Back in September 2013, an unusual sight settled on the shores of the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh: a several-story- tall rubber duck, brought to Pittsburgh for a three-week engagement during the Pittsburgh Festival of Firsts. It drew thousands of visitors and was the talk of the town that autumn.
But now, after almost 12 years away, the quack is coming back. From June 27-29, the world’s largest rubber duck will paddle over to Idlewild and SoakZone in Ligonier.
The 6-story-tall duck tours the world, and Idlewild and SoakZone wanted to bring it back to the area after such a long break, according to marketing director Jeff Croushore.
“We certainly thought it would be a wonderfully fun event that the entire family can enjoy, and we certainly wanted to tap into the nostalgia of the duck that had appeared in the Pittsburgh area back in 2013, so we thought it was time to bring it back.”
Idlewild and SoakZone promise a weekend filled with special events and activities to go along with the feathered friend’s visit.
“We’re still planning all the duck-themed activities, but on the list we’ll have some duckie-themed dance parties, and of course we’ll have some kids’ games like the pick-a-duck,” Croushore said.
He also said that they were working on partnering with a local charity to have a beneficiary Rubber Duck Derby on the Lazy River.
Idlewild and SoakZone open for the season May 17.
