Vail's Gore Creek will once again become a sea of bright yellow, as thousands of rubber ducks compete for charity and the entertainment of the enormous crowd in attendance. A Labor Day tradition in Vail, residents and guests can purchase ducks to race in their name for $5 per duck. The competition is put on by the Vail Rotary and proceeds will go to charities including scholarships for local youth. Prizes for the quickest ducks to the finish. $5 for a duck.

The Summit Foundation is hoping for some ducky weather at its annual duck race Sept. 3 on the Blue River in Breckenridge.

The foundation owns 15,000 ducks for individuals and businesses to adopt. Anyone can buy a "six quack" of six ducks for $25; a dozen quackers for $50 or a golden flock (25 ducks) for $100. All duck bucks benefit The Summit Foundation, which improves the quality of life for residents and guests by awarding money to local nonprofit agencies.

For 18 years, the organization has raised money by racing rubber ducks down the river. But bad weather has dampened the last couple of races. Last year, it snowed, and the foundation had to keep 3,000 ducks that normally race in storage, due to poor turnout. It owns 15,000 rubber ducks and usually races about 10,000 a year.

"We were killed by the weather the last two years, so anyone who has access to the weather god, we'd love them to have a chat," said Deb Edwards, executive director.

Last year, the foundation raised more than $52,000. In 18 years, the ducks have raised $453,938, said Åsa Armstrong of The Summit Foundation. This year, she hopes to break the record of a little more than 10,000 ducks adopted. To reach that goal, all of the nonprofits in the county are selling ducks, as well as board members, banks, grocery stores and other entities, such as the internet.

Race Times
2:00 PM KIDS DUCK DASH
Kids 12 and under will launch a maximum of 300 purchased specialty ducks in the Blue River
approximately 100 yards from the finish line. Age appropriate prizes will be awarded to the top 20 ducks.
ADOPT A KIDS DUCK DASHER

3:00 PM 1STBANK BUSINESS BATTLE
A maximum of 200 ducks will compete for a VIP suite at a 2007 Colorado Rockies Game.
Your GIGANTIC DUCK, decorated to represent your family or business, will be on display at the Breckenridge 1STBANK.

On race day, your business race duck will float alongside the other business battle ducks for this year’s title.
ADOPT YOUR BUSINESS BATTLE DUCK

4:00 PM SLIFER SMITH & FRAMPTON REAL ESTATE GREAT RUBBER DUCK RACE
A maximum of 15,000 yellow rubber ducks will race down the Blue River in hopes of securing one of over thirty prizes for their adopters. This year’s grand prize is a 2006 hot tub courtesy of Lindell Spas Inc.
ADOPT YOUR GREAT RUBBER DUCK

Entertainment Times
NOON – 2:00PM
MUSICAL ETERTAINMENT BY MARY BETH CROSS

2:00PM – 4:00PM
MUSICAL ETERTAINMENT BY BONNIE SMITH ALLEN AND THE OBSESSIONS

ALL DAY CARNIVAL AND JUMPING FUN WITH AIRNASTICS Vail Rotary Duck Race
Location: Vail Village
Saturday September 2, 2006
11:00AM - 5:30PM

Free to watch
$5 for duck