Sertoma Duck Race Festival returns to Ozark

CHRISTIAN COUNTY, Mo.- On Saturday, the Sertoma club in Christian County hosted the Duck Race Festival — and one person left as the owner of a new chevy Camaro. To win that convertible, all they had to do was be the luckiest duck.

Bradley Jackson is the Chairman of the event and has been for eight years. He said he is excited for it every year.

“It’s an amazing event for our community. Everybody’s down here. Everybody’s having a good time,” Jackson said. “They’re smiling and laughing and hanging out with their friends. That makes me feel good, you know, because it’s all about community to me.”

This weekend’s festival held by the Christian County children’s charities was filled with food, fireworks, activities and hot air balloons.

Thousands of people showed up for the main event Saturday evening — the rubber duck race.

Emerick and Audrey Easterling just moved to the Ozarks from Alabama, and they said they weren’t going to miss the chance on a new car.

“Well, we came for the duck race, and we bought, like, six tickets,” Emerick said. “So, we’re trying to win that Camaro. My dad says if we win it, I’ll get it for my 16th birthday. “Audrey added.

To be the big winner, participants had to buy their duck to float down the river. If their number crossed first, they left with a brand-new car, but everyone in the top 15 goes home with a prize.

“The first duck out of the water is our grand prize winner. Then we have other prizes,” Jackson said. “We have a $1,800 custom piece jewelry from Mitchum Jewelers. We’ve got $1,000 worth of gas cards to Signal. And then we’ve got several other prizes.”

Money raised during the event will go towards local organizations such as Care to Learn Ozark and the Children’s Smile Center, which provides dentistry for low-income kids.

“We’re out trying to raise money to take care of our brothers and sisters who need a little bit of help. We like to focus on the children of the community,” Jackson said. “You know, they’re sometimes put in situations that they don’t have control of. Right. Situational poverty being one of those things. We want to make sure they have the tools to be successful in their young lives.”

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