Latisha Pruitt speaks at a Rubber Ducky race planning committee meeting. Photos by Catherine Stachowiak
Members of the committee to plan the Rubber Ducky races event for the Kern Valley Exchange Club have been planning the event for some time now.
The group prefers tickets be sold by August 15 so that enough ducks are prepped in advance of the actual event date, August 24.
“This is our biggest fund raiser. This will be the 37th annual Rubber Ducky race for the Kern River Valley. This is our base fundraiser, for the scholarships, for high school kids. Exchange Club gives the most amount of money, out of the whole valley, to our graduating class each year. Plus we honor the students and the teachers from other grades throughout the year,” said Latisha Pruitt, board member of the Kern Valley Exchange Club.
Due to the flooding, and the fact Riverside Park was closed last year, up until three days before the Rubber Ducky event, the exchange club used Circle Park last year for the fundraiser.
Pruitt also explained that because of COVID the club wasn’t allowed to hold the event in the river since 2019. Therefore during COVID the club used Rivernook Camp Ground, the tub one year, and the tumbler last year.
Pruitt said, “It’s back in the river this year, going to be at Riverside Park in Kernville. The duck races start at 1pm. But the family fun and everything should be set up by 10am for people to start coming out.”
A meal is included, at around 11am with each entrance ticket to the event. Attendees will be able to enjoy a delicious buffet, with deep pit, baked beans, potato salad, and a beverage.
There will be a water slide for children at the event, a snow cone truck, games, vendors, face painting, and kettle corn, along with a dunk tank. “Years past it has been a family fun event. It’s wholesome too,” Pruitt said.
Each duck costs $25 and a family of 5 ducks cost $100. Tickets will also be sold the day of the event however the public is urged to purchase them in advance from Exchange Club members or president Fred Roach at (760) 223-0488.
Pruitt said the Kern Valley Exchange Club also hopes that Camp Erwin Owen, possibly One Spade Packers and FFA will also be volunteering at the event.
