Every summer, roughly 3,000 rubber ducks hit the Central Canal in Broad Ripple and race toward College Avenue while families line the banks cheering for a plastic bird they adopted for six bucks. It's ridiculous, it's a blast, and it raises thousands of dollars for the neighborhood every year.
Here's everything you need to know about the 2026 Broad Ripple Duck Race.
When and Where
The 2026 race is tentatively set for Saturday, June 6, following the event's tradition of landing on the first or second Saturday of June. Everything centers around the Rainbow Bridge, where Guilford Avenue crosses the Central Canal, and stretches along the Monon Greenway Trail.
The day starts at 10:00 a.m. with the Broad Ripple Duck Race 5K and Fun Run. The Big Drop, when all 3,000 ducks hit the canal at once, happens around 12:30 p.m.
How the Race Works
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You adopt a numbered rubber duck for $6 each or grab a "Paddling" of six for $30. On race day, every adopted duck gets dumped into the canal at the Hope Plumbing Start Line near the Monon Trail intersection. The ducks float west, pass under the Rainbow Bridge, and drift toward the Audiochuck Finish Line near College Avenue.
The first duck across wins its sponsor a prize package often valued at over $1,000, loaded with gift cards to Broad Ripple spots like brics, Indy CD & Vinyl, and The Bungalow. After the winners are pulled, families can grab a souvenir duck to take home.
All adoption fees go to the Broad Ripple Village Association