Rotary Club of Aspen's Annual Ducky Derby 2.0
The popular annual fundraiser was revised and modified this year because of COVID.
This unique event will feature 225 balls racing down the Thunderbowl ski run at Aspen Highlands.
The Rotary Club of Aspen announces a special edition of its signature annual fundraising event: Ducky Derby 2.0. It will look different this year, but retain all the zany fun for families it’s presented since 1992. The event will take place at Aspen Highlands ski area on Saturday, August 14, from 11 am to 4 pm.
This unique event will involve balls rolling down a mountain instead of ducks floating on a river! At the time last winter when the club had to make a decision about the Ducky Derby, COVID restrictions prohibited large crowds. So Aspen Rotary created an alternative to its traditional rubber duck race on the Roaring Fork River. The “duck-out-of-water” race will feature 225 yellow balls rolling down the Thunderbowl ski run.
Just like the past 28 years, this will be a family-friendly event, with live music, youth group games and activities, and a silent auction, as well as food and drink from the Highlands Alehouse. A big part of the Ducky Derby history is support for youth organizations in the Roaring Fork Valley.
How it works: Rotary members will release the 225 yellow balls to bounce down the ski run and be trapped at the bottom. The balls create over 20,000 different combinations of numbers. All chances are pre-assigned a number, and the first two ball numbers that finish will link to a winning number. The second two balls will link to the second-place winner, and the third two balls will link to a third-place winner. The three winners will receive, respectively, $5,000, $1,000, and $500.
A suggested donation of $10 or more will provide a supporter with an entry in the race. These donations will go toward youth organizations, community non-profits, international service projects, and high school scholarships in Basalt and Aspen. Since beginning the race in 1992, Rotary Club of Aspen has raised more than $4 million.
