
The Chicago Ducky Derby will bring 100,000 rubber duckies to the Chicago River tomorrow
The annual rubber duck race, held in benefit of the Special Olympics Illinois, will begin at Pioneer Court on Thursday, August 7 at 10am, with the beloved Splash Down festival to kick off promptly at 1pm. Bring your camera and sense of adventure to support this worthy cause.
If you'd rather do more than be a spectator, you can make an even bigger impact by "adopting" a duck. Each yellow buddy starts at $10 and can be adopted individually or in larger packages on the day of the race in person at Pioneer Court at 401 North Michigan Avenue until 12:50pm, while supplies last.
The Quack Pack is $30 and includes six ducks, the Ducky Dozen includes 12 ducks and costs $60, the Flock of Ducks includes 24 ducks and costs $120, and the Diamond Duck Pack includes 240 ducks and costs $1,200. So far, nearly 63,000 ducks have been purchased, and those dollars will go to raising funds and awareness for the very deserving Special Olympics Illinois athletes. (Click here to adopt a yellow rubber duck or to purchase fun t-shirts, supporting the event.)
And, yes, there are prizes if your ducky wins! Among the goodies is a Chevy Trailblazer SUV, promoted by Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Chevy Dealers. Other winnings include a $2,500 cash prize via Wintrust Financial and four coveted premium W Club Chicago Cubs tickets for the Cubs versus Cardinals season finale game at Wrigley Field on September 28. These are high stakes ducks!
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Western Telegraph
5 days ago
- Western Telegraph
Pembroke Town & Country Show 2025 returns to Lamphey
The annual event, which has been running for more than 200 years, took place on Wednesday, August 6. Set in the Show Field, Lamphey, the day promised a diverse range of attractions suitable for all ages. The show, organised by the Farmers Club since 1817, featured cattle, sheep, and goat judging, along with horse and dog shows. Visitors can also enjoyed trade and craft stalls, as well as main ring attractions like the Quack Pack. A variety of vintage tractors and cars were also on display. The attractions arena hosted a mix of entertainment throughout the day. This included displays of vintage, classic, and veteran cars and bikes, vintage tractors and equipment, the Pembrokeshire Mud Slingers, Meiron Owen's Quack Pack, Pembroke Dock Fire Brigade, and a parade of Cresselly Hunt Foxhounds. The day also showcased an agricultural working machinery display by Park Wall Group. Other attractions on the showground included a farrier's demonstration, sheep shearing, a South Pembrokeshire YFC display, the Food Story exhibition, egg classes & fur exhibits and a Pets Corner. The domestic and horticultural marquee housed a variety of exhibits and competitions. Horse events and class competitions for cattle, sheep and goats took place throughout the day. A range of animals, like alpacas and pigs, were also on show for visitors to see. For younger visitors, a dedicated marquee hosted Debbie & Kelly's Magic Show and GIZMO, a children's entertainer and magician, who provided plenty of fun and laughter. The craft marquee and shopping mall, established in 2005, continues to be a popular attraction at the show. Located in the centre of the show in a light and airy marquee, it offers a range of handmade products from over 42 stalls. Visitors can buy a range of jewellery, pyrography craft, children's clothes, wood-turned products, paintings, and books written by local people inside. Visitors can also find shopping stalls selling a variety of goods such as cushions, felt pictures, skincare products, soap, gifts and greeting cards, preserves, honey, and rum.


