The 4th annual Duck Derby Festival was held Saturday at the Jim Thorpe Sportsmen’s Club, hosted by the Jim Thorpers Bicycle Team.

All proceeds from this event benefit The Bicycle Team and Families Behind the Badge which supports families of fallen first responders.

“It’s fun watching the ducks come down the creek,” said Patricia Spillman, one of the coordinators. “It’s fun to give away the $1,000.”

The first prize of the derby was $1,000. Second prize was $500, third was $250, fourth was $100, and fifth through tenth place each won $50.

A total of 2,625 pink, blue, and yellow plastic ducks, each with a number on it, was released in the Mauch Chunk Creek a few hundred feet away from the club along Flagstaff Road

The ducks floated down the creek until they reached a net stretched across the creek. The first ten ducks won the prizes.

The Cornhole Tournament that was to be held along with the derby and the festival was canceled due to the weather. Corn hole games were set up for people to enjoy on their own.

They also had homemade hamburgers, hot dogs, chili, and homemade baked goods for sale. A bonfire was lit, and a 50/50 drawing was also held.

“Altogether, we raised $8,840,” Spillman reported.

The Jim Thorpers Bicycle Team has 138 members, and supports and rides in the annual Families Behind the Badge “Ben to the Shore” Bike Tour, a 65-mile bike ride in July from Philadelphia to Atlantic City. For over 35 years, the Families Behind the Badge Children’s Foundation has been honoring fallen first responders and supporting the children in the communities they serve.

Tickets were sponsored by The Jim Thorpe House of Jerky.