City plans to make a splash with new Goose on the Grand event!

The City of Cambridge is diving into something new this year and wants you to gather your flock for Goose on the Grand, taking place on June 14, at Mill Race Park.

This fun, and family-friendly event will see 1,400 rubber ducks race down the Grand River, as part of a partnership with the Rotary Club of Cambridge. Residents are invited to purchase a duck, with cash prizes for the first, second and third ducks to cross the finish line. Additional prizes will be awarded for ducks placing fourth through tenth. Funds raised will go to the Rotary Club, which partners with local charities such as the Cambridge Self Help Food Bank, Cambridge Memorial Hospital Foundation and KidsAbility to help make a difference in the community.

The ducks will be released at Park Hill Bridge, and will float along the Grand River to the Main St Bridge, where they will be corralled to determine a winner. Special thanks to the Ancient Mariners Canoe Club who are helping to gather all the ducks after the race. Ducks can be bought through the Rotary Club of Cambridge at a cost of $20 each, or three for $50.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to bring people together with laughter and full on joy while simultaneously celebrating art, community and place,” said Mayor Jan Liggett. “I would like to thank our volunteers on the Placemaking Working Group for their work on this project and their dedication to bringing moments of happiness to our residents. It really showcases the spirit of Cambridge with a focus on community while mixing in a little friendly competition along with outdoor art that the community can enjoy for years to come.”

Festivities will run from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. with live music, activities and art, in addition to the duck race. Goose on the Grand will also launch the Cambridge Goose Hunt, an art installation featuring twelve fiberglass geese sculptures. The 1.3-metre-tall sculptures will be individually painted by various artists and displayed during the event. Attendees will have the chance to see all twelve together, before they complete their final migration to different locations in downtown Cambridge.

Drawing inspiration from the Canadian Geese that make their homes along the Grand River, the Cambridge Goose Hunt was created by the City’s Placemaking Working Group to encourage residents and tourists alike to explore the downtown. The Placemaking Working Group was established by Council in 2023 to provide input and assist with placemaking efforts across the Cambridge.

Goose on the Grand aligns with the City’s Strategic Plan by capitalizing on the beauty of our outdoor spaces, and creating things for people to do.

For more information, including how to apply to be an artist for one of the fiberglass geese, visit cambridge.ca/goose