DEMING - Visitors at this year’s 37th annual Great American Duck Race can expect the same wacky, family-friendly fun as usual, but organizers hope the addition of several new attractions will make the event more enjoyable.
The events will take place from Thursday, Aug. 25 to Sunday, Aug. 28 at locations around the community, with the main attractions centered around the Luna County Courthouse, 700 S. Silver Ave., and its McKinley Duck Downs.
A new attraction that organizers feel will be enjoyed by visitors of all ages is the Desert Classics Car Show, which will take place in the parking lot for the New Mexico Sixth Judicial District Courthouse off Poplar Street. The event is free and open to the public.
“Poplar Street has always been a hub for rides, games and food during the races, but we felt adding a car show would make the area even more entertaining for our guests,” said Marie Pinchuk, one of the event organizers. “We appreciate the Desert Classics Car Club for stepping up to participate.”
Also new around the courthouse will be the re-introduction of the wine and beer garden, which will be provided by St. Clair Winery. It will be located south of the pavilion in Courthouse Park. A portion of the proceeds from sales will go back to the Duck Race Committee to help organize future events.
“We are excited to partner with the committee and bring this feature back to the Duck Races,” said Larry Donigan, general manager of the Deming Winery and Tasting Room. “Our staff are trained in responsible serving, so we expect everyone to have a good time and stay safe.”
For questions about the wine and beer garden, contact him at 575-546-9324 (ext. 13).
On a more somber note, Duck Race organizers plan to honor the memory of longtime committee member and Duck Race icon Dave Johnson by posthumously making him the grand marshal of the Tournament of Ducks Parade. Johnson passed away from a brief illness on March, 26 of this year.
The parade will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27 around downtown Deming. Organizers have also renamed the judging stand to the Dave Johnson Pavilion. Pinchuk said Johnson was involved in the annual event for nearly 30 years, mostly has Chief Publicity Quacker.
The last new announcement from the committee is that the sponsor party will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 26 at the Deming Elk’s Lodge, located at 3401 Raymond Reed Blvd. in Deming Industrial Park.
The Duck Race weekend will still feature many of your favorite events, including the Duck Royalty Pageant, Great American Tortilla Toss, Great American Outhouse Race, the Duck Mart, carnival, live entertainment, hot air balloon mass ascension, slow pitch softball tournaments, Great American Horseshoe and Washers tournaments, First United Methodist Church Barbecue, and of course, live duck racing on wet and dry tracks.
Anyone interested in volunteering to help with the events should contact [email protected].
The events will take place from Thursday, Aug. 25 to Sunday, Aug. 28 at locations around the community, with the main attractions centered around the Luna County Courthouse, 700 S. Silver Ave., and its McKinley Duck Downs.
A new attraction that organizers feel will be enjoyed by visitors of all ages is the Desert Classics Car Show, which will take place in the parking lot for the New Mexico Sixth Judicial District Courthouse off Poplar Street. The event is free and open to the public.
“Poplar Street has always been a hub for rides, games and food during the races, but we felt adding a car show would make the area even more entertaining for our guests,” said Marie Pinchuk, one of the event organizers. “We appreciate the Desert Classics Car Club for stepping up to participate.”
Also new around the courthouse will be the re-introduction of the wine and beer garden, which will be provided by St. Clair Winery. It will be located south of the pavilion in Courthouse Park. A portion of the proceeds from sales will go back to the Duck Race Committee to help organize future events.
“We are excited to partner with the committee and bring this feature back to the Duck Races,” said Larry Donigan, general manager of the Deming Winery and Tasting Room. “Our staff are trained in responsible serving, so we expect everyone to have a good time and stay safe.”
For questions about the wine and beer garden, contact him at 575-546-9324 (ext. 13).
On a more somber note, Duck Race organizers plan to honor the memory of longtime committee member and Duck Race icon Dave Johnson by posthumously making him the grand marshal of the Tournament of Ducks Parade. Johnson passed away from a brief illness on March, 26 of this year.
The parade will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 27 around downtown Deming. Organizers have also renamed the judging stand to the Dave Johnson Pavilion. Pinchuk said Johnson was involved in the annual event for nearly 30 years, mostly has Chief Publicity Quacker.
The last new announcement from the committee is that the sponsor party will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 26 at the Deming Elk’s Lodge, located at 3401 Raymond Reed Blvd. in Deming Industrial Park.
The Duck Race weekend will still feature many of your favorite events, including the Duck Royalty Pageant, Great American Tortilla Toss, Great American Outhouse Race, the Duck Mart, carnival, live entertainment, hot air balloon mass ascension, slow pitch softball tournaments, Great American Horseshoe and Washers tournaments, First United Methodist Church Barbecue, and of course, live duck racing on wet and dry tracks.
Anyone interested in volunteering to help with the events should contact [email protected].