The Kentucky Derby wasn’t the only important race held in the United States yesterday. Under a bright blue sky with temperatures in the 60s, the 38th running of the Rotary Club of Estes Park’s Great Estes Park Duck Race took flight at 11 a.m. at Performance Park with the bugling of the iconic fanfare “Call to the Post.”
The first flight of 5,500 yellow rubber duckies was dropped from a cage suspended by a crane into Fall River to the cheers of hundreds of onlookers. The ducks made their way from Fall River to the Big Thompson River, winding through downtown Estes Park along the riverwalk to the finish line at the Estes Park Visitor Center, where the first 250 were set aside for the championship flight at 3 p.m.
A second cageful of 5,500 ducks was dropped at 1 p.m. Again, the first 250 ducks to reach the finish line were collected for the champion flight. For 2026, The Great Estes Park Rotary Duck Race offered three top cash prizes, including $10,000 to the owner of the first duck to cross the finish line in the final flight of 500 ducks, in addition to $6,000 and $4,000 to the second and third place finishers.
Sunshine, a large turnout that included thousands of families and children, and a strong volunteer effort helped power this year’s duck race, said Chuck Bonza, one of the four Rotary organizers known as the Big Ducks.
In an interview with Bonza on Sunday afternoon, the 2026 race came in about $6,000 shy of financial expectations, but he emphasized that the day’s success extended beyond dollars. As of Saturday, the event raised more than $194,000 to support scholarships and more than 70 area nonprofit organizations.
Since 1989, the annual event has raised more than $3.7 million. This year’s event had 44 sponsors and more than a dozen entertainers and activity providers.
Organizers are now turning their attention to the future, with an emphasis on recruiting new volunteers and sustaining community involvement. Bonza said interest remains strong, noting that many attendees return each year and new participants have already expressed interest in helping with future races.
The event continues to draw not only locals but also out-of-town visitors, underscoring its reach as both a community fundraiser and a regional attraction.
Despite organizational challenges in prior years, Bonza said this year’s race demonstrated the event’s resilience and the community support behind it.
“We’re open for people to be a part of this,” he said, pointing to the ongoing need for fresh volunteers to help carry the tradition forward.
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