Lordy, we love a great duck race
Record crowds turn out for 25th Waipawa spring fling which raises money for charity
Record crowds and a mayor willing to have sponges thrown at her face delighted organisers of the 25th annual Duck Dayin Waipawa.
The popular Central Hawke’s Bay spring festival day on Saturday involved music, craft stalls, a corn maze, food trucks and of course, the iconic duck race downthe river.
Pip Burne, one of the many organisers, said despite the Havelock North Village Festival, Gypsy Fair and Home & Garden show being held on the same day, “record crowds of people in the thousands turned up this year.”
“Some people said to me that they’d never seen so many people in Nelly Jull Park which was great.”
The three duck races are the main crowd-drawing event of the day with 60decorated by businesses racing in the corporate race, 1600 little yellow ducks racing in the general race and 25 silver ducks racing to celebrate the 25th anniversary.
“We sold 1600 and there were still people looking formore tickets.”
This year ducks raced in the original event 25 years ago were strung through a tree by Centralines for decoration.
Funds raised from duck race tickets, stall holders’ fees and an art auction are all part of fundraising for the Ronald McDonald House charity.
Last year they raised about $7000 and about $4000the year before.
Burne said the event celebrates community and gives people a reason to come out and catchup with each other.
For some stall holders, itwas their first time out since February Burne said.
Central Hawke’s Bay mayor Alex Walker willingly had about 15 sponges thrown at her face as part of the fundraising for the Ronald McDonald house.
“People could hop in and volunteer to have a sponge thrown at them. All sorts of local people had done it so it was pretty obvious when I was there that I needed to put my face in it.”
Walker said the event is an important part of Central Hawke’s Bay and has been for 25 years. “The biggest thing is getting community out and about and having fun together, that’s what I saw on Saturday.”