Great American Duck Race

Great American Duck Race

Fourth weekend in August

This uniquely American event started in 1980 in Deming, New Mexico, just to make a little whoopee. Up to 80 live ducks race for cash prizes in an eight-lane chute. There are races that include politicians' heats and a media heat. Other events in the week preceding the duck races are a parade, a lawnmower race, dances, hot-air balloons, an arts and crafts exhibit, an outhouse race, a chili cookoff, a pageant of people dressed like ducks, and a duck contest in which ducks are dressed like people. Race participants come from several states; spectators now number about 20,000, almost double the population of Deming.
Because one duck race a year is not enough, organizers began holding Great American Duck Race II, the Winter Games, over the third weekend in February in 2001. This race is held indoors at the Southwestern New Mexico State Fairgrounds.

CONTACTS:
Great American Duck Race of Deming Inc.
209 S. Diamond
Deming, NM 88030
888-345-1125 or 505-544-0469; fax: 505-544-0774
www.demingduckrace.com

Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary, Fourth Edition. © 2010 by Omnigraphics, Inc.