Have you seen the Duck Derby in Greenville, SC? No, it’s not a giant bathtub with thousands of rubber duckies – it’s the 22nd Annual Reedy River Duck Derby! Sponsored by the Rotary Club of the Reedy River Greenville, it is certainly a bucket list item if you live in the Greenville area. The 22nd Annual Reedy River Duck Derby is set for Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 2:30 pm at the trumpet call. The entire event is typically from 11 am – 4 pm, with the duck race starting at 2:30 pm and the final duck sold at 1:45.
The Duck Derby is not only a fantastic way to spend an afternoon, but it’s also a great way to support wonderful charities.
Adopt a Duck
Want to cheer for your own duck in the race? It’s easy – just adopt a duck at the derby website. You can adopt only one or get a Super Quack Pack of five ducks. Or, adopt as many as you want.
Once you adopt your own duck, you will get a number, which corresponds to the number of your duck. You and the duck are safely recorded in a database.
Winners will be announced at Falls Park later in the day, following the conclusion of the race on May 2, 2026. Winners will also be notified by mail or phone, if necessary.
Wait, prizes?
Yes, there are some awesome Duck Derby prizes from the sponsors! In addition to several fantastic prizes, including gift cards and experiences from Mast General Store, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Camelot Cinemas, and Bridgeway Brewing Co, Grand prize, second, and third place Duck Derby winners receive:
- Grand Prize: Publix groceries for a Year (plus a chance at $1 million)
- 2nd Prize: $2,500 Cash from the Rotary Club of Greenville
- 3rd Prize: Golf Weekend for Two at Embassy Suites Resort
Plus, many other sponsors are giving away great prizes.
Ducks for Charity
Organized by the Rotary Club of the Reedy River Greenville, the Duck Derby is the club’s primary community service event project. Proceeds from previous years have raised money for many local charities, including Early Act First Knight, Greenville Area Interfaith Hospitality Network, Mauldin Miracle League, and Shriners Children’s Hospital.
The event also serves as a fundraiser for Duck Adoption Teams (DATs) in the Greenville area who distribute the Adoption Forms and get a percentage of funds raised for their organizations. Some of this year’s teams (see the Duck Derby teams here) are the Augustine Literacy Project of the Upstate, Foster Paws, Cancer Camps for Kids, and Shriners Children’s Greenville, to name a few.
Donations are all tax-deductible.
Have you adopted your duck for the Duck Derby in Greenville yet?
Looking for more spring family fun? Here are the best Kid-Friendly Spring Festivals in Greenville, SC.
We are so excited about Happy Hooves being chosen as one of the charities! The funds received from the Duck Derby will help special needs children and at risk youth benefit from therapeutic riding! What a great article, thank you for letting everyone know about this upcoming event.
Thank you, Becky!
Do you know what time the actual duck race is? We wouldn’t want to miss it but unlikely to spend a whole day downtown with a toddler. Would like to plan to be there a couple of hours around the time of the race. Thanks!
Yes, the race is at 2:30 pm. You will want to plan plenty of time for parking, walking to the event, and getting your spot!