Frequently Asked Questions
A duck race is a community event! The 2019 Annual Milford Harbor Duck Race will begin at the Wepawaug River next to the Fowler Memorial Building in downtown Milford, CT, and will end at the harbor just beneath the Hotchkiss Memorial (pedestrian) Bridge. The event will also include food and family entertainment in the Fowler parking lot and basketball courts – next to the Fowler Pavilion.
A front loader will literally drop the ducks into the river where they will will ‘race’ through a series of boons until they cross the finish line – one at a time! Each duck is numbered to correspond to an ‘Adoption’ number and will be pulled out of the river in order of arrival. For more information see our How It Works page.
The events start at 11:00AM and end at 2:00PM. For a list of activities and events, see our Race Day Schedule page.
For the full list of 2019 prizes, see our Duck Race Prizes page. Top 2019 prizes include:
- One-year Woodruff Family YMCA Family Membership
- Southport Brewing Company (SBC) two-hour appetizer reception for 20
- Apple iPad Mini
- 43" Smart TV
- Xbox One bundle
We are not actually selling a duck – but instead – we are selling ‘Adoption Certificates’. ‘Adoption Certificates’ are all individually and sequentially numbered and correspond to an individual number on the bottom of a duck.
Most sales will be online here but we will have select opportunities and events at which cash adoptions can be made. Visit us at our Milford Duck Race Facebook page to learn more about the next event where we will be selling duck adoptions.
You will also be able to visit select locations to adopt a duck with cash or check (made payable to The United Way of Milford). 2019 Locations TBD.
You will receive an email with the assigned duck number(s). You can also create a password when you adopt your duck and come back to our site to review your purchases – or even adopt more ducks and add to your list! The more ducks, the better your chances of WINNING!
For more information see our How It Works page.
Absolutely! ONCE 2019 SALES GO LIVE, just forward the link to milfordduckrace.com with simple directions and your own special message (see sample below).
Your friends and family can adopt their ducks online and give you credit by filling in the “Promoter Name” field. If you are also doing this as part of a larger organization effort (business, school, etc.), just also give directions to fill in the “Promoter Organization” field. BE SURE THOSE FIELDS ARE FILLED IN BY ADOPTERS AT THE TIME OF SALE IN ORDER TO GET CREDIT!
Here is a sample message you can send via text, email or any social media platform (and THANKS FOR HELPING!):
Please help me support the 2019 Milford Harbor Duck Race by ‘Adopting’ a duck! Each tax-deductible duck adoption is only $5 and your duck could win any one of [TBD] great prizes totaling over $[TBD]. 2018 top prizes included:
- One-year Woodruff Family YMCA Family Membership
- Southport Brewing Company (SBC) two-hour appetizer reception for 20
- Apple iPad Mini
- 43" Smart TV
- Xbox One bundle
Just go to www.milfordduckrace.com to adopt a duck in just minutes. AND…there’s no need to attend the race (on June 1, 2019, in beautiful downtown Milford, CT) to win!
Please just be sure to give [me/Name] and [organization name] credit by filling in the “Promoter Name” and “Promoter Organization” fields when purchasing the duck! If I/we get credit for enough duck adoptions, I/we could win some great prizes too!
All proceeds benefit The United Way of Milford and the Woodruff Family YMCA – two great organizations, together helping people.
Thanks so much for supporting me and this amazing event!
We will be selling duck adoptions for cash or check purchases at the locations listed above through Friday, May 31, 2018. (See SCHOOLS CHALLENGE exception below.)
All other online or ‘At the Event’ cash/check adoptions can be made up until 11:30AM the day of the event.
Note, all SCHOOLS CHALLENGE adoptions must be completed by May 24th in order to get prizes to schools before the end of the school year!
Whether you help promote duck adoptions (see above), solicit sponsorships, support the event by attending with your family, or volunteer that day – WE NEED YOU! Every contribution will help us re-establish this event as a city-wide success.
We will, however, need many volunteers for Race Day! From the setup, kids events, to duck drying – there’s lots to do. Please enter your contact info here or reach out to The United Way of Milford or the Woodruff Family YMCA and they will record your information to share with race organizers.
THANK YOU!
Yes! There are ‘corporate sponsors and donors’ who have contributed to our event. Please visit our Sponsor Info page to see them all – individuals and organizations alike - or let them know directly how much we appreciate their generosity if you have the opportunity!!
Also, select businesses that will be selling and promoting duck adoptions as well. See above under the ‘How Do I Adopt a Duck’ or look for the ‘Duck’ signs in store windows!
If you are a local business and still want to get involved, email Mary D’Amato at mary@damatobrothers.com. THANK YOU!
The net proceeds of the event will be split 50/50 between The United Way of Milford and the Woodruff Family YMCA. In turn, these organizations provide extensive financial and operational support to numerous fortunate recipients throughout the Milford community.
While there are costs associated with running the event, most have been deferred due to our generous sponsors. Please visit our 2019 Sponsor Info page to see them all – individuals and organizations alike - or let them know directly how much we appreciate their generosity if you have the opportunity!!