Tampa’s Rubber Duck Race Returns: Thousands To Race for Charity

The Kiwanis Club of Tampa will race more than 10,000 rubber ducks down the Hillsborough River on Saturday, April 18, with a $5,000 cash prize for the first-place finisher. The free charity event will happen at Curtis Hixon Park in downtown Tampa.

According to That's So Tampa, things kick off at 10 a.m. The race starts at noon. Attendees can enjoy music, food, and activities designed for families. Cash prizes await the top three finishers.

People can adopt ducks for $5 each. Money raised goes to the Kiwanis Foundation, which funds programs and charities serving kids in the area.

Tampa Kiwanis Club has served children in the community since 1919. Members construct ramps for the disabled, host immunization clinics, and purchase holiday gifts for kids who need them. The group awards scholarships and collaborates with leadership clubs at middle schools, high schools, and universities.

They build reading rooms in Boys and Girls Clubs around the region. Grants go to nonprofits too.

The club works with a company that organizes these races worldwide. Ducks stay confined in a lane and get funneled to the finish line, protecting waterways from harm.

Boats will patrol the river. Volunteers will collect every duck and make sure none go missing. Want to know more? Check the official Duck Race website.