Michelle Mitchell E-mail | Web site Michelle is the Digital Media Producer for The Telegraph and NH.com. She spends her workdays searching for things to do in New Hampshire and then putting them into the NH.com event calendar. Michelle is originally from St. Louis but has been in New Hampshire for over 15 years, "I love my home state, but New Hampshire has the mountains, the seacoast and perfect summer days!" She is the mother of 5 children varying in age from 20 to 8 and loves to find inexpensive things to do with her kids. Michelle enjoys New Hampshire's music scene and is always on the lookout for new bands and new places to enjoy them. She also enjoys her dogs, cats and, when possible, a day of nothing but movies and sleeping!

Duck races are one of the many reasons I love New Hampshire! Although, they have duck races in Missouri, I didn't discover them until I happened upon the Wildquack River festival by accident many years ago. My older kids were amazed at the folks in duck costumes walking around town and the younger ones got their pictures taken with the honorable Wildquack Duck. It was amazing to watch all the ducks go over the Jackson Falls and into the Wildquack River. Oh, that was also the day my daughter Olivia fell in love with ducks. She has an orange room, hundreds of ducks and I am going to be disowned if I don't take her the festival again this year! After all, I did tell her father he was NOT to buy her a duck as a pet I have to make up for that somehow. Can you imagine? A pet duck in Nashua?

This year's 21^st Wildquack River Festival features one of one of a kind duck racing options like the Jumbo Duck Race or the Olympic Ducks. With a No Admissions Fee anyone can cheer, laugh and feel the excitement as over 3108 ducks bob and splash their way to the finish line. Your Duck Race ticket could win you more than $1,000 or one of more than 60 other valuable prizes. The very last Duck to cross the finish line will win a prize package valued at over $500. Duck Race Tickets are $6 per ticket or $20 for 4 tickets - Olympic Duck Tickets are $20 each and could win the ticket holder $1,080... If an Olympic Duck is the very first duck to cross the finish line it could win its owner over $2,000.

There are other places that have duck races but they can not compete with the Wildquack Duck Race and Festival!

The day will be filled with fun activities for kids and the young at heart. Kennett High's Key Club has promised to surprise the kids this year with new and exciting games; local restaurants will once again satisfy your hunger with fabulous barbecue foods. Take your picture with Wildquack the Duck, visit with Bo Bo T. Clown, always the kid's favorite or just sit back and watch those zany ducks make their way to the finish line.

There is a "5 Minutes of Fame" competition. Do you have what it takes to last 5 minutes on our Wildquack Duck stage entertaining the audience? If your interested in participating alongside singers, jugglers, comics, dancers, and vaudeville acts e sure to sign up today by calling the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce at 603-383-9356 or 800-866-3334. There is a $15 entry fee.

Not interested in performing? How about a "Cake Boss" competition where local residents and bakers will compete for the title of Jackson's "Cake Boss". There will be 5 Judges consisting of local Chefs and Restaurant Owners who will determine the title holder of Jackson's Cake Boss. There will also be a People's Taste Award which will be determined by the People choosing to make a $2 donation for a People's Taste Award ballot. It is too late to enter this competition so if you were interested be sure to check with the Jackson Chamber of Commerce for next year's entry deadline.

If you are feeling adventurous come dressed as a duck and you could win a very special prize. I can hear my daughter now, "A duck costume? Mom can I?" Well the answer is definitely "No" but I will order her a t-shirt to wear that day and my family's duck tickets too.

Visit http://www.jacksonnh.com/tickets-gifts.php for t-shirt and duck ticket purchases. Duck tickets do sell out so I recommend advance purchase. You do not have to be present to win. To learn more about how and where you should go to get your Duck Tickets call the Chamber today at (603)383-9356 or visit us on the web at www.jacksonnh.com.

Proceeds from the Wildquack festival benefit the Jackson Police Department, the Kennett High Key Club, Starting Point: Services for Victims of Domestic & Sexual Violence as well as the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce. Make it a point to join in on the fun you won't want to miss this year's 21st running of the Wildquack Duck Race.

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