Lucky Ducks, Art, and Treasures Take Over Downtown Saturday

For all the residents in the Menomonee Falls area staying home Memorial Day weekend – don’t feel down. There will be plenty going at home Saturday with all the ducks, art, treasures and more taking over downtown.

For the fifth consecutive year, the Knights of Columbus are sponsoring the Lucky Ducky Derby at . At 2 p.m. sharp, the gun will sound and 4,200 rubber ducks will be released via a front loader into Mill Pond. The ducks will cross the finish line just before the waterfall, and the winning duck will win one person $350.

Cash prizes are rewarded for the ducks that finish through 20^th place, and $25 even goes to the person with the last place duck. Each duck is individually numbered, and participants can enter the race by purchasing a duck for $2, or by doubling up and purchasing two for $5. Ducks can be purchased at the clubhouse, Belly Up Bar, , , or the Village Centre office. 

All the proceeds from the Ducky Derby fund the Knights of Columbus charities. It’s the organizations largest annual fundraiser. Annually, the event raises more than $10,000 for the organization.

“It’s a lot of work beforehand, but I’m excited for this year and we want to continue making the event better,” said Dave Glisczinski, who organizes the event. “It sustains our organization and helps us do what we do. It also is a great way to bring the community together.”

After the race, from 3-8 p.m. there will be live music, drinks, raffles and more at the Knights of Columbus clubhouse on Water Street. Lead Bottom will be the headline band for the evening.

Every year, Glisczinski drives to Medford, Wisconsin to pick up the 42 boxes of rubber ducks for the race. They are on loan from a Lions Club in Medford. Glisczinski said they rarely lose a duck, and all the ducks usually make it back home to Medford.

Art and Treasures

Also in its fifth year, the Village Centre is hosting its Art on the Walk event and The Sidewalk Market on the same day as the derby.

The Art on the Walk is a juried art show of 27 regional and local artists. They’ll have their works on display starting on the Main Street bridge and wrapping around east of the river to the Mill Pond Park gazebo.

Additionally, 61 merchants comprised of local businesses and other vendors will line the streets of downtown. A rummage sale is also planned in the parking lot of Colonial Plaza on Appleton Avenue. The variety of treasures for sale is rich.

Both featured events kick off at 10 a.m. and will close up at 4 p.m. - raine or shine.

“We will have something for everyone. From juried artists to one of a kind treasures,” said Village Centre Director Barb Watters. “We’re very happy with the turnout with the artists. We’re going to need more space for them next year.”

If you get hungry Saturday, there will be a brat fry, kettle corn sale, ice cream, and the Community League will host a bake sale at the Four Corners on Main Street and Appleton Avenue.

For the past five years, Watters said they’ve collaborated with the Knights of Columbus to host a successful event on Memorial Day weekend.

“We collaborated together, and we are trying to keep people in town and having fun,” Watters said. “We wanted to do something for all ages and all tastes to keep people excited. I think we came up with a great event.”

Room For Improvement

Although Glisczinski said the Lucky Ducky Derby has largely been a success, he’d like to make the event even better.

Therefore, he’s looking to people of Menomonee Falls to offer their ideas and suggestions for ways to make the event a bigger success. If you have a few suggestions, please leave them in the comments section below.