The canal near Cascade Locks Park will be awash with rubber ducks this weekend as the Duck Derby makes another appearance.
The event includes a kickoff party Friday, June 10, at 5:30 p.m., with festivities June 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. along the Ohio & Erie Canal. Festivities will surround the Mustill Store Museum, located at 57 West North Street in the Cascade Locks Park, and admission is free.
Derby participants may purchase rubber ducks, which race down the canal ending at Lock 10. Derby Ducks are $5 each or 5 for $20. Prizes are awarded for first, second, third and last places. A 50/50 duck race is also held. Ducks for the 50/50 race are $10 each. The winner receives half the dollar amount raised.
In addition to the duck races, there will be a number of other activities:
• Pawsabilities will be in attendance to talk about adoption and care of dogs and cats;
• The Marble Museum will provide a demonstration;
• Participants may make an art project out of recycled water bottles with Smart Art;
• The Akron Fire Department will bring an engine to the event at 1 p.m. for families to get an up close look and an opportunity to learn about fire safety;
• A face painter will be on hand for the entire event;
• Billy’s Hut will be providing food, drinks and cotton candy;
• There also will be a snow cone machine;
• The Akron RubberDucks mascot will be in attendance from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and to lead the cheer for the Derby Ducks as they race down the canal at noon;
• At 3 p.m. the Akron Racer’s Mascot, Wheelie, will help motivate the winner of the 50/50 duck race;
• Dave “Da Duck” Laird of 88.9 FM will be the DJ all day and call both races; and
• The Cuyahoga Valley National Park will conduct a demonstration on Questing. Quests are clues and maps that when followed lead to a box containing a log book and stamp. Questers mark the log book with their stamp and stamp their own book in return.
At the Akron Canal Days event, attendees will have the opportunity to create their own stamps. There are more than 40 Quests along the Ohio and Erie canal. For more information about Questing, go to http://ohioanderiecanalway.com/Main/Questing.aspx.
Admission the pre-party event is free, and the Eats Truck will provide food. Ducks for both races will be available for purchase that evening. Thursdays at Red Wolf will provide the evening’s entertainment.
The Cascade Locks Park Association’s mission is to preserve, protect and promote the industrial, commercial and cultural heritage of the Cascade Locks Park along locks 10 to 16 of the Ohio and Erie Canal. The Park is an industrial heritage park, which tells the story of Akron’s birth along the canal and the evolution of industry in Akron. The Cascade Locks Park connects to downtown Akron, providing direct access to nature and recreation along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail with stretches north into the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.
Visit Akron Canal Days’ Facebook page for more information or call Beth at (330) 374-5625.
