Thousands of bright yellow rubber ducks enter Bear Creek in Downtown Evergreen, Colorado, for That Dam Ducky Race. The numbered ducks begin at the dam spillway, dropped from an 85-foot ladder fire engine at 1pm, and float downstream toward the finish at Highland Haven Creekside Inn. The event runs from 11am to 3pm, with family activities in the main parking lot before the drop and winners announced there at the closing ceremony.
People line the creek bank to watch for their duck, as the top three finishers win cash prizes and other ducks can earn smaller prizes. First prize is $1,500 and second prize is $1,000. Duck sales can sell out, and the money helps Downtown Evergreen cover the Annual Downtown Evergreen Holiday Walk and other local events, with part of the proceeds also going toward a new downtown mural. The day also draws people into local shops and restaurants, with live music extending the visit beyond the race itself.