Picnic, Duck Dash, Kids Parade Set for July 4th in Healdsburg

A Healdsburg civic group is ramping up the buzz on the city's already stellar July 4 celebration with a new kids' parade, picnic and duck race fundraiser at

"Our club just came up with it," said Dawn Elaine Brown, treasurer of the "We wanted to have something here for people in the community for July 4."

Admission to the "old-fashioned" picnic and parade is free.

Kids are encouraged to adorn themselves and their bicycles or wagons in red, white and blue decorations to march in the parade, which starts at 11 a.m.

Prizes will be awarded for the best costume and for best-decorated bike or wagon.

In addition, Rotary is selling tickets for a "duck dash." Club members will be painting numbers on 5,000 small plastic ducks. The ducks will then "race" down a waterway made out of a drainage pipe.

The person who holds a ticket with the number of the duck that finishes first in the race will win a choice of either $5,000 or a trip for four people to Washington, D.C., Brown said.

Tickets are $5 each or five for $20. Proceeds will go toward Healdsburg educational programs.

Duck dash tickets may be purchased online at this website, or at the branch inside or from any Sunrise Rotary member.

For more information on the picnic, parade and duck dash, call 707-318-3101 or email heliberman@comcast.net.

With Rotary's new daytime event, Healdsburg is turning into a round-the-clock July 4 celebration city.

Healdsburg already has a at athletic fields that starts after 9:30 p.m.

the popular fireworks show and is seeking community donations and volunteers for cleanup.