Easter egg hunt will precede Duck Derby

Thousands of plastic ducks will race to the finish line from the shore of Lake Gregory’s south shore beach this coming Saturday, April 16, during Crestline’s 12th annual Duck Derby.

Everyone is invited to watch from the shoreline as the duckies waddle their way down a tarp that will be set up by local firefighters who will be using a fire hose to propel the ducks into the chilly lake water.
Gates to the event will open at 10 a.m. in the south shore parking lot, with an Easter egg hunt for children up to 5 years of age beginning at 10:30 a.m., ages 6 to 8 at 11:15 a.m. and ages 9 and up at 12 noon. This event will be followed by the Duck Derby, which kicks off at 1 p.m.

The event, which had been canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID pandemic, is free to attend and typically attracts over 1,000 participants and spectators to the south shore of Lake Gregory to take part in the carnival-like festivities, which will include face painting, artisan vendors, a bounce house, balloons and games.

Those wanting to take part in this family-friendly fundraising event, which is sponsored by the Crestline Chamber of Commerce, can purchase a ticket to sponsor a duck and see how your pick competes. Tickets are $5 for one duck or $20 for a family of five ducks. Cash prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place duck, as well as the duck that comes in last, the so-called “lame duck.”

Tickets can be purchased at Goodwin’s Market in Crestline and at the event. Funds raised will be donated to the Boys & Girls Club of the Mountain Communities, as well as Crestline’s annual fireworks show. Free parking is available courtesy of the Lake Gregory Company.

If your adopted duck is the first one to cross the finish line and gets scooped up by race officials on a boat stationed at the finish line, you will win a check for $1,000. The second-place winner will take home a check for $500, while the third-place winner will receive $250. But that’s not all: If you happen to be the lame duck’s sponsored owner, you will get $100.

Food vendors will include Buddy’s BBQ, Cali Shaved Ice, Elevated Greens Eatery, El Tacontento and Goodwin and Son’s Market. Merchants and craft vendors include Lake Mud Pottery, Wears the Mountain, Lake Gregory Company, Paparazzi Jewelry and Designed by Faith, while entertainers include musician Super Tall Paul, magician Zac Swan and Face Painting by Tiffany.