This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

Ducks Parade Along Charles River in Dedham

Ninth annual Duck Race on the Charles brings community together at Riverdale Park.

Pink, yellow and blue birds filled the Charles River on Saturday, proving the Bruins' victory parade was far from the only duck-filled show in the Bay State.

The Neponset Valley Sunrise Rotary Club hosted its along the Charles at . Hundreds of attendees "adopted" plastic ducks for a chance to win for cash prizes.  

Event donations benefit NVSRC charities and programs. NVSRC volunteer Sharon Gearty said the group averages roughly 600 duck sales per year.

Find out what's happening in Dedhamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This year's event gave attendees plenty to reasons to "quack" as it featured free food, pony rides and face painting. 

"Just watching kids have a blast is great," Gearty said. "Every little one thinks his or her pink or yellow or blue duck is the [race] winner."

Find out what's happening in Dedhamwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 The Bruins' duck-boat parade stole some of the race's thunder, but the warm conditions helped the NVSRC overcome a slow start to the afternoon.

"The weather is big in determining what the crowd is like," Gearty said. "Today really seems like a perfect day."

Local businesses provided support for the event, setting up booths offering free goods to attendees.  

The Chuck Wagon provided complimentary hamburgers, hot dogs and beverages to attendees. Chuck Wagon owner Chuck Dello Iacono said the event offers a fun-filled experience for parents and children.

"Seeing the kids have a great time is the best part of the day," Dello Iacono said. 

Dello Iacono, a Dedham resident, has donated his efforts to the event for at least seven years. The business owner emphasized the duck race provides a thrilling experience every year.

"There's excitement when the ducks take off," he said. "There's a silent roar when [the ducks] hit the water." 

But a hedgehog, kitten, snake and tortoise nearly made the ducks get their feathers in a bunch.

The Animal Rescue League of Boston brought its Mobile Animal Transport vehicle to give attendees a firsthand look at different types of pets. Attendees embraced the opportunity to meet a variety of animals and creatures, including Bo, a three-legged kitten, Hester Sue, a hedgehog, and Jerry, a corn snake.

The ARL shared information about the at the event. In addition, the orgnaization maximized the opportunity to help pets find new homes. 

"It's been a great day," Debby Vogel, ARL volunteer services manager  said. "It's just nice to be around the community."

The race included hundreds of rubber ducks cruising along the Charles River. Dedham resident Anne Rampino's pink duck finished first, earning its spot as the top bird in the flock. Rampino won $1,000 for her duck's effort.

Dedham resident John Evangelista earned $250 for his duck's third-place finish. Evangelista said the victory came as a surprise.

"I was shocked. I only bought one duck," Evangelista said. "I never win anything, so this was a nice treat."

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?