Aug. 9, 2013 – Tiny yellow rubber ducks outnumbered spectators but not by much at this year’s running of the Windy City Rubber Ducky Derby. The annual event to benefit Special Olympics Illinois attracts thousands to the Chicago River, just west of Columbus Drive.

Early Thursday afternoon, as many of them have for the past eight years, 60,000 rubber ducks rained down from a truck parked on the south leaf of the Columbus Drive Bridge, its north leaf raised to give them room. Under the watchful eyes of the Chicago Park District, Chicago Fire Department, and the Chicago Police Department, a water cannon on a Metropolitan Water Reclamation District boat scooted the ducks toward another boat about half-way to the Michigan Avenue Bridge. Winners were plucked out of the drink, their tag numbers noted, some ducks were tossed up to a crowd lining the north bank of the river, and a special boat scooped up the remaining ducks.

The number of toy ducks competing is getting larger. Last year, the estimate was 40,000 ducks. In 2010, it was closer to 30,000 ducks. For five dollars each, ducks could be sponsored. First Prize this year was a Chevy Malibu. Other prizes included a one-year membership to the Foundation Room at House of Blues.

This time, we followed in the webbed footsteps of Splash, the event’s spokes-duck. The derby is one of the busiest days of the year for Splash. After appearing Thursday morning at a “family festival” near the Wrigley Building, Splash boarded a Wendella water taxi packed with staff, sponsors, and other guests of Special Olympics Illinois.

(Photo) What the race looked like from the bow of the Bravo. The toy ducks at left are being pushed along by a water cannon on board a Metropolitan Water Reclamation District boat.