The Adirondacks Host The World’s First Ever Rubber Loon Race

You’ve heard of rubber duck races, (check out the annual Kiwanis Fundraiser in Glens Falls) but a rubber loon race? Now that’s something that only the Adirondacks would have.

This Memorial Day Weekend, 500 black and white rubber loons will sail down the Rich Lake Outlet for 425 yards. The rubber loon race will be part of the Logs and Loons Day on Saturday, May 26, part of the Adirondack Interpretive Center’s celebration of their first year under the leadership of the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

Coordinators are calling the race the “Loon Drive,” in a nod to the log drives that used to take place every spring in Rich Lake.

This race has been receiving lots of press: it was picked up by the associated press and was mentioned in news giants such as the Wall Street Journal and Newsday for two main reasons.

First, this race will mark the world’s first ever rubber loon race! Second, all of the rubber loons are being produced by a California company: CelebriDucks. This company was specifically chosen because it is the only company that manufactures rubber ducks in America: all other ducks are produced overseas.

Celebriducks is very excited for “the first ever duck race in America with ducks actually made in the USA!” Their blog notes that the loons were actually one of the most complicated paint projects the company had ever done. The company, “packed up 500 of them and shipped them off to [an] artist who designs our ducks, to work through the weekend painting them.”

Anyone can pay to sponsor one of these handcrafted loons, and all the proceeds will go towards the Adirondack Interpretive Center. Sponsor your loon for $10 here. Also, there are a limited number of loons available for direct purchase for $20 each.

Will you be taking part in history and sponsoring a rubber loon to cheer on this Memorial Day? Are you happy that the AIC is using rubber loons that were made in the USA? Tell us what you think!