And The Winners Are...
Derby - The Inaugural Housy River Duck Race is over and the ducks are getting their post race baths in preparation for next year's race. Stories and pictures from this great event will be posted shortly. In the meantime, click HERE to review the results. The race committee wishes to thank all of our volunteers, sponsors, firemen, city officials, and everybody else who helped make this a great and fun event.
Some short video clips of the start of the race have been posted to YouTube. Search for HousyDuckRace.
This Just In!!! - Inaugural Housy River Duck Race - New Date
Derby - The Inaugural Housy River Duck Race has been rescheduled to this Sunday, June 28th at 6:00 p.m. There has also been an important change of venue.
The race will begin at 6:00 p.m. and the starting point will be the Division Street Bridge (near BJ's). The ducks will race down the Naugatuck River to a collection point near the Rte 34 overpass (near Tailgators & the Derby Train Station.
There should be plenty of room to view the ducks from along the Derby Greenway, so come on out this Sunday to witness a truly great Valley event.
Inaugural Housy River Duck Race - To Be Rescheduled
Derby - The Inaugural Housy River Duck Race will be rescheduled due to the heavy current conditions experienced on the Housatonic River that caused a collection line to snap.
This Duck Race was a rain or shine event as mandated by the State of Connecticut Division of Special Revenue. At approximately 2:30 p.m., there was a 1/2 hour delay while the Fire Department worked with the state officials in order to decide whether or not a collection point for the ducks could be slightly altered from the orignial map presented to the state. Ultimately, the on-site state official allowed us to move the collection point in order to address some Fire Department concerns. The pay-loader carrying the ducks was mobilized and on its way to the bridge.
At 3:20, the mammoth line stretching from the Derby side of the river to the Shelton side snapped, thereby making any collection of the ducks futile. At that time the Fire Department declared the race would not happen.
The rain had nothing to do with the postponement...it was the snapping of the collection line.
The duck race organizers will be contacting the State of Connecticut Division of Special Revenue this week to reschedule the duck race.
The rescheduled duck race date will be released once the details become available.
St. Mary - St. Michael joins forces with Derby Day
Multiple events planned for June 20th.
St. Mary-St. Michael School in Derby has planned multiple events to coincide with Derby Day on Saturday, June 20th.
The day will begin with the Inagural Derby Dash 5k & Fun Run. The Derby Dash 5k is scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. The Family Fun Run will begin after the Derby Dash 5k and is tentatively scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. Of course, the Fun Run will not start until all Derby Dash 5k participants complete the course.
The 12th Annual Derby Day will then be held on the Green in Derby. The event is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. and run through 5:00 p.m. The festival will include live music and entertainment, as well as many talented crafters from across the region. There will be plenty of great food as well as children's games and fun.
St. Mary - St. Michael School will also have booths at Derby Day. The booths will be selling Housy River Duck Race tickets and tee shirts. Additionally, the school is selling larger ducks for the purpose of decorating and entering these ducks into a decorating contest. These decorated ducks will be judged by members of the Arts Council and will be on display in their Art Gallery. Prizes will be awarded to the top three decorated ducks.
The day culminates with the launching of the ducks. At 3:00 p.m., all ducks that have been sold will be released into the Housatonic River from the Derby/Shelton bridge. They will then race down the mighty Housatonic to the Derby boat ramp (located underneath the Commodore Hull Bridge). Prizes will be awarded to the top 50 ducks.
Look for our Duck Patrol volunteers as they patrol the crowd gathered for the Memorial Day parade!!!
Click HERE to see where you can purchase your Duck Raffle tickets.
For more information please contact St. Mary - St. Michael School at (203) 735-6471.