The 34th annual Rubber Duckie Race and Festival will return on Sunday, Sept. 11, at Lancaster County Central Park, 1050 Rockford Road, Lancaster. Festivities will begin at 2 p.m. and conclude at 6 p.m. The rain-or-shine celebration will include a variety of games and arts and crafts activities as well as several food trucks to provide food and drinks available for purchase. There will be no charge for attendance, and participants may sign up for a duck to enter in the race on the day of the event.

At 5 p.m., hundreds of rubber ducks will be dropped into the Conestoga River, beginning the traditional race and highlight of the festival. Competing owners of the fast and furious waterfowl will be eligible to win prizes; several different packages are available to sponsor a duck for entry in the race. Additionally, multiple sponsorships are available to businesses looking to support the event and advertise. Those who purchase packages of racing ducks will receive souvenir ducks that they may take home.

The event is one of the largest community fundraising events in the county, with all proceeds benefiting the Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development. The organization supports nearly 4,000 young people with physical therapy, speech therapy and behavioral health services from birth to age 21. "We evaluate children when they come in and see what they need," said Tara Zilling, director of community fundraising for Schreiber. "Our goal isn't only to make sure the kids can thrive, but that their families can as well." Children diagnosed with autism, attention deficit and anxiety disorders and trauma receive care through sessions with therapists who work with them both one-on-one and in conjunction with their entire family.

Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development also offers several camps and programs, as well as child care through the Circle of Friends Academy. The Circle of Friends Academy provides an environment for the development of children between the ages of six weeks and 5 years, through education that is both social and emotional. Beginning with the infant room, the facility focuses on children's motor skills and sense development. Once in the toddler room, kids are introduced to a schooling environment and are provided opportunities to cultivate their social skills. Finally, staff in the prekindergarten room aid those enrolled with problem solving and encourage them to build peer relationships in preparation for kindergarten.

For more information or to become a sponsor, contact Zilling at tzilling@schreiberpediatric.org. To purchase a duck to enter the race, visit http://www.schreiberpediatric.org.