Like the return of the swallows to Mission San Juan Capistrano – albeit a bit more reliably – little yellow ducks will return to Huntington Beach Pier this weekend.

Thousands of rubber duckies will join a race benefiting AltaMed Medical & Dental Group-Huntington Beach, a nonprofit that provides medical and dental care for Orange County’s families in need.

The three-day Duck-a-Thon includes an art festival, games and kid-friendly attractions such as a rock-climbing wall.

A reception gets the event going Friday evening, May 18, with samplings from local restaurants. Ducks will fly off the pier at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 19. The owner of the first baby duck that comes to shore will win $1,000.

A second race among ducks purchased by businesses will take place Sunday.

If you go

When: 6-9 p.m. Friday, May 18, with a food festival; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, May 19 with the main race at 3 p.m.; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday with the corporate race at 1 p.m.

Where: Huntington Beach Pier

Admission: Food festival is $60 at the door; ducks for the Saturday race start at $10; corporate duck purchases for Sunday’s race start at $100

Information: duckathon.org; 714-500-0382