Newtown Lions have begun selling tickets around Newtown for their 13th annual Great Pootatuck Duck Race, which will take place in Sandy Hook Center on Saturday, May 25.

Proceeds from this year’s race will benefit the Newtown Lions Sandy Hook Elementary Fund (to help pay for counseling for first responders and family members of the Sandy Hook School children and faculty), and other Lions Club charities.

Tickets are available on Friday nights and Saturday mornings and, coming soon, Sundays. Look for the yellow duck signs and Lions Club members at Carminuccio’s, Newtown Hardware Store, Pizza Palace, Bagel Delight, My Place, Dodgingtown Market, Hawleyville Liquor Store, Cork –n– Barrel, and Yankee Wine. Local retail establishments are also selling tickets in their stores.

Tickets are still $5 each, and this year’s top prize is $2,000. Second place this year is a package deal: a $250 gift certificate for Sheraton Hotels, $200 TicketMaster gift certificate and a $150 American Express gift card. Third prize is a $500 gift certificate for dinner service redeemable at Sal e Pepe Restaurant, South Main Street in Newtown.

Additional prizes and Duck Race Day details will be announced as Memorial Day gets closer.