Schwarzach calls for the 13th Black-River-Duck-Race with wooden ducks!

Schwarzach calls for the 13th Black-River-Duck-Race with wooden ducks!

On Sunday, June 13, 2025, the 13th Black-River-Duck-Race takes place in Schwarzach. The event starts at 2 p.m. and promises to inspire participants and spectators alike. With a distance of almost 700 meters and over 1500 ducks, which took part in the last race in 2023, it is expected to be a great success again this year. Spectators can look forward to a variety of prices, including a helicopter tour as well as trips to the Europapark and Ravensburger Spieleland. Over 500 prizes were awarded last year, and the award ceremony will take place in the fire station in Schwarzach.

A major innovation this year is the switch to wooden ducks instead of conventional plastic duck. This decision was made to make a contribution to sustainability. The use of wooden ducks captures the current discussion about the environmental impact of plastic, which is often discussed in many duck races. Plastic ducks, made from oil, cause high CO2 emissions and often remain in the water, which means that they can create microplastics. A fisherman even reported 91 plastic ducks from a river, which illustrates the problem.

background of the event

The Black-River-Duck-Race is organized by the fire brigade and the fire brigade youth in Schwarzach and supports institutions such as the Hospiz Vorarlberg and local fire brigade projects. The income from the event benefits from coping with the grief of affected families. Similar events have been widespread in Germany for about 15 years, many of which are geared towards the support of local non -profit organizations. A big festival is often organized for participants and spectators to promote the sociable atmosphere.

But the environmental impact of duck races does not go unmentioned. While most events make a valuable contribution to social projects, critical voices report the negative effects that plastic ducks can have on ecosystems. Although some organizers find paths to minimize the environmental impact, it remains important to think about the origin of the ducks and their disposal before supporting such an event.

participation and prices

For participation in the Black-River-Duck-Race, ducks can be purchased in advance booking or on the race day. These ducks are numbered and then take part in the race. As with similar events, participants can design their ducks individually, which not only makes the event a competition, but also includes a creative aspect.

The effort for the organization of such an event can be considerable, especially with regard to the protection of nature and water, since the cities have a say. The Black-River-Duck-Race in Schwarzach is not only a fascinating event for an entertaining Sunday, but also a step towards environmentally conscious events.