The Rubber Duckies are Coming to Collegeville

This May, scores of little yellow ducks are expected to descend upon the Perkiomen Creek. However, these particular billed creatures don’t quack—They squeak.

“There’s going to be a lot of fun little ducky things going on,” Rachel Morrison, executive director of the Collegeville Economic Development Corporation (CEDC), said.

The CEDC will hold its inaugural Rubber Ducky Regatta, May 4, from 1 – 5 p.m. The event will take place at the Perkiomen Bridge Hotel, adjacent to the Perkiomen Creek near Ridge Pike, and is expected to hold various duck-themed, family friendly entertainment and activities.

Prior to the regatta, participants will be encouraged to purchase the rubber ducks from participating Collegeville businesses. According to Morrison, each purchased duck will come with a number that correlates to a rubber duck actually used in the regatta.

The numbered ducks will then be placed in the Perkiomen Creek. The race will start at the former dam down past the Perkiomen Creek Bridge. Morrison said that a similar race takes place each year in Cape May, N.J.

Regatta contestants will have their opportunities to start collecting the rubber ducks from the Collegeville businesses at the Rubber Ducky Regatta roll-out event, slated for March 25, at 10 a.m., on the grounds of the Perkiomen Bridge Hotel.

That event will feature the CEDC new Duck Mascot (a person dressed in a duck suit), who will help usher in the Rubber Ducky Regatta contests leading to the May 4 regatta. In addition to purchasing the rubber duckies for the regatta, CEDC supporters may also look for contests in local news publications, as well as on the CEDC Facebook page.

One such contest asks participants to find the CEDC Duck Mascot and get their picture taken with it in order to post the photo to the CEDC Facebook page.

According to Morrison, the month-long duck-themed fundraising activities are in keeping with the CEDC’s vision for the borough: “Build on our Past, Preparing for the future.”

“We’re geared toward the businesses and the residents,” Morrison said. “We are constantly busy and constantly coming up with new ideas.”

According to the CEDC website, since 2003, the CEDC has dedicated its efforts to building up Collegeville as, “a vibrant community in which to live, work and play.”

Morrison said this is accomplished through the various community-wide programs, projects and fundraising events, whose efforts and proceeds go toward improving the quality of life in Collegeville. Morrison credits such efforts in helping construct a new information kiosk along the Perkiomen Creek Trail, helping bring Santa Clause to town, as well as a farmers market and building up a partnership between Ursinus College and the surrounding community.

---

The Rubber Ducky Regatta’s major sponsor is Meridian Bank. Regatta participants may expect to win various prizes and cash. For more information, visit www.collegevilledevelopment.com or the CEDC Facebook page.