Heavy rains forced a midstream change for one of the most popular events at River Grove’s Family Picnic Day Saturday.
The Des Plaines River Duck Race for charity is an annual staple at the Family Picnic Day. For several months, people have purchased hundreds of numbered tickets corresponding with the rubber ducks that are usually dumped into the Des Plaines River at the event. The person with the ticket number matching the first, second or third duck that crosses the finish wins a cash prize.
But this year, rainy weather prevented the race from happening. River Grove Marilynn May said heavy rains left the Des Plaines River too high to dump the ducks in the water, so they improvised.
“They dumped the ducks out on the ground and let a couple of toddlers pick out the rubber ducks,” she said. “So there was a happy ending.”
May said the rain didn’t deter people from enjoying the event. There were kids’ games, mini golf, karaoke and a magic show.
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The River Grove Lions Club had their annual Golf Ball Drop at the event as well, in which participants buy golf balls that are then dumped on to makeshift golf green with holes that have a cash value.
Proceeds from the event go to help River Grove’s Lion’s Club perform service projects in the area. Brent Leder, a member of the Lion’s Club who helps promote the fundraising event, said they received a lot of support.
“We sold 800 golf balls,” he said. “It rained but we stuck it out and were able to get it in.”
He estimated they raised about $1,500.
“It all goes back into the community to support Cub Scouts, to support the schools, there’s a whole list of people we help out,” he said.
Despite the weather, May said the turnout was good.
“It went very well, even though … it rained,” she said.
Twitter: @DavidDPollard