Mark your calendars for March 7. The annual Calusa Duck Race will take place at Woody’s Waterside at 4 p.m.

“As we speak there are 3,000 bright yellow ducks resting in Fritts Park,” John Kendall said. “They are preparing to start training soon. Before we know it the Great Calusa Rubber Duck Race will be here March 7 between 3 and 4 p.m.”

Festivities will start at noon and continue all afternoon with music, games, raffles and auctions. At around 4 p.m., the 3,000 numbered rubber ducks will race down the canal to the finish line.

The “owners” of the first 20 ducks to cross the finish line will win an assortment of great prizes of artwork gift certificates, and other interesting items valued at over $100.

The prize for the first duck to cross the finish line is a half day cruise on the sailboat Alondra for 6 people.

As always, there will be both silent and live auctions conducted throughout the afternoon. Some examples of the items to be auctioned are: a 1993 Catalina 14-foot sailboat with Honda outboard and trailer; a dinner and sunset cruise with our local author Bob Macomber; and gift certificates for resorts, restaurants, fishing guides, etc. So, bring your cash, checkbook, or credit card to make your treasured bids and purchases!

Duck tickets are $5 each and they are expected to sell out. Don’t wait for race day, get your tickets now! Tickets are on sale at Woody’s, from John Kendall, on the web site (calusalandtrust.org) and various locations around the island – watch for the Calusa Land Trust Duck sales persons.

“The festivities begin at noon,” Kendall said “And the ducks will be released between 3 and 4 pm.”

All proceeds from the race will go to the Calusa Land Trust of Pine Island to continue their programs of purchasing and maintaining environmentally sensitive land in the greater Pine Island area.

For tickets or information, call Kendall at 283-8175.

Woody’s Waterside is at 3051 Stringfellow Road in St. James City. To contact the restaurant, call 239-283-5555.