The Rotary Club of Bryant will bring back one of its most recognizable community events on Saturday, May 2, as it hosts the 2026 Rubber Duck Derby Festival and 5K Race at Mills Park. Read more below.
Organizers will kick off the day early with the Athletico-sponsored 5K race at 8 a.m., followed by a kid-focused Fun Run at 9 a.m. Participants can register for the 5K and Fun Run in advance at https://runsignup.com/Race/AR/Bryant/BryantRotaryDuckDerbyDash5k.
The festival begins at 10 a.m. and runs through noon, featuring games hosted by local nonprofits and community organizations, along with food and family-friendly activities. All games will be free to play, giving attendees multiple chances to win prizes.
At noon, the event will shift focus to the signature attraction — a race featuring 5,000 rubber ducks. Participants can purchase duck tickets for $5 each for a chance to win prizes, with only 5,000 entries available. The first 10 ducks to cross the finish line, along with the final duck, will determine the winners. Participants do not need to be present to claim prizes, however, tickets must be purchased in person.
The Rotary Club has already begun selling duck tickets through its members. Here’s a partial list of Bryant Rotarians you may know: Robert Bennett, Kari Lapp, Brenda Wells, Shane Knight, Shelli Poole, Tonya Horton, Jennifer Carter, Adam Carson, Amanda Herman, and there are many more.
You can also reach out through the club’s website or Facebook pages to participate.
Kari Lapp, president-elect of the Bryant Rotary Club, encouraged broad community involvement. “Everyone is invited to participate,” Lapp said. “You can join in the 5K, bring the family to the festival or just show up to see the ducks race. We just hope to see everyone there having a great time.”
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Rotary Kids Closet, Bryant Youth Association and Imagination Library of Saline County.
List of Prizes:
1st – $1,500 Cash
2nd – $750 Cash
3rd – $2,000 Diamond Pendant from Baker’s Fine Jewelry
4th – $500 Visa gift card from First Security Bank
5th – Splash Car Wash for a Year
6th – Chick-Fil-A for a Year
7th – Spa Package (2 hour cleaning from Strategic Solutions LLC, $100 GC from Jenny Carson Travel, and $50 GC from Bryant Nail & Spa)
8th – Restaurant Package (Blue House Cafe, Creamy Cove, Riverside Grocery, Sugar Dumplin’s, Verona Italian Restaurant, La Hacienda, Copper Mule, Dale’s Donuts, Baja Grill, Nutrition Loft, and Burger Shack)
9th – Boutique Package (Pretties & Grace, The Corner Downtown, Honky Tonk Honey, Evie Brooks, Crossroads Benton Boutique, Hallie & Co, Down South Hat Co., M. Claire’s, Oh Hey Bouquet, The Peachy Frock, and True Boutique)
10th – Tool Package from Baldwin Shell
Last Place – 3 month family membership to Bishop Park from Bryant Parks
Map to Mills Park: https://www.mysaline.com/map-mills-park/
🦆
