Special to the Herald
SPRINGFIELD – The World’s Largest Rubber Duck is about to descend on one of the smallest cities it has ever visited.
Affectionately called Mama Duck, the inflatable yellow bird balloon, which stands 63 feet tall and weighs nearly 8,000 lbs., is slated to appear at the Rubber Duck Race at the Effingham County Museum of History on Oct. 5. The affair, which started in 2022 and is held in conjunction with the Faith & Blue Community Outreach Event, will start at 10 a.m.
“It’s going to be the best one yet,” said Samanatha Easton, a race organizer. “We are going to do a lot of things different this year.”
The literal biggest difference is Mama Duck.
“She’s six stories tall and 75 feet long," Easton said. "It’s a massive duck, and we will have it for the whole day. It’s been to San Francisco, Chicago, Toronto and all these huge cities, and we will have it in little, old Springfield.”
The Deputy Duck Derby will be massive, too, according to event organizers. The course will be longer than ever thanks to the event's new location at 1002 N. Pine St. The previous races were conducted at the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office.
“The track is going to be 375 feet,” Easton said. “The longest one we had in the past was maybe 150 feet.”
Ducks can be purchased at www.mackeesfunds.org or by texting 912-724-5523. The price options are:
- $3 for one
- $12 for five
- $20 for 10
- $35 for 20
- $50 for 50
Funds raised at the event benefit Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes.
“We have 750 of the regular racing ducks,” Easton said, “but also specialty ducks that you can buy the day of the event. They cost $5 apiece.
“We have unicorns, Halloween ducks, Pegasus ducks, sharks and food (ducks) like cheeseburgers, hot dogs and French fries, and dinosaurs,” Easton added.
Races will be conducted at 2 p.m., 2:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The winners, who will receive cash and medals, will be announced at 2:45 p.m.
A variety of new activities, including Storytime with the Sheriff, and a performance by the South Effingham Elementary School chorus, will precede the Rubber Duck Race. A video game truck will be on hand for the first time, too.
Returning attractions include food trucks, vendors, a dunking booth and “Meet the K9”.
“And we will have a coloring contest,” Easton said. “We are trying to do more stuff geared toward kids. We want them to hang out throughout the day and for the race, too.”
The activities will wrap up at 3 p.m.
One hundred percent of derby proceeds will go to Georgia Youth Homes, a 61-year-old residential care program that helps children who have been abandoned, neglected and abused.
