17th annual Duck Dash set Saturday at local park

The 17th annual Samuel Dixon Family Health Centers Duck Dash is set for Saturday, Oct.12, at Bridgeport Park in Valencia from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The event offers the community a chance to “adopt” rubber ducks, with packages that range from $5 to $100, with the money supporting the free and low-cost community health clinics.

The ducks are then released into the water at Bridgeport Park, where attendees are able to watch them “race” in the water. Cash prizes range from $100 to $2,000 for the winners of the race, in addition to other prizes.

“It’s a fun event,” said Gloria Mercado-Fortine, chair of the board of directors for Samuel Dixon Family Health Center. “We build a waterway, and it’s awesome to see the ducks on the water.”

The purpose of the event is to raise awareness and funds for the Sam Dixon Health Centers, which provide mental, dental and health care for those who aren’t able to access it, according to event officials. For example, if a person adopts seven rubber ducks, they’ve paid for someone’s entire visit for health services, according to a news release for the event.

What’s in store

The family-friendly activities include musical performance, rubber duck-racing contests, prizes, food truck and a health booth. Games will be provided for the community, as well, according to organizers.

Rock climbing, face painting and other activities will be provided for families, as well as booths from various community resources. Children will have the chance to decorate a rubber duck and race it in a kids-only race called “Duck-O-Ration.”

Dorrel Salmon and Island Passion Band are the artists who will be performing authentic Carribean music.

All proceeds will go to the Samuel Dixon Family Health Center, a nonprofit organization established in 1980. It provides health resources, support and guidance for the underserved community in the Santa Clarita Valley and nearby communities.

For this year, more than 1,600 ducks have been adopted so far, raising more than $7,000. The overall goal is for 5,000 rubber ducks, which can be adopted online, at the event and the three Sam Dixon locations in Val Verde, Canyon Country and Newhall.

The event itself is free of charge. For more information, visit www.duckrace.com/scv.

Signal file photos (Above) Autumn Graham, dressed in a duck suit, reaches for the rubber ducks in the holding pond before the first heat at the 2018 Rubber Ducky Festival, held at Bridgeport Park in Valencia. (Left) Boy Scouts from Troop 609 of Newhall scoop up the winning ducks at the end of the first heat during the 2018 festival.