PORT ANGELES — It is time again for the Great Olympic Peninsula Duck Derby.

Duck tickets go on sale today for the 21st annual Duck Derby, with participants having the opportunity to win the grand prize — either a new 2010 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck or a Toyota Corolla, provided by Wilder Toyota.

Forty-two prizes worth more than $25,000 will be up for grabs this year, with proceeds benefiting the Olympic Medical Center Foundation and the Sequim Rotary Club’s charitable projects.

The race will be at the Nippon Paper Industries canal on Sunday, May 23.

Duck tickets are $5, and $25 buys six ducks in the race.

Tickets can be purchased from members of the OMC Foundation, Duck Derby volunteers, Sequim Rotary Club members, the Forks’ Soroptimist International of the Olympic Rainforest and at Peninsula Daily News offices (see addresses, Page A2).

Team captains and duck sellers will pick up this year’s ticket packets and souvenir ducks at the Seasons Cafe at Olympic Medical Center, 939 E. Caroline St., between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. today.

In addition to the new vehicles, racers will have the chance to win cash prizes sponsored by 7 Cedars Casino, gift certificates worth up to $500, as well as dozens of other prizes from the Duck Derby’s many contributors from the North Olympic Peninsula and Canada.

“The time, effort, labor and equipment that various groups put into the Duck Derby to make this event successful year after year shows how each of us contributes to make this area such a great place to live,” said Bob Lovell, Duck Derby co-chair along with Rick Smith.

“So many individuals and organizations are tireless with their donations and work in this community to help make it what it is.

“It’s a pretty awesome sight to see up to 30,000 ducks down the Nippon Paper Industries Mill canal,” Lovell said.

The Bub and Alice Olsen Very Important Duck (VID) Race will be held at 3 p.m. just before the main duck race.

This race is an opportunity for businesses and individuals, including those from outside the Peninsula who do business with local companies, to purchase special VID ducks emblazoned with their logo for $250 each.

On race day, the Kids’ Pavilion, KONP’s live radio broadcast and refreshments will be available.

For each duck that’s adopted, the purchaser receives a ticket with a printed number, which corresponds to a number on the duck.

All of the numbered ducks are dumped into the Nippon Paper Industries canal on race day, and the “owners” of the first 42 ducks to cross the finish line will win great prizes.

For more information, potential owner/racers can contact the Olympic Medical Center Foundation at 360-417-7144.