PHOTOS: Rotary Club’s Ducky Derby returns with creativity to Aspen
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
The Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby — the organization’s most important and most popular fundraiser — returned to Aspen’s Rio Grande Park on Saturday.
In normal years, around 20,000 rubber ducks would have raced down the Roaring Fork River with a significant cash prize on the line for the owner of the winning duck (each had a number that could be purchased beforehand, similar to a raffle).
However, with water levels as low as they currently are, organizer’s had to nix that element of the fun and instead created a series of foot races and relays for the kids to help determine the winning ducks. This included bag races, hula hooping and throwing a rubber duck at a target.
While the river race didn’t happen, the other normal festivities did occur at Rio Grande Park, such as food vendors and more activities and games for the children.
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Kids place rubber ducks into a bag during a relay race as part of the Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
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Around 20,000 rubber ducks are dumped onto the ground as part of the Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
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Around 20,000 rubber ducks are dumped onto the ground as part of the Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
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Around 20,000 rubber ducks are dumped onto the ground as part of the Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
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Around 20,000 rubber ducks are dumped onto the ground as part of the Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
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A young kid prepares to throw a toy axe toward the target during the Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
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Around 20,000 rubber ducks are dumped onto the ground as part of the Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
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Kids compete in a race involving rubber ducks and hula hoops as part of the Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
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Kids collect rubber ducks into a bag during a relay race as part of the Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
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Kids collect rubber ducks into a bag during a relay race as part of the Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
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Kids place rubber ducks into a bag during a relay race as part of the Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
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Around 20,000 rubber ducks are dumped onto the ground as part of the Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
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Kids compete in a relay race as part of the Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
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Kids collect rubber ducks into a bag during a relay race as part of the Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
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Kids gather rubber ducks into a bag during a relay race as part of the Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
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A young kid enjoys a mango snack during the Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
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Around 20,000 rubber ducks are dumped onto the ground as part of the Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
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Kids compete in a bag race and relay as part of the Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
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Kids wait in line to attempt to throw a rubber duck at a target during the Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
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A child fishes in a kiddie pool during the Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
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Kids attempt to throw a rubber duck into a target during the Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
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Kids collect rubber ducks into a bag during a relay race as part of the Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
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Kids gather rubber ducks into a bag during a relay race as part of the Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
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A kid throws a toy axe toward the target during the Rotary Club of Aspen’s annual Ducky Derby on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, at Rio Grande Park in Aspen.
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Reach Austin at acolbert@aspentimes.com
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