MENAN—A long-beloved tradition for locals is coming back this summer, the annual 4th of July Duck Race is returning to help fund the new Menan-Annis Grant Public Library building.
“We have the little plastic ducks, a lot of people come think they're going to buy real ducks, but they're just plastic ducks,” said Laurie Willmore, the director of the Menan-Annis Grant Public Library. “We sell them, we send the ducks off there across the street from the Teton House on Main Street there and then they float down to the post office there on the main street.”
There are prizes offered for many of the people participating, including gift cards, theater tickets and gifts from local businesses.
“We have lots of prizes,” Willmore said. “We have prizes for first, second and third. Then random prizes, and we have a prize for the last duck.”
All money raised from the 4th of July Duck Race will go toward funding the new library building. Willmore said they will break ground on Aug. 1.
The Menan 4th of July Duck Race has been a community tradition for over 35 years, according to Willmore. Beginning with 250 ducks, the event has now grown to 2,000 ducks and Willmore expects even more growth in the future.
“It's just a lot of fun, it just brings out the community and lots of smiles,” Willmore said. “And it's just a fun event for the families and little kids to watch those little ducks going down our tiny little canal here in Manan, and it's just a fun event to add to the 4th of July celebration.”
You can purchase ducks for the race at the Menan-Annin Grant Library now or wait until the 4th of July to purchase them from a booth at the Menan 4th of July celebration at the city park. The duck race will begin at 4 p.m.