First-Ever Myrtle Duck Festival to Drop Thousands of Rubber Ducks Over The Market Common July 25

A helicopter duck drop over the Grand Pond will launch a charity race benefiting Make-A-Wish South Carolina, Habitat for Humanity of Horry County, SOS Care, the Kiwanis Club, and the YMCA of Coastal Carolina, anchoring a free, full-day festival with live music, food trucks, and a custom truck show.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — JULY 8, 2026 — THOMAS BEACH VACATIONS NEWS DESK

Thousands of rubber ducks will rain from a helicopter over the Grand Pond at The Market Common on Saturday, July 25, 2026, as Myrtle Beach hosts the inaugural Myrtle Duck Festival — a free community event pairing a charity duck race with a full day of live entertainment, food trucks, family activities, and a custom truck and Jeep showcase.

Festival gates open at 11 a.m., with the ceremonial helicopter duck drop — billed as the Great Duck Drop — scheduled for 3:30 p.m. and the Myrtle Duck Race launching at 4 p.m. The festival closes at 7 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

Duck adoptions, which serve as race entries, are available online for $10 each. Half of every adoption purchase goes directly to the participating nonprofit the buyer selects, and race results determine additional prize funding for the foundations: $5,000 for first place, $3,500 for second, $2,500 for third, $2,000 for fourth, and $1,000 for fifth. Organizers note that prizes are awarded to the nonprofits rather than to individual duck adopters, and that adoptions are event participation purchases, not tax-deductible donations.

Five Local Foundations, Five Duck Colors

Each racing duck carries a color tied to its cause: blue for Make-A-Wish South Carolina, which grants wishes for children with critical illnesses; teal for Habitat for Humanity of Horry County; yellow for the Kiwanis Club and its children’s education programs; green for the YMCA of Coastal Carolina; and gray for SOS Care, which supports independent living for people with autism and intellectual disabilities.

Eric Vizzini, president of the Carolina Forest Kiwanis Club, told WMBF News that the event represents a meaningful funding opportunity for the children his organization serves. Festival organizer representatives told the station the concept came together in a matter of months, growing from an idea earlier this year into a full-scale production involving a helicopter, five foundations, and one of the area’s most visible public spaces.

The festival is hosted by the Find Me Outside Foundation, a local nonprofit focused on connecting kids and families through outdoor experiences, and produced by Loggerhead Productions, with sponsor support that includes Visit Myrtle Beach, Joe’s Crab Shack, and Bass Pro Shops. A Community Impact Village on the festival grounds will give additional local nonprofits, beyond the five racing foundations, space to engage attendees through hands-on activities.

Truck Show, Crab Crackin’ Championship, and Live Art Round Out the Day

Beyond the race, the FBK Offroad Big Duckin’ Truck Show & Tailgate — hosted by the Carolina Coast Jeep Club — brings custom trucks, lifted Jeeps, off-road builds, and big rigs to the grounds for a day-long tailgate. The Joe’s Crab Shack Crab Crackin’ Championship runs a 20-contestant qualifier at 2 p.m. with a ten-person final at 5 p.m., and a live art installation, Canvas for a Cause, opens at noon as a local artist paints a large-scale festival work throughout the afternoon. Mainstage live music begins at 5:30 p.m., closing out the day after the race results are in.

The event lands in the heart of one of the Grand Strand’s busiest summer stretches. The Market Common district — the former Air Force base turned shopping, dining, and residential village surrounding Grand Park — regularly hosts large-scale community gatherings, but a helicopter duck drop is a first for the venue and for the Myrtle Beach area.

What It Means for Grand Strand Visitors

For vacationers staying along the North Myrtle Beach coastline, the festival sits an easy 30-to-40-minute drive south. Guests in Cherry Grove Beach and Ocean Drive can take Highway 31 south to skip the beachfront traffic, while those in Crescent Beach and Windy Hill start a few minutes closer to the action. The mid-afternoon race timing leaves the morning free for the beach — a schedule that suits families based in oceanfront home rentals and oceanfront condo rentals looking to fold a one-day event into a full beach week.

Organizers advise adopting ducks online in advance through the official festival website and checking the site for schedule updates, as event timing may shift due to weather or logistics.

Sources: Official Myrtle Duck Festival website (myrtleduckfestival.com); WMBF News reporting, June 2026; Visit Myrtle Beach and The Market Common event listings. Event details subject to change; confirm on the official festival site before attending.