Note: this is adapted from a Bluesky thread

A few photos from the Broad Ripple Duck Race on Saturday.

It was a bright morning, no sign of the clouds and possible rain that was forecast. Events started with a 5k human race, which had some very cool t-shirts; kinda wish I had run.

A girl in blue hear-shaped glasses eating a lollipop in front of a pale red bridge that says A large flock of bright yellow rubber ducks floats on the canal Officials and volunteers wait patiently at the finish line, one standing in the canal in waders. In the foreground, a small child dressed in a bright yellow hat and duck-themed clothing stands at the railing watching.


Tents from local businesses lined the rainbow bridge, many giving away even more ducks! As the start time drew near, the crowd gathered along the banks of the canal and the bridges, favoring anywhere they could find shade.

A Duck Race banner hangs from the bridge, which has several tents and scores of people on it. A crowd lines the rocky bank awaiting the release of the ducks. A few people sit on the abutments of a red former railway bridge.


Release the ducks! (as the sponsor of several ducks in this race I was a bit disappointed by the clear favoritism and unfair advantage certain ducks received)

Buckets of rubber ducks are released over the side of the bridge. there are cardboard panels in place to try to ensure they reach the water. A rain of ducks pours over the side of the bridge The flock continues towards the rainbow bridge.


Faced with a strong headwind, the race slowed to a crawl, and even the rubber ducks tried to find some shelter in the shade. Those that strayed too close to shore were helped along, both by eager spectators on land and by the duck herders in kayaks

Spectators and a herder in a kayak toss rubber ducks away from the shore. Kids help a gaggle of ducks that has gotten stuck against the shoreline rocks Ed reaches from his kayak to pick up some rubber ducks that were lazily lounging in the shade instead of racing down the canal.


The officials and spectators waited patently at the finish line as the race progressed. One duck managed to make a breakaway (no fowl play, I'm sure)!

A long shot from the finish line looking back at the line of rubber ducks progressing down the canal, along with a couple real ones. Race officials stand in the canal in waders, watching the lone breakaway duck approach the finish line.


At last we had a winner!

The race official pulls the winning duck out of the water Spectators lining a fence overlooking the canal cheer for the winning duck


If you thought that was exciting, you don't want to miss the SoBro Turtle Race!