A duck day afternoon

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Thousands of yellow rubber ducks are dumped into the Naugatuck River from the Whittemore Bridge in Naugatuck to start the duck race during the seventh annual Duck Day and Race on Sunday. –LUKE MARSHALL

NAUGATUCK — Although a flash of summer rain caused the seventh annual Duck Day and Race to wind down about 30 minutes early Sunday, the wet weather rain barely put a damper on yet another successful event by the Naugatuck Chamber of Commerce.

Some 16,100 ducks made their way down the Naugatuck River for the race, about the same number as last year.

Waterbury Regional Chamber of Commerce President Lynn Ward said the non-profits supported by the event will do well. The event has raised some $300,000 for area non-profits in the past six years.

Ward said despite the rain, the event was a success.

“It was perfect,” she said up until a flash rain came at about 3:15 p.m.

This year’s Duck Day featured some new events, including a Halloween in June contest, with some 100 people participating. Ward said since last Halloween was “canceled” in some towns because of the Oct. 29 snowstorm, so the chamber decided to add the event to the Duck Day and Race.

Sarracco Mechanical Services of Naugatuck sponsored some $2,500 worth of prizes, including $1,000 for the winner, Adam Czarnik of Naugatuck, who dressed as a zombie butcher.

Ward said she expects Halloween in June to be part of the event next year.

Another 25 people won prizes for their winning ducks, with the first prize of $5,000 going to R.J. Oakley.

For some, Sunday brought both work and fun.

Jennifer Torres and Ashley Kistir, employees of Nardelli’s, got henna tattoos on their necks before their shift at the deli.

“It was great,” Torres said. “It wasn’t that crazy, and we got tattoos.”

See more photos from Duck Day here.

Race winners were:

$5,000 to R.J. Oakley;

3-carat diamond gold tennis bracelet to Even Escobales;

$500 gift certificate at Brass Mill Center and Commons to Suzanne and Mike Puma;

Apple 16GB iPad to Beth Geary;

Sony 40-inch, LED 1080p HDTV to Mack and Kim Tzvares;

Four box seats to a Yankees game to Suzie Firtzpatrick;

Overnight stay at Longwood Country Inn in Woodbury to Robert Massey;

Gift basket and $50 gift certificate to Elizabeth Richards Gifts to Donna Biship;

$175 gift certificate at Bounce N Play Rentals to Nancy Macaione;

Four tickets to 2012-13 Broadway series at The Palace Theater to Karen Ambain;

$100 gift certificate to Stop & Shop to James Miele;

Four passes to Quassy Amusement Park plus Duck Race gift basket to Jen Dominx;

Designer sunglasses to Elsa Berry;

Two tickets to Ski Sundown and two tickets to Woodbury Ski Area to Lisa Santoro;

$75 gift certificate redeemable at Toys R Us to Bob Moffo;

Two adult passes to Mohawk Mountain to Mary Morrisroe;

Man’s Timex watch and four-pack Timexpo Museum to Delores Niedzwecki;

Four passes to Essex Steam Train and Riverboat to Renee Butterly;

Eight passes to Stepping Stones Museum for Children to Kerry Bar Toletti;

iPod charger to Nick DiDomizio;

Haircut, shave and gift basket to Carlos Flores;

Four passes to KidCity Children’s Museum to Kathy Johnson;

$30 Silpada Design gift certificate to Dave Hales;

Jimmy’s of Watertown gift basket and two passes to New England Carousel Museum to Jay Barth.