Don’t Miss the Great Bullhole Duck Race & Family Festival on September 14th
Jamie O’Neal drops the rubber duck racers into the Yadkin River.
Make-up day for The Great Bullhole DUCK RACE and Community Day is Saturday, September 14th! To celebrate, entrance to the park will be FREE! This beloved event, held at RiverPark at Cooleemee Falls, is a crucial fundraiser for park maintenance and improvements. The funds raised from the duck race directly contribute to and impact the park, including the addition of new amenities and personnel to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all visitors.
Event Details:
- Date: Saturday, September 14th
- Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Duck Race at 1 p.m. sharp)
- Location: RiverPark at Cooleemee Falls
Join us for a day of family fun as hundreds of rubber ducks race down the South Yadkin River, beginning at the Cooleemee Dam. The first duck to cross the finish line will win a $500 cash prize, with $300 for second place and $200 for third.
Enjoy the Festival Fun!
- Music & Dancing: Enjoy lively tunes and dancing throughout the day with Emergency Music Services.
- Delicious Food & Sweets: Treat yourself to a variety of food and sweets available for purchase from area food vendors.
“If you haven’t been to RiverPark lately, you are in for a real treat!” said Carolyn McManamy, RiverPark board chair, inviting local residents to come out during the Duck Race and Community Day to see firsthand all the new amenities and upgrades that have been added to the park in the last couple of years. “Plans were already underway to host a fall community day, and when Tropical Storm Debby forced us to postpone the Duck Race, the RiverPark Board decided to combine the two events. This is such a great opportunity for us to showcase all that the Park has to offer and to thank our private donors and grant organizations that have made it possible.”
Since 2022, with private donations and grants from the Davie Community Foundation, Davie County Recreation and Parks, Davie County Tourism, Mocksville Tourism, Duke Energy, Robertson Foundation, and the Salisbury Community Foundation, the park has been able to address infrastructure needs as well as enhance existing facilities and add amenities:
- A gatehouse and entrance park sign
- Trail to the beach
- Picnic shelter with tables and grills
- Changing rooms
- Security cameras
- Kayak portage
- Nature Interpretive and Interactives (Coming Soon)
McManamy shared that the park was truly discovered in 2020 during COVID. As the state mandated that indoor spaces be locked down, people started looking for outdoor venues that remained open. Once the warm weather arrived, RiverPark experienced a significant increase in the number of visitors.
At that time, the park only had one part-time staff member to clean and maintain the park. “People started flocking to the park, which required more supplies and more hours just to collect the trash. We didn’t have the staff to enforce the rules or take care of the park,” she explained.
Although the park receives funding from Davie County Tourism, Rowan County, and the Town of Cooleemee, as well as fundraising, there simply wasn’t enough money to hire additional staff.
With concerns for public safety and the well-being of the park in mind, the RiverPark Executive Committee made the difficult decision to close the park on June 29, 2020, until the concerns could be resolved. The park reopened on Memorial Day weekend 2021 after hiring and training a new park manager and some park staff. To cover the cost of increased staffing and security, a small entrance fee is charged during the high season.
The popularity of RiverPark continues to soar. This summer, a TikTok influencer featured the Bullhole, and over the 4th of July weekend, thousands of people tried to visit. The park was at capacity by noon, and hundreds of cars had to be turned away. This is a clear indication of the park’s growing appeal and the excitement it generates.
“RiverPark at Cooleemee Falls is a beautiful destination for both locals and visitors,” said Paul Moore, Davie County Recreation & Parks director and former chair of the RiverPark Board. “All proceeds from the event go directly back to RiverPark, making it a fun and meaningful way to support this community treasure. Whether you have a single duck or a whole flock in the race, the excitement is unparalleled. Purchase your tickets today and join us for a fantastic day at RiverPark!”
Adopt Your Duck Today!
To join the race and compete for the cash prizes, you need to buy a ticket:
- Single Duck: $10
- Firequacker Pack (5 Ducks): $40
- Flock (15 Ducks): $100
You don’t have to be present to win!
Where to Buy Tickets:
Duck tickets are available at:
- RiverPark at Cooleemee Falls
- Davie County Chamber of Commerce
- Cooleemee Town Hall
- Davie County Community Park
- Skinny Wheels Pedals & Pints in Downtown Salisbury
Tickets will also be sold at RiverPark until 12:30 p.m. on the day of the event.
The RiverPark Board is deeply grateful to the following sponsors who are making this event possible: Bank OZK, Calvary West, Davie County Tourism, Davie Discount Drug, Emergency Music Services, GNC, Happy Roots, Johnson Insurance, Mocksville Concrete Company, Mocksville Tourism Development Authority, O’Neal’s Lawncare, Row Co River Adventures, Skinny Wheels Pedals & Pints, Tar Heel Landworks LLC, and Thos Smart & Co LLC. Their support is invaluable and greatly appreciated.
Visit RiverPark:
RiverPark is located at the end of Erwin Temple Church Road, just ½ mile from Cooleemee off Hwy 801 & Needmore Road. For the latest updates about the park, follow RiverPark at Cooleemee Falls on Facebook.
Don’t miss out on the fun! Adopt your duck today and join us for a fantastic day at RiverPark!
