Atchison Salvation Army marks 10th Great Duck Race on riverfront

Plastic ducks again turned the Missouri River into a fundraiser with a local payoff in Atchison County, where the Salvation Army Great Duck Race marked its 10th year and sent proceeds to assistance programs that help neighbors with basic needs. Salvation Army of Atchison County Coordinator Kim Bottoroff said the race helps fund local support, making the riverfront event more than a seasonal spectacle.

The celebration was set at the Atchison Riverfront near Independence Park, with activities beginning at 10:00 a.m. and the duck launch scheduled for 1 p.m. on the Missouri River. Organizers said entries could be purchased until 15 minutes before the race, giving late arrivals one last chance to take part.

The day was built as a family outing as much as a fundraiser. Along with the race, visitors found a car show featuring cars, trucks, motorcycles and UTVs, plus food vendors, raffle baskets and a kids duck drop with prizes. The mix of activities gave the riverfront a broader draw for families spending Memorial Day weekend in town, while keeping the emphasis on a cause tied directly to local service.

The race’s 10-year run reflected how steadily the event has grown in Atchison. MSC News coverage had identified earlier editions as the 6th annual, 7th annual, 8th annual and 9th annual duck race before this year’s milestone, showing the fundraiser has become part of the community calendar. Bottoroff said the duck race and the annual Red Kettle campaign are among the Salvation Army’s key revenue drivers for local support.

The Salvation Army says Red Kettles help fund food, shelter, clothing, financial assistance, youth services and disaster response, and the organization said its 2025 Red Kettle Campaign raised over $100 million nationwide. In Atchison, the ducks floating down the river were tied to that larger mission in a way residents could see and support in one place, on one Saturday, at one of the city’s most familiar public spaces.