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17th Annual Blackwater Pyrates Great Milltown Duck Race – July 4th



The Great Milltown Duck Race

Join us in the fun!  Cash prizes are awarded for the winning duck! 5000 rubber ducks will be dropped into the Blackwater River and race downstream. The adopter of the 1st place duck wins $1500, 2nd place $750, 3rd place $250 Duck Races begin every year at the base of the Milton Downtown Bridge on the 4th of July.

Ducks can be adopted at:

 

Blackwater Bistro – 5147 Elmira, Milton 

The Country Gym – 5198 Willing St, Milton

Breadless Brewhaus – 5139 Elmira St, Milton

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​FAQ

​When is the race?

The Great Milltown Duck Race is held on the 4th of July @ approximately 5:00pm

Where does the race take place?

The race starts at the Hwy. 90 Bridge in downtown Milton on the beautiful Blackwater River. Race can be viewed in its entirety from the shore and boardwalk.

How does it work?

The Racing Ducks are loaded into a front-end loader and dumped in the river from the 90 bridge, once the ducks hit the water, the current helps them make their way into the track that we have set up. The track is in a “V” shape (ropes strung with noodles) that feeds down to a chute.

What does the winner get?

The first racing duck in will net to the proud adopter 1st $1500, 2nd $750 and 3rd $250.

Who are the Blackwater Pyrates?

The Blackwater Pyrates is a community service organization that serves the Bagdad/Milton area the Blackwater River and basins. We do this through river clean up, boater safety and education and maritime historical preservation.  We are Pyrates with a purpose!

Where does the $ go?

The $ raised goes to the Blackwater Pyrates to help us in our above missions.  It is our only fundraiser that helps us do all the things we do for our community throughout the year.

How many ducks race?

Up to 5000… or, currently between 4,000 and 5,000.

How do you know all of the racing ducks will be in the race?

The Blackwater Pyrates conduct an inventory of the racing ducks annually to make sure all ducks are present and any damaged ducks are replaced. 

 

Do I need to be present to win?

No, just provide your name and phone # and we will contact you if you win.

 

What is the difference in racing ducks and souvenir/token ducks?

Racing ducks are specifically designed to race in the water. They are all numbered and collected at end of race to be stored for next year’s race. The souvenir/token ducks are smaller and are given to anyone that adopts a racing duck. They are usually adorned as some kind of character.

 

What about corporate sponsorships?

We have different level sponsorships available. While you cannot adopt ducks on their website, you can send them an email and they can come to you!

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