Time Out
06-08-2025
- Time Out
The Chicago Ducky Derby will bring 100,000 rubber duckies to the Chicago River tomorrow
Back again this summer, the Chicago Ducky Derby is set to make a massive, albeit quirky, impact: Tomorrow, thousands of little yellow rubber ducks will be dumped into the Chicago River—100,000 to be exact—beginning at the historic Columbus Drive Bridge. The annual rubber duck race, held in benefit of the Special Olympics Illinois, will begin at Pioneer Court on Thursday, August 7 at 10am, with the beloved Splash Down festival to kick off promptly at 1pm. Bring your camera and sense of adventure to support this worthy cause. If you'd rather do more than be a spectator, you can make an even bigger impact by "adopting" a duck. Each yellow buddy starts at $10 and can be adopted individually or in larger packages on the day of the race in person at Pioneer Court at 401 North Michigan Avenue until 12:50pm, while supplies last. The Quack Pack is $30 and includes six ducks, the Ducky Dozen includes 12 ducks and costs $60, the Flock of Ducks includes 24 ducks and costs $120, and the Diamond Duck Pack includes 240 ducks and costs $1,200. So far, nearly 63,000 ducks have been purchased, and those dollars will go to raising funds and awareness for the very deserving Special Olympics Illinois athletes. (Click here to adopt a yellow rubber duck or to purchase fun t-shirts, supporting the event.) And, yes, there are prizes if your ducky wins! Among the goodies is a Chevy Trailblazer SUV, promoted by Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Chevy Dealers. Other winnings include a $2,500 cash prize via Wintrust Financial and four coveted premium W Club Chicago Cubs tickets for the Cubs versus Cardinals season finale game at Wrigley Field on September 28. These are high stakes ducks!


Telegraph
17-06-2025
- Telegraph
The 10 best water parks in the UK
A weekend spent at a water park might be the perfect family trip. The chutes, flumes and slides are a diverting attraction for children of all ages (and secretly a lot of fun for the adults, too). There are plenty of options across the country, from toddler-friendly paddling pools to adrenaline-boosting watersports. Mercifully, most of Britain's water parks have both indoor and outdoor options, which means that whether it's a heatwave-filled summer or a gloomy Sunday afternoon, there's plenty of fun to be had. We've rounded up 10 of the UK 's best water parks, covering everything from wave machines to waterborne obstacle courses. 1. Waterworld, Stoke, Staffordshire Waterworld offers high-octane rides alongside space for relaxation. Speed down Nucleus in a rubber ring before lowering your adrenaline in the laidback bubble pool, or take on the twisting, turning, thrill-filled rides in Tornado Alley. There are plenty of pint-sized slides for toddlers, while adventurous teens can brave the rapids. Opening times: Open 10am-3pm on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays; 10am-5:30pm at weekends. Prices: £24 for adults and children over 1.1 metres; £7 for babies under 24 months. Book here. 2. Splashdown, Poole, Dorset Become a waterslide connoisseur with Splashdown's 13 slides, which come in varying degrees of severity. Visitors under five can choose from a 3D reef pool, a water play area (complete with water cannons) and a splash pool. Meanwhile, older visitors can get started on the tamest flume, the Red River Roller (91 metres of slow twists and turns) and work their way up to Baron's Revenge, a near-vertical eight-metre drop in total darkness. For adults looking to relax, there are sun terraces, a Jacuzzi and a café. There's another Splashdown branch in Quaywest, Devon. Opening times: Opening times are variable throughout the year; check the website for more details. Prices: A three-hour session costs £22 per person; £18 for children under five with a companion adult; £9 for under ones (also with a companion adult); £6.50 for spectators. Book here. 3. New Forest Water Park, Fordingbridge, Hampshire One for older children, teenagers or young-at-heart adults, the New Forest Water Park boasts an inflatable aqua park with trampolines, monkey bars, climbing walls and more. Sign up as a family and race each other to beat the obstacles – imagine you're on Total Wipeout – in an hour-long session. After conquering the aqua park, there's wakeboarding, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding to sample. You could even make a weekend of it, as there's an option to camp overnight. Sustenance can be found at the Shred Shed, with simple fare including burgers, jacket potatoes and pancakes. Opening times: Opening times are variable throughout the year; check