Farmstead Arts Duck Race and Arts Festival On Rain or Shine

Saturday's planned Duck Race and Farmstead Arts Festival will be noon to 4 p.m. rain or shine, according to Bernards Mayor Carolyn Gaziano and the Farmstead Arts website. And Saturday looked like it was about to be a perfect day for a duck race.

The historic farmstead has become an area arts center for Basking Ridge and neighboring towns, including Bernardsville, and the festival is planned as a way to further showcase the center. In case of rain, vendors and other exhibitors will be indoors inside the farmhouse and barn at the property at 450 King George Road in Basking Ridge, Gaziano said.

However, Gaziano said on Friday afternoon that the duck race could turn into a duck raffle, due to safety concerns, if there is lightning or heavy flooding of the Passaic River at the time that the race of about 1,000 rubber ducks is scheduled, at 3 p.m.

Gaziano said state gaming rules dictate the alternative. She said that ticket stubs for the numbered ducks would be used in a raffle.

The Farmstead Arts website lists the prizes that entrants' ducks may win for their sponsors. Prizes include a $500 gift card for first place, $250 for second, a basket of Mallory's Muffins and more.

Admission is free. Ducks are for sale for $5 each, or for "teams" of six for $25, or 13 for $50, and may be purchased on the Farmstead Arts website.