Frequently Asked Questions

Learn about our cause and how the duck race works.
Make a contribution:
Adopt a Duck Now!
How do my ducks get in the water?

Let’s Tag! A few days prior to the Duck Race, volunteers will place numbered tags on the bottom of every duck that will be in the Duck Race - which is 35,000! The tags are waterproof labels beginning with a 7 digit number and ending with a 7 digit number.

For Example:
2458001-2498000

What is my tag number?

We can’t give you your tag number because we won’t know it until we run the mix report right before the race. We want to make sure that no ducky is taking steroids and the race is not fixed so numbers are never given out. However, rest assured that all of the ducks you have adopted will be in the water.

How does it work?

Everyone who adopts a duck, whether online, in the mail, at a Duck Adoption booth or in a sponsoring business is entered into what we call E-Quack, a database that stores all of the information. Next to your name in E-Quack is the number of ducks you have adopted. The tag range is entered into E-Quack and all the numbers are shuffled up. Then, E-Quack automatically assigns the number of ducks you have adopted next to Tag Numbers. Thus, if you adopted 5 ducks, your name will be placed next to 5 different Tag Numbers.

What if you have 34,000 Adopted Ducks but you have 35,000 Tagged Ducks?

If all our ducks have not been adopted by the Day of the Race, it means that a lucky adopter can still adopt up to an hour prior to the Duck Race. Their names will be placed at random into the mix, next to a number that does not already have a name by it. Anyone can adopt until an hour before the race begins, as long as the Duck Race is not sold out.

What time is the Duck Race?

All kinds of family fun will start at 11 a.m. at EastSide Centre in East Peoria. The ducks will start racing at 1 p.m. The first 15 ducks through the finish line win the race!

How will I know if my duck wins?

CFPA will contact you using the information you provided with your duck adoption. You do not need to be present to win.

Are they real ducks or rubber ducks?

Rubber ducks, silly!

Once I adopt a duck, do I get to keep it?

No. After you adopt your duck, the Center for Prevention of Abuse will work hard to train, coach, and make sure each one is ready for the Duck Race. After the Race, all of the ducks will fly off to their next race somewhere in the US.

Do I need to be present to win?

No, the winner does not need to be present to win. We do hope you will join us for the festivities though!

Is there an admission fee for the Duck Race?

No, the Duck Race is open to the public and is held at EastSide Center in East Peoria.

Can I adopt ducks on Race Day?

If all of our 35,000 ducks have not been adopted, the remaining ducks will be available for adoption Saturday (Race Day) until one hour prior to the start of the race at a booth set up at the Duck Race.

Who does the event benefit?

All proceeds from the Duck Race benefit the Center for Prevention of Abuse, a 501 c3 charity. Our mission is to help all people - men, women and children - live free from violence and abuse.