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90K rubber ducks float down Chicago River

Duck derby
Duck derby FILE PHOTO: Rubber ducks float in the Chicago River during a charity fundraiser on August 07, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

CHICAGO — A truck-full of yellow rubber duckies was dumped into the Chicago River, all for a good cause.

The flotilla of more than 91,500 ducks started when the truck dumped them from one side of a half-raised bridge as part of the annual Chicago Ducky Derby, The Associated Press reported.

After about 15 minutes, the organizers plucked a winner and runner-up from the water.

The event was a fundraiser for Special Olympics Illinois and included not only the duck race, but also a festival.

People “adopt” the ducks for the race — $10 for one or $30 for a “quack pack” of six — with the event raising more than $480,000.

Since 2005, the derby has raised almost $5 million, WLS reported.

A $10 donation gives a Special Olympics athlete a lunch at a competition, while the six-pack supplies gold medals for a team.

The person with the fastest duck won an SUV, with the runner-up getting $2,500 in cash, the AP reported.

It was the 21st year of the event, WGN reported.

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