NAUGATUCK CHAMBER’S JUNE 3 DUCK DAY & RACE TO OFFER NEW EVENTS, NEW ACTIVITIES, CHARITY BUSINESS DUCK RACE AND MUCH MORE ...
- Tax Collector & High School Principal to Get "Dunked" - "Halloween in June" Costume Contest - Free Entrance to Event - Advance Raffle Tickets For Prizes Now on Sale Throughout Naugatuck
During the Sunday, June 3rd Naugatuck Chamber of Commerce 7th Annual Duck Day and Race, the Chamber, a partner with the Waterbury Regional Chamber, will offer several new events and activities, plus a Charity Business Duck Race. Free to enter, the Duck Day and Race will be held rain or shine from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It will feature more than 20,000 rubber ducks that will be dumped from the Whittemore Bridge at 2:00 p.m.at the corners of Maple and Water Streets. The ducks will race down the Naugatuck River with the ambition to be among the first 25 ducks to win the competition.
Created in 2006 by the Naugatuck Chamber of Commerce as a fundraiser for local charitable organizations, the widely-popular event has grown to attract more than 5,000 attendees. Festivities on June 3rd will include a full day of games, food and craft vendors, circus talent, business booths plus two live bands the Rubber City Blues Band and the Kathy Thompson Band, and much more. Raffle tickets will be sold that day, and in advance, for the Duck Race.
“This year’s event will feature two new activities, a ‘Halloween-in-June’ Costume Contest and a Dunk Tank,” stated Lynn Ward, president and CEO of the Waterbury Regional Chamber, and the Naugatuck Chamber of Commerce. “Anyone who wants to be a contestant in the Halloween Costume Contest should wear their costume to Duck Day and register at Madame Zelda’s booth between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The contest is being sponsored by Sarracco Mechanical Services and judging categories and cash prizes will range from children in pre-K and under for $50 prizes, plus ages kindergarten through 8th grade for a $50 prize per grade, and 9th to 12th graders for a $200 prize per grade. Adults 18 years and older can compete for a $1,000 first prize with the runner up receiving $500. A $250 prize will be awarded for the Best Duck Costume.”
Ward explained that, “The new Duck Day Dunk Tank will feature the dunking of five teachers and Janice Saam, the principal from Naugatuck High School, Naugatuck’s Tax Collector Jim Goggin plus executives from Naugatuck Savings Bank, who are among the events’ top sponsors. We invite other corporate sponsors to join in the fun by registering to ‘dunk’ some of their staff members for charity as well.”
Prizes will be awarded to the first 25 duck ticket holders whose ducks cross the finish line. The prizes will include $5,000 cash to the first place winner. Second place winner will receive a 2 CT diamond white gold tennis bracelet donated TC’s Pawn Company Jewelry & Electronics Exchange in Waterbury. Third place prize is a $500 gift certificate to the Brass Mill Center and Commons mall in Waterbury. Fourth and fifth place prizes are an Apple 16GB iPad and a Sony 40” class LED 1080p HDTV. Sixth place prize, donated by Corso Printing & Engraving, is four box seats to the New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium on June 25, 2012.
Additional prizes include a “Getaway for Two” to Woodbury, Connecticut, the ‘Antiques Capital of Connecticut’ for two days with a one night stay at the Longwood Country Inn. Additional prizes include a House wares Gift Basket and $50 gift certificate from Elizabeth Richards Gifts; a $175 gift certificate for Bounce N Play Rentals; plus four tickets for a Broadway Series performance at the Palace Theater in Waterbury.
Tidal sponsors of the 7th Annual Duck Day and Race are Corso Printing and Engraving, Naugatuck Valley Savings and Loan, and Sarracco Mechanical Services while the Mandarin Sponsor is Naugatuck Savings Bank. The event raises monies for area non-profit organizations with 50% of all proceeds donated to over 120 charitable non-profit organizations in the Naugatuck/Greater Waterbury region. “These non-profit organizations gain funds for their organization by selling advance raffle prize tickets,” explained Ward. “Collectively, they also receive 50% of all the proceeds from the entire Duck Day and Race. In 2011, more than 80 non-profit organizations and school groups collectively earned over $40,000 through their participation in this exciting annual event.”
Additional food, craft, and business vendors, and additional prizes, are still being sought by the Naugatuck Chamber of Commerce for their June 3rd event. “Every year this event grows in number of participants and attendees,” reported Ward. “Again this year, we will run the popular Charity Business Duck Race at 12 noon. Area businesses are invited to sponsor an oversized duck for just $100. The company’s logo will be placed on the duck and the company can take the duck back to their offices after the race for posterity. To enter, companies simply need to send a $100 donation payable to the Naugatuck Chamber of Commerce by May 25, 2012. Past winners have included G.S. Regan Associates, New Opportunities, Inc. and Waterbury Hospital.”
Anyone interested in purchasing advance raffle tickets to win prizes can visit the following locations through June 2nd in Naugatuck at: Nardellis at 87 Church Street; Mountview Plaza Wines & Liquors at 727 Rubber Avenue; Naugatuck Chamber at 195 Water Street; People’s United Bank at 727 Rubber Avenue; Webster Bank at 727 Rubber Avenue; Naugatuck Valley Savings and Loan at 333 Church Street; and Corso Printing & Engraving at 136 Church Street. They can also purchase tickets at the Waterbury Regional Chamber at 83 Bank Street, 4th Floor in Waterbury and Jimmy’s of Watertown at 1067 Main Street.
To learn more about the Naugatuck Chamber Duck Day and Race visit www.duckday.com, call the Naugatuck Chamber of Commerce at 203-729-4511, the Waterbury Regional Chamber at 203-757-0701, or email to info@waterburychamber.com.
