The Great Pootatuck Duck Race and Festival hosted by Newtown Lions Club will return for its 26th year on Saturday, June 13, from 10 am-2:30 pm. It will again be presented in Sandy Hook Center, at Heritage Park, 7 Glen Road.

This year’s race and festival will offer a fun day of family-friendly activities, and expanded programming including a new Business Duck Derby. All proceeds from the $10 duck raffle tickets will support Lions Club charities for the blind and vision impaired, guide dog training, and free annual vision screenings for over 1,500 children in Newtown.

This year’s event will incorporate the America 250th anniversary, blending history with humor which will include the reading of the “Ducklaration of Independence” at 1:45 just before the main race. Newtown Lion Jeff Strain will bring “John Hanquack” to life, donning a duck costume, tricorn hat, and full colonial regalia.

While the duck race remains the centerpiece, Lions members emphasize the event’s mission as a major community annual fundraiser and Newtown tradition.

“The Great Pootatuck Duck Race and Festival is a joyful Newtown tradition — a community festival and the spectacle of thousands of bright yellow ducks racing down the Pootatuck River,” said Co-Chair Bob Schmidt. “This year will be the best duck race ever. More duck races, more food on premises, and more fun!”

Full Day Of Activities Planned

There will be live entertainment by students of Lathrop School of Dance, Newtown Centre of Classical Ballet & Voice, Charlotte and Kerriann, Porco Karate Academy, and Suzuki Music Studio.

There will also be a bounce house, an 18-foot inflatable slide, and games and other fun activities, all free of charge.

Food and drinks will include BBQ, burgers, hot dogs, and coffee from Sandy Hook Café. Leftover festival food will be donated to Dorothy Day Hospitality House.

Attendees will also find an exhibitor village which will include community organizations and local businesses. The event’s printed program will double as a “passport,” encouraging attendees to visit each exhibitor. Participants who collect stamps throughout the village will be eligible for prizes.

Racing Highlights, New Business Derby

The main event will begin at 2 pm, when thousands of numbered rubber ducks will be released into the Pootatuck River. The first 20 ducks that cross the finish line will win prizes for their ticket-holding counterparts, including gift certificates for local restaurants and businesses.

This year’s grand prize is a two-night luxury weekend getaway at Hopkins Inn in Litchfield Hills, including dinner at the inn’s restaurant and $350 in spending money.

Leading into the main race, the inaugural Business Duck Derby will take place at 1:30 pm. This race will feature larger ducks sponsored by local businesses, each displaying their corporate logo.

Festival Co-Chair Arnie Berman noted participating businesses will be able to keep their sponsored ducks after the race.

“After each business duck has had its moment of glory in the Pootatuck, it will waddle back to the offices of its sponsor, ready to brighten the office, boost team morale, or spark fierce internal debate over who gets to keep custody,” he said.

Tickets And Participation

Duck race raffle tickets are available online at newtownlions.org, through Newtown Lions Club members, as well as at local events including the Sandy Hook LobsterFest this weekend. Winners do not have to be present to win.

Tickets are $10 each.

The Newtown Lions appreciate the Newtown community’s support in buying tickets to support their charities and are grateful to the local businesses who donated prizes this year, including Bagel Delight, Barnwood Restaurant, Berkshire Motors, Burgerittoville, Butcher’s Best, Carminuccio’s Pizza, Cork ‘n’ Barrel, Cover Two Grill, Edmond Town Hall Theatre, Gino’s Pizza Parlor, Hilltop Kitchen, Hopkins Inn, Jewel of Himalaya Restaurant, Landau Team @RE/MAX Right Choice, Town Players of Newtown/The Little Theatre, Mangia Mia, Marketplace, Mexcla, My Place Restaurant, The Newtown Bee/Bee Publishing Company, Nostrano’s Restaurant, Organic Cleaners, Pizza Palace, Porco Karate Academy, Sabrina Style Woman’s Formal Wear, Sal e Pepe Restaurant, Steamboat Inn, Sugo Gastrobar, Sweet Mango, Taco Dia, Tambascio’s Restaurant, and The Toy Tree.

The Lions also offer “a huge thank you to property owner Mike Porco!”

As Newtown joins communities across the country in looking ahead to America’s 250th anniversary, organizers say the Duck Race continues to reflect the town’s spirit of community, service, and tradition — while raising meaningful funds to support those in need.