PARKERSBURG - Tickets for the annual Rubber Ducky Derby, held during the Parkersburg Homecoming Festival, are still available at area businesses.
"Tickets have been available for a month, but we just want to remind people they are still available," said Homecoming president Randall Roberts.
This is 22nd year for the derby, which Roberts said has become a very popular part of the Homecoming festivities.
"A lot of people have come to look forward to the derby, which has been a crowded contest for over 20 years of the festival's 30 years," Roberts added.
Not only is the Rubber Ducky Derby one of the most popular, but it is also one of the main revenue producers for homecoming.
"Last year we raised $12,000 during the Rubber Ducky Derby and that really helped us for this year's Homecoming," Roberts said.
All of the money raised during Homecoming events - the majority of the fundraisers take place in the months and weeks before the festival begins - keeps the weekend free to the public.
"We want to make sure we can keep the entertainment free for everyone and the best way to do that is raise money through raffles and other contests," Roberts added.
The money raised during these fundraisers means no gate admission is charged at the Parkersburg Homecoming Festival and the concerts remain free of charge.
This will be the second year the Rubber Ducky Derby will not include the rubber ducks being dropped into the river.
"Last year and this year we decided to draw the winning number from the stage," Roberts said. "Next year we might go back to the river, but I haven't heard any complaints so far and it is a lot easier to draw a number than drop the ducks."
Roberts continued that to drop the ducks takes a lot of volunteers before they can collect the rubber ducks, clean them off and get things ready for next year.
"It's actually a nightmare to use the rubber ducks," he said.
The drawing will be 5 p.m. Aug. 19.
Tickets for the derby are available at Foodland stores, BB&T, ParMar, Pifer's BP, Community Bank, First Federal Bank, Blennerhassett Starbucks, Wolf's Camepr Sales, United Bank and the Mid-Ohio Valley Tourist Bureau.
