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Duck Races, Boat Regatta no more in Galesburg

Two fall activities that floated at Lake Storey for more than 20 years in Galesburg have been cancelled.

The annual Rubber Duck Race fundraiser held by the Galesburg Public Schools Foundation and annual Cardboard Boat Regatta run by the City of Galesburg will no longer take place. 

Recreation Supervisor Elizabeth Varner and GPSF Administrator Teresa Baxter both essentially say the events have run their course. 

“The board felt like 20 years was a really good run for the Duck Race and they would like to explore some new options,” Baxter says. “That is still being discussed at our board meetings.” 

Baxter did not elaborate on what might replace the fundraiser, which raised $35,000 for GPSF and students in District 205 last year. However, she does say ideas are in the works.

Meanwhile, Varner says ending the Boat Regatta was a “mutual decision,” between 205 and the city. She tells WGIL that unlike the races, education did not financially benefit from the city’s event. 

“We were just happy if we broke even on the Boat Regatta,” Varner says. “It originated before the Duck Race, and basically was just something we created for the community to enjoy and it was something creative for them to do.” 

Individuals from around the U.S. participated in the Boat Regatta over the course of the last two decades. Both events were held together starting in the mid 1990’s.

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