the website for more details. Prices: £22 per person for a one-hour session. Book here. 4. Alton Towers resort, Staffordshire It is mostly known as a theme park (read our ultimate guide to theme parks here). But Alton Towers is also home to a water park, so make sure to pack your swimming costume. It's rides like the Rush 'N' Rampage, where you can choose your own funky music and whirling lights, that make it a memorable day out. Opening times: Opening times are variable throughout the year; typical hours are 10am-4pm. Check the website for more details. Pricing: Entrance to the water park (excluding the theme park) starts at £18 per person. Book here. 5. Sandcastle, Blackpool, Lancashire Take some time out at Sandcastle, the UK's largest indoor water park. It's been open since 1986, and since then has become a legendary spot for aficionados (and even makes it into the background of a Dandy Warhol's music video). Try the Masterblaster, billed as the world's longest indoor rollercoaster water slide and one of four white knuckle rides. Next, meander your way along the Ushi Gushi River Creek or slide down the Treetops Water Chutes. There's plenty of reason to visit without children, too. Adults can head for the Sea Breeze Spa, which includes sauna, steam room, aromatherapy and salt inhalation rooms. Or set yourself up for the day in the VIP Tiki Cabana, which comes with a stocked fridge, a TV, a private hot-tub and lunch. Opening times: Opening times are variable throughout the year; check the website for more details. Pricing: From £24.95 for those aged eight and above; £15.95 for ages three-seven; under threes go free. Book here. 6. Let's Go Hydro, Carryduff, Belfast At Let's Go Hydro, you'll find another aqua obstacle course, this one featuring a large tower, a slide and climbing wall, wiggle disks and a floating trampoline. There's also a giant paddling pool on site, as well as a spa and open water swimming in Knockbracken reservoir. For something more adventurous, try tubing, wakeboarding or kayaking. Opening times: From midday to 6pm for the Aquapark; times for other activities variable. Check the website for more details. Prices: £25 per person for the Aquapark; prices for other activities vary. Book here. 7. LC Swansea, Wales The perfect stop for budding adrenaline junkies, LC Swansea also has a ride called the Masterblaster. This one is a 'white-water rollercoaster waterslide', and is an ideal introduction to the genre. In addition, there's a trusty wave pool and a reliable lazy river. Little ones aren't left out, either – they can hang out in the interactive pool complete with slides, tipping buckets and fountains to keep them occupied. Opening times: 9am to 8pm, activity-dependent. Pricing: £9.50 for adults; £7.70 for four-15 year olds; £3.10 for under threes (under ones go free). Book here. 8. Alpamere, Scarborough The ever-popular Alpamere combines rides with relaxation. Four slides – the twisting Snowstorm, frightening Black Run, double-tube Olympic Run and thrilling Cresta Run – will keep the family entertained for hours. As will the wave pool, which erupts every 30 minutes. But if all that gets too much, the infinity pool, looking out of the bay, is a breathtaking place to swim. Opening times: Opening times are variable throughout the year; check the website for more details. Pricing: Tickets start at £18.50 for adults and £14.50 for children; tickets for toddlers start at £4. Book here. 9. Thorpe Lakes, Surrey Heading for Thorpe Park? Thorpe Lakes is right next door and offer water-based fun for anyone over six. Children can try out their obstacle course skills in the aqua park – there are sessions for under 13s and under 18s throughout the day. Plenty of water sports are on offer, too. Sign up for wakeboarding or water skiing lessons, especially if you have never tried before, as the centre specialises in training up beginners. Opening times: 10am to 6pm daily, activity-dependent. Pricing: £20 per person for a 55-minute session. Book here. 10. The Wave, Coventry These aren't your garden-variety waterslides. The Wave offers hallucinogenic light shows and heart-in-mouth floor-drops as part of its rides. Their wave pool is one of the best in the country, while its lazy river is perfect for a chilled-out afternoon. Away from the pool, visitors can try out an extensive list of spa treatments, or book fitness classes, gym sessions or a slot on the squash courts. Opening times: Opening times are variable throughout the year. On most days during school holidays, it is open from 10:15am-6pm. Check the website for more details. Pricing: From £14.40 for visitors over 12; juniors from £12.50; infants under one are free. Book here.