Vail Duck Race Moves To Solaris Plaza Amid Severe Drought

Aspen —Gore Creek runs low and sluggish, a ribbon of brown water that barely covers the stones at the bottom. The current is weak enough to see the creek bed clearly, a stark contrast to the roaring yellow flood of rubber ducks that used to clog the channel every Labor Day. The water level is down so far that a standard bath time for 8,000 plastic birds would be a logistical nightmare.

The Vail Duck Race is moving to land in 2026.

This isn’t a minor tweak. It’s a complete pivot forced by an unprecedented drought that has stripped the creek of its volume. The Vail Edwards Rotary Club, which has hosted the event for more than 30 years, is abandoning the water. They are taking the ducks to Solaris Plaza.

The change hits close to home for locals who grew up watching the race from International Bridge. For decades, the event defined Labor Day in Vail Village. The creek ran yellow with duckies racing toward the finish line. Now, that tradition is hitting a physical wall of dry riverbed.

Joanna Kerwin, the "Head Duck" for the Vail Edwards Rotary Club, confirmed the shift. She said the club reached out to Peter Knobel, owner of Solaris Plaza, when it became clear that bath time in Gore Creek wasn’t going to work. Knobel didn’t hesitate.

"The ducks are taking a detour," Kerwin said. "We’re taking the ducks to Solaris Plaza and creating something completely new."

The new format borrows from American Ninja Warrior. Instead of floating, the ducks will navigate an obstacle course. The challenges include a Potato Sack Race, a Hula Hoop Bucket Run, and a Duck Toss. The final hurdle is a giant duck tube. The first duck to emerge wins its adopter the $5,000 grand prize.

Brian Butts of Solaris Real Estate called the plaza "the perfect place for the land event because it is right in the middle of the village." He noted that the drought conditions made the venue change necessary and welcomed.

The money still goes where it always has. The race is the Rotary Club’s biggest fundraiser. Proceeds support local and international service projects, including scholarships for high school seniors, Rotary Youth Exchange, grants to Eagle County nonprofits, and programs addressing food insecurity, literacy, education, and children’s health.

The new layout actually expands the role of local kids. In previous years, children mostly watched or dropped ducks into the creek. Now, they help move thousands of ducks through the derby challenges toward the finish line. The afternoon will feature an official Duck Drop, derby races, hula hoop contests, and prizes donated by Vail-area businesses.

The stakes remain high for participants. You still adopt a duck to enter the draw. The winner takes $5,000. The next 25 ducks through the tube also win prizes.

Kerwin emphasized that the purpose hasn’t changed, even if the terrain has. "Every duck adopted helps us give back to our community," she said. "You don’t have to be at the Derby to win — you just have to adopt a duck."

Adoptions are open right up until the start of the event at 3 p.m. on Sunday.

The drought is forcing a change in how Vail celebrates Labor Day. The creek is too dry to carry the tradition, so the town is building a new one on concrete. The ducks are safe. The money is still raised. But the sound of 8,000 rubber toys splashing through Gore Creek is gone for now.