Join Mead Botanical Gardens for a quacktacular day of family fun at The 2026 Great Duck Derby!
- Alastair Mac
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Get your ducks in a row for the return of the Great Duck Derby, featuring Little Yellow Rubber Duck Races.
Gather up the ducklings and head out to The Great Duck Derby for a day of family fun at Mead Botanical Garden located at 1300 S. Denning Drive Winter Park,
The Duck Derby is a spring-time tradition in Winter Park, with this year's Great Duck Derby taking place on Saturday, March 28th from 10 am to 2 pm.
The Duck Derby features hundreds of little yellow rubber ducks racing around Mead Botanical Garden's pond while the crowds cheer the lucky ducks to the finish line to win cool prizes.
It’s just $5 to adopt a little race duck or $20 for a 5-duck quack pack. You can also purchase an event t-shirt for $10, a whistle for $3, and a duck hat for $15!
All proceeds from the Great Duck Derby benefit Mead’s children’s nature programs. The Great Duck Derby is hosted by Mead Botanical Garden Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, that works in partnership with the City of Winter Park to program, restore and revitalize Mead Botanical Garden.
In addition to the duck derby, the day will be filled with lots of free fun activities for all the family. Plus parking is free, and entrance to Mead Botanical Gardens is free!
Event fun includes…
Duckoration Station (decorate your rubber racing duck)
Mr. Harley Sing-Along Concert
Mr. Richard Sing-Along Concert
Back to Nature Wildlife Animal Encounter
Bounce Houses / Bubble Zone
Nature Crafts
Bug Closet! UCF Entomology Dept
City of Winter Park Sustainability
FREE Tree Give-away – City of Winter Park
Orange County Environmental Protection Division – Activities & Giveaways
Leaf Rubbing Nature Art Craft
Big Duck Photo Op – Pose with the Big Yellow Duck
Nature Clay Craft – MBG Community Garden
Fun4OrlandoKids – Craft Activity and Bubbles
Bookwyrm Bookshop – Childrens Books, Coloring, Storytime
Winter Park Library – Craft & Carnival Game
Magic Beans Activity – Plant a Seed to Take Home
Kids Temporary Tattoos
Young Naturalist Summer Camp – Craft and Games
… and the Duck Races!
Event and Race Schedule:
10 a.m. -Duck Adoptions & Activities begin
11 a.m. Big Beautiful Sponsor Duck Race
11:15 a.m. Family Duck Race #1
11:30 a.m. Mr. Harley – Live Music
12 p.m. Family Duck Race #2
12:30 p.m. Mr. Richard – Live Music
1 p.m. Family Duck Race #3
1:30 p.m. Family Level Mead Membership Drawing
For more information or volunteer opportunities, visit https://meadgarden.org/activities/the-great-duck-derby/
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