This weekend, the village will be bustling with people ready to participate in the numerous activities being offered by the Baldwinsville Rotary Club during the 13th annual Seneca River Days.
The celebrations include the Kidz Karnival, water chestnut relay race and fireworks Friday and the Anything that Floats race, Neptune water ski show and Great Seneca River Duck race Saturday.
Tim Horan is a member of the Rotary Club and committee chairman for the newest events being offered at the Seneca River Days — the Seneca River Run and the Seneca River Duck Waddle.
“I’ve run in races between 5K and 15K in length, including the Baldwinsville Kiwanis Turkey Trot 5 mile race,” Horan said. “By organizing this race we have the chance to give back to Baldwinsville.”
Horan said both Rotary club members and Baldwinsville residents organized the race, which includes a 2.2-mile race for adults and a half-mile race for children. The adult race begins at 9 a.m. with a starting line at Mercer Park. Participants will travel along River Street into the business district then loop back to the entrance of the park to the finish line. The Duck Waddle will have two starting times: a 9:30 a.m. start for children ages 9 to 12 years old and a 9:45 a.m. start for children ages 5 to 8 years old. The children will also start at the park and run along River Street to the Country Cottage, then back again.
“Our race committee decided that both kids and adults would appreciate the chance to enter in a race,” Horan said. “The race is for the fun of it and it’s a good way to motivate yourself to get out of bed early and run in the morning.”
Although pre-registration ended June 30, interested runners can register from 7:45 to 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning at the park. Anyone interested in obtaining a copy of the registration form sooner can call 638-0247 to have it e-mailed.
Primary sponsors of this year’s Seneca River Days are M&T Bank, Hudson and Mowins, Clay Wegmans and the Baldwinsville Rotary Club.
Schedule of events
FRIDAY:
“Kidz Karnival”: Free Door Prize tickets given to each child who attends
5 p.m. Children’s Activity Tent (Bright Visions Early Learning Center) Prizes given on the hour
5:15 p.m. Jean Stelter Dance Studio demonstration
5:30 p.m. Lavalle Karate demonstration
6 p.m. Three $50 savings bonds awarded to best colorings of Seneca River (Lindsy Luu, State Farm Insurance)
6:05 p.m. Door Prize (David A. Horan Agency — must be present to win)
6:15 p.m. Chad Dietz unicycle shows (Lindsy Luu, State Farm Insurance)
7 p.m. Water Chestnut Relay Race
7:05 p.m. Door Prize (David A. Horan Agency — must be present to win)
7:15 p.m. The Bubble Man, Doug Rougeux show (Seneca Federal Savings & Loan)
8:05 p.m. Door Prize (David A. Horan Agency — must be present to win)
8:15 p.m. The Twin Magicians show (Timber Tree Service)
9:10 p.m. Child’s Bicycle Door Prize (HSBC Bank USA, N A)
9:30 p.m. Fireworks (Hudson & Mowins)
SATURDAY:
7:30 a.m. Breakfast at First United Methodist Church
9 a.m. Seneca River Run
9:30 a.m. Seneca River Duck Waddle
9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Vendors
10:30 a.m. Door prize
11 a.m. Ski show
Noon Door prize
12:05 to 2 p.m. Soda Ash Six performance (B’ville Concert Series Partnership)
2:05 p.m. Door prize
2:15 p.m. Anything That Floats (Rosemary Bucci)
3 p.m. Ski show
4 p.m. Door prize
4 p.m. Great Seneca River Duck Race
Participants purchase a duck for $5 and all numbered ducks are loaded in a tub, in a boat on the river and are dropped in the water. The ducks are funneled to a “winners sleeve” where they are then placed on the Winner Board. Duck numbers are matched with ticket buyers and winners are announced.
There are 11 prizes including a $2,000 first prize, $1,000 second prize, $500 third prize and overnight trips to the Red Mill Inn and Toronto or Montreal, dinner boat cruise and WMF portrait package. Tickets can be purchased the day of the event, in advance from any Rotary member or by calling 638-1507 to have a ticket application mailed to you.
Funds raised help support many local and international programs such as the new children’s hospital wing in Syracuse, Baldwinsville Scholarship Fund, B.O.C.E.S. Awards, Senior Christmas Luncheon, and Dictionaries to all third graders in the Baldwinsville area.
