We’re delighted to share news that the annual Rotary Club of Canterbury Duck Race will feature on the FIRST DAY of the Great Stour RiverFest – “a week of wonderful Stour-related events aimed at celebrating its historical, cultural and environmental interests”.
The hugely popular duck race will take place at Westgate Gardens in Canterbury, with thousands of ducks “swimming” from the launch site near Toddler’s Cove to the end point at the bridge near Westgate Towers. It’s a fun, family-friendly event which has become part of Canterbury’s social diary and a family tradition for many – but importantly, it’s also our main fundraiser, allowing us to support great local and international causes and make a positive difference to people’s lives.
Prizes for winners
This year the prizes for sponsors of the first three ducks to cross the finishing line are:
- 1st prize – £500
- 2nd prize – £200
- 3rd prize – £100
Sponsor your ducks
People will be able to sponsor a duck (or few) in advance of the race for £2 each from our sponsorship stalls as below:
- Wednesday 3rd September, 09:30am-5:00pm, Whitefriars Square (opp. Boots)
- Wednesday 10th September, 09:30am-5:00pm, Whitefriars Square (opp. Boots)
- Saturday 13th September, 09:30am-5:00pm, Whitefriars Square (opp. Boots)
- Saturday 20th September, 09:30am-5:00pm, Whitefriars Square (opp. Boots)
There will also be a limited number of ducks available for sponsorship before the race on Race Day.
What else is happening on Race Day?
We’ll also be sharing exciting news about corporate ducks soon – look out for this news!
The Great Stour RiverFest
The Great Stour Riverfest – organised by Canterbury City Council, Visit Canterbury and the local community – promises a lively series of events with something to interest the whole family between 21st and 28th September 2025.
Although the Duck Race is part of RiverFest, Westgate Gardens is open to the public so attending the race is FREE and there is no need to book to watch the race (although early attendance is recommended to get a good viewing spot!) Booking for other RiverFest events has just opened.
You can find out more about the Great Stour Riverfest and other events here. Please contact Riverfest organisers if you have queries relating to other events.
Picture: Our Duck Race will feature on Day 1 of the Great Stour RiverFest! Picture credit: Visit Canterbury/Canterbury City Council/Rotary Club of Canterbury.
