached at alissa@thebee.com.