DNM News:
The 40th annual Great American Duck Race begins tonight and runs throough Sunday, Aug. 25 at Luna County Courthouse Park in Deming.
There will be food, arts and crafts vendors, live music and of course, the best duck racing action on wet and dry tracks in the United States.
“Racing through the Stars” is already racing through the Internet space as the 2019 theme and official logo with many events that share the “space” theme in 2019.
This year’s theme was the work of Jerran Duty. This year’s logo features a space duck blasting through the galaxy and racing through the stars.
The theme and logo will be seen throughout this year’s festivities and will be used for the theme for judging the Duck Royalty Pageant and the Tournament of Ducks Parade that take place during the weekend events. The 40th annual Great American Duck Race kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 22, with the Mizkan America Duck Royalty Pageant at the Mimbres Valley Special Events Center (2300 E. Pine St.) and wraps up Sunday, Aug. 26, with the duck race finals on wet and dry tracks at McKinley Duck Downs (Luna County Courthouse Park). Finals are expected to run by 3 p.m. tentatively.
“We are excited to be able to organize this event for its 40th year and celebrate such a unique event for our community and region,” said John Richmond, secretary of Great American Duck Race Committee.
The Great American Duck Race weekend is sponsored by Luna Energy Facility and features the Mizkan America Duck Royalty Pageant, Solitaire Homes Hot Air Balloon mass ascensions, Busy Bee Septic Great American Outhouse Race, Deming MainStreet Great American Tortilla Toss, the McKinley Duck Downs Mall at Luna County Courthouse Park, horseshoe, washer, cornhole, slow-pitch softball and skate tournaments.
The Capital Power entertainment venue will feature live music throughout the weekend at the park’s pavilion. Adjacent to the pavilion will be the Circle F Construction beer and wine garden served by D.H. Lescombes Winery.
Don’t forget live duck racing on wet and dry tracks at McKinley Duck Downs beginning at noon on Saturday and wrapping up with the championship finals on both tracks at 3 p.m., Sunday.
Last year’s winners, on both wet and dry tracks, took home a winning purse of $1,380 each.
Two different versions of this year’s shirts will be available. The “Racing through the Stars” shirt is the official retail shirt and sells for $15. The “Space Galaxy Duck” features a duck blasting through the galaxy with a space suit, helmet and jet pack.
A limited edition “Throwback Duck” shirt was done in black and white only and will feature the iconic back of a duck waddling down the highway. Only a limited run of these are available in t-shirt and tank tops. The cost is $20. Most collectors buy one to wear and one to tuck away as memorabilia.
Baseball caps and shirts will also be for sale at the Deming Visitor Center, 800 E. Pine St.
For more information on vendors, activities and events, please go our website: www.demingduckrace.com or contact the Deming Visitor Center 575.567.1962.
Great American Duck Race
Thursday, Aug. 22
- Evening Luna County Skate Competition Deming Skate Park
- 6:30 p.m. Mizkan America, Inc Duck Royalty Pageant Mimbres Valley Special Events Center
Friday, Aug. 23
- 4 p.m. Carnival Courthouse Park
- All Day (some open) Duck Mart/Vendors Courthouse Park
- 4-8 p.m. Capital Power Entertainment/Stage Area Courthouse Park
- 6:30 p.m. Mizkan America, Inc Sponsor Party/Dinner Mimbres Valley Special Events Center
Saturday, Aug. 24
- All Day Carnival Courthouse Park
- All Day Duck Mart/Vendors Courthouse Park
- All Day Slow Pitch Tournament Hooten Complex (Coach Longoria 575-545-9956)
- 7 a.m. Solitaire Homes Hot Air Balloon Mass Ascension Deming Soccer Field
- 10 a.m. Columbus Electric Co-Op Tournament of Ducks Parade Downtown Deming
- 10 a.m. Great American Horseshoe Tournament Courthouse Park (Tommy Esquivel 575.494.1890)
- 11 a.m. Great American Cornhole Tournament Courthouse Park (TJ Saucedo 575.494.5686)
- 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 1st United Methodist Church Barbecue Granite & Buckeye – delivery available – 575.546.2791
- 12-4 p.m. ($5 entry) Live Duck Race/Water Race McKinley Duck Downs
- 12-7 p.m. Capital Power Entertainment/Stage Area Courthouse Park
- 12-10 p.m. D.H. Lescombes Winery Beer & Wine Garden Courthouse Park
- 2 p.m. Great American Tortilla Toss Poplar Street
- 5:30 p.m. Great American Outhouse Race Silver Street
- 5:30-7 p.m. ($5 entry) Evening Duck Race/Water Race McKinley Duck Downs
- 7-10 p.m. Last Duck Standing Afterparty Capital Power Entertainment Pavilion
- 7:30 p.m. Solitaire Homes Hot Air Balloon Glow
- 8 p.m. Duck Dance Adobe Deli ($10 Admission, Free Admission for sponsors wearing sponsor shirt)
**Pets, with the exception of service animals with paperwork, are not allowed at the Park.
Sunday, Aug. 25
- All Day Carnival Courthouse Park
- All Day Duck Mart/Vendors Courthouse Park
- All Day Slow Pitch Tournament Hooten Complex
- 7 a.m. Solitaire Homes Hot Air Balloon Mass Ascension Deming Soccer Field
- 10 a.m. Great American Washers Tournament Courthouse Park (Tommy Esquivel 575.494.1890)
- 12-6 p.m. Capital Power Entertainment/Stage Area Courthouse Park
- 12-6 p.m. D.H. Lescombes Winery Beer & Wine Garden Courthouse Park
- 12 p.m. ($5 entry) Live Duck Race/Water Race McKinley Duck Downs
- 3 p.m. Duck Race eliminations/finals McKinley Duck Downs
**Pets, with the exception of service animals with paperwork, are not allow at the Park. Pets can be left at the kennel. Donations appreciated.
