The Village of Lake Orion will have a few more ducks than usual traveling on the Paint Creek on Sept. 9.
Yellow, blue and pink plastic toy ducks will race from Children’s Park to Meek’s Park, with proceeds from the event benefiting the Orion Area Youth Assistance and the Oxford-Addison Youth Assistance.
Control of the race, which did not take place last year, was given to the youth assistance organizations by the Oxford-Lake Orion Optimist Club.
The Optimist Club dissolved, but had previously organized the event for over 10 years.
For this year’s race, there are 1,500 ducks available, but with each $5 donation worth an entry in the race, the ducks are already going fast.
The race begins at 1 p.m. on Sept. 9, but racers are advised to arrive early to Meek’s Park. Traffic directions to the park, located behind Children’s Park near the Orion Art Center, will be posted around downtown the day of the race.
Pending the sale of the expected amount of tickets, the prize packages will be enormous.
First prize will likely be $999, with second place netting an iPod, and third place taking home a cool $200.
There will also be free pop and chips available at Meek’s Park.
To reserve your spot in the Duck Race, call the Orion Area Youth Assistance office at 693-6878, or the Oxford-Addison office at 969-5177.
You can also visit the CERC Building on Scripps Road in Orion Township, and follow the ducks on the walls to the Youth Assistance office.