DEMING – The Great American Duck Royalty Pageant is not your typical beauty pageant, according to pageant coordinator Amanda Mauldin-Barnes. “It’s more of a community show that showcases some very talented and creative people,” she said. “People want to come out and see how creative the costumes and skits are each year.”
The pageant is the signature kick-off event for the 38th annual Great American Duck Race weekend, Aug. 24-27 in Deming. This year’s theme is “Race the Rails,” a tribute to the history of Deming as a “Tank Town” when the railroad came through in the late 1800s.
“I expect to see a lot of trains, whistles and engineers this year,” Mauldin-Barnes quipped.
Yoya’s Bar and Grill is the chief sponsor for the event which will get underway at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24, at the Voiers’ Pit Park amphitheater on North Country Club Road. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under.
“Everything you need to do to sign up for the pageant is online,” Mauldin-Barnes said. “You can fill out the form and upload your music. It’s free to enter and you could be a duck king or queen and win some great prizes.”
The grand prize for the GADR King/Queen is $750 cash, a one-night stay at a get-away location, GADR t-shirt, a live duck race entry, a crown and flowers and $100 cash from 1st New Mexico Bank.
The runner-up in the King/Queen category will take home $500 cash.
The four remaining age divisions will also receive prize packages.
“The duck royalty pageant is open to anyone who has ever had the desire to waddle in public,” Mauldin-Barnes says.
The basis for judging will be:
• Costume – Looking for originality and duck waddle
• Talent – Create a 2- to 4-minute duck routine to impress the judges.
• Interview (for King/Queen only) – General fowl knowledge, Poise and overall ability to represent the Great American Duck Race of Deming and anything the judges may “Quack” up.
Winners and 1st runner-ups will all receive cash prizes. You can see the prize packages at www.demingduckrace.com.
“All of our contestants are invited to ride on the royalty pageant parade float on Saturday, Aug. 26,” Mauldin-Barnes said. “Our queen and/or king will also perform for the Mizkan Sponsors’ Party on Friday, Aug. 25.
Bill Armendariz can be reached at 575-546-2611 (ext. 2606) or [email protected].
If you go
Who: Yoya’s Bar and Grill (sponsor)
What: Great American Duck Royalty Pageant
When: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017
Where: Voiers’ Pit Park Amphitheater, North Country Club Road
Why: The crowing of royalty for the 38th annual Great American Duck Race weekend, Aug. 24-27
Age divsions: Just Hatched, 0-12 months; Li’l Waddlers, 2-4; Downey Ducklings, 5-8; Darling Ducklings, 9-12; Queen and/or King, 13 and up
Register: Online at www.demingduckrace.com
Admission: Adults, $5; children 12 and under, $3
The pageant is the signature kick-off event for the 38th annual Great American Duck Race weekend, Aug. 24-27 in Deming. This year’s theme is “Race the Rails,” a tribute to the history of Deming as a “Tank Town” when the railroad came through in the late 1800s.
“I expect to see a lot of trains, whistles and engineers this year,” Mauldin-Barnes quipped.
Yoya’s Bar and Grill is the chief sponsor for the event which will get underway at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24, at the Voiers’ Pit Park amphitheater on North Country Club Road. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under.
“Everything you need to do to sign up for the pageant is online,” Mauldin-Barnes said. “You can fill out the form and upload your music. It’s free to enter and you could be a duck king or queen and win some great prizes.”
The grand prize for the GADR King/Queen is $750 cash, a one-night stay at a get-away location, GADR t-shirt, a live duck race entry, a crown and flowers and $100 cash from 1st New Mexico Bank.
The runner-up in the King/Queen category will take home $500 cash.
The four remaining age divisions will also receive prize packages.
“The duck royalty pageant is open to anyone who has ever had the desire to waddle in public,” Mauldin-Barnes says.
The basis for judging will be:
• Costume – Looking for originality and duck waddle
• Talent – Create a 2- to 4-minute duck routine to impress the judges.
• Interview (for King/Queen only) – General fowl knowledge, Poise and overall ability to represent the Great American Duck Race of Deming and anything the judges may “Quack” up.
Winners and 1st runner-ups will all receive cash prizes. You can see the prize packages at www.demingduckrace.com.
“All of our contestants are invited to ride on the royalty pageant parade float on Saturday, Aug. 26,” Mauldin-Barnes said. “Our queen and/or king will also perform for the Mizkan Sponsors’ Party on Friday, Aug. 25.
Bill Armendariz can be reached at 575-546-2611 (ext. 2606) or [email protected].
If you go
Who: Yoya’s Bar and Grill (sponsor)
What: Great American Duck Royalty Pageant
When: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017
Where: Voiers’ Pit Park Amphitheater, North Country Club Road
Why: The crowing of royalty for the 38th annual Great American Duck Race weekend, Aug. 24-27
Age divsions: Just Hatched, 0-12 months; Li’l Waddlers, 2-4; Downey Ducklings, 5-8; Darling Ducklings, 9-12; Queen and/or King, 13 and up
Register: Online at www.demingduckrace.com
Admission: Adults, $5; children 12 and under, $3