The Rotary Club of Okeechobee will host its second annual Duck Derby on May 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the American Legion fairgrounds near city hall.

You might be wondering — just what is a duck derby?

Well, exactly what it sounds like. It’s a race between ducks. And that’s rubber ducks, mind you, not real ones.

How it works is you purchase a ticket that has a corresponding number on a rubber duck which will be placed on a giant slip and slid-like track. The fire department brings its water tanker and dumps water on to the track, which sends the ducks flying down to the finish line. The first-, second- and third-place duck receive a prize. Tickets run for $5 per duck or five ducks for $20.

First place in the derby wins a 50-inch Samsung smart TV, Bella Rose Spa gift card, oil change gift card and tickets to Time to Escape in Okeechobee.

Second place wins a Black and Decker tool set, Pizza Heaven gift card and Center Mass Gun Range gift card, while third place takes home an Ama-
zon Echo Dot and Beauty Bar SoFlo gift bag.

In addition to the Duck Derby, there will be plenty of free events for families and kids of all ages, including a waterslide, science craft activities and something the Rotary Club refers to as a free “slime activity.” You’ll also have the chance to dunk some familiar Okeechobee faces in a dunk tank.

Okeechobee County Sheriff Noel E. Stephen, Matthew Buxton and more are scheduled to make appearances inside a dunk tank at the Duck Derby.

With the event taking place on May 4, the same day as the Kentucky Derby, the Rotary Club of Okeechobee has decided to make the theme of this year’s derby a “Ken-Ducky Derby.” In honor of that theme, the event will feature a free “Ken-ducky Derby Hat Parade,” where the person with best derby hat will receive five free entries into the duck race.

The Rotary Club of Okeechobee uses the Duck Derby as a fundraising event to support local causes in Okeechobee each year. At last year’s event, the group raised money to send local Okeechobee veterans and their caregivers on the Honor Flight, which is a program that sends United States military veterans to Washington, D.C., to see the memorials of the respective war they fought in.

The Rotary Club of Okeechobee was able to raise $1,000 last year to help pay for caregiver costs on the Honor Flight.

This year, the club is fundraising to create Indian River State College scholarships for residents of Okeechobee who have graduated high school, are parents and are looking to either go back to college or finish their degree. Their goal is to create four $500 scholarships for the following year.

For a full schedule of events at the Duck Derby or to keep up with any last-minute announcement, visit the Rotary Club of Okeechobee’s official Facebook page at facebook.com/Rotary-Club-of-Okeechobee-266265286739206/.