The Great Pootatuck Duck Race is set for Saturday, May 28, from 10 am until 2 pm in Sandy Hook Center.

Once again the Newtown Lions Club will be launching hundreds of yellow rubber ducks downstream on Memorial Day Weekend to raise funds for Lions charities. This is always a great family event with free admission.

The event is spread all over Sandy Hook Center, from Newtown United Methodist Church on Church Hill Road to Village Perk Café on Glen Road. Store keepers of SHOP are anxious to welcome everyone to Sandy Hook with special events planned at many of the shops.

The Lions will have a full line-up of entertainment lineup, led by Duck Race MC Bob Schmidt. Equipment from local fire and ambulance companies will be on display, many activities will be presented at the nearby Methodist church, and over 40 exhibitors from all over town will have displays set up in the park area at 5 Glen Road for the hours leading up to the big duck drop.

The lucky winner with the first duck to cross the finish line wins a check for $2,000. Second prize this year is a weekend getaway trip to New York worth $600. Another 18 prizes have also been arranged for, donated by establishments all over Newtown.

Lions Club member Kevin Corey has again deployed the Lions all over town to offer advance sales of Duck Race tickets, which are still $5 each. Members are regularly selling tickets on weekends at tickets Bagel Delight, Bottle Stop, Butcher's Best, Carminuccio's, Dodgingtown Market, My Place Restaurant, Newtown General Store, Newtown Hardware, Newtown Deli & Catering, Pizza Palace, Stop and Shop, and Yankee Wine. between now and race day. Any tickets left on May 28 will be sold on site only.

Among the charities that benefit from Newtown Lions Club fundraising efforts are Dorothy Day Hospitality House, FAITH Food Pantry, Fidelco, Lions Low Vision Centers of Connecticut, Newtown Youth & Family Services, The Parent Connection, and SHEF, among many others.