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- Special Interest
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- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every January 13
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National Rubber Ducky Day splashes into action every January 13, celebrating the iconic yellow bath toy. This day honors everything from its humble beginnings to its pop culture fame, thanks to Ernie from Sesame Street. Gather your favorite ducks, organize a rubber duck race, or simply enjoy a relaxing bath with your buoyant companions.
Want to sponsor National Rubber Ducky Day? Learn how
Expected National Rubber Ducky Day Deals
While we wait for official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that retailers often offer playful deals for National Rubber Ducky Day. Look for discounts on bath toys, children’s books featuring ducks, and even novelty items from stores like Target, Walmart, and online at Amazon. Specialty toy shops such as Fat Brain Toys or Melissa & Doug might feature sales on their bath-time collections. Keep an eye out for promotions from brands like Munchkin or Skip Hop, known for their baby and bath products. Even local gift shops and independent toy stores could have unique rubber ducky merchandise. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as January 13 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Rubber Ducky Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #RubberDuckyDay. Share photos or reels of your favorite rubber ducks, creative bath setups, or even duck-themed crafts.
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #RubberDuckyDay. Film short, fun videos of rubber duck races, bath time routines, or creative skits featuring the beloved toy.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #RubberDuckyDay. Share memories of your childhood rubber duck, post a picture of your collection, or organize a virtual duck-themed event.
National Rubber Ducky Day Hero
Landon Smart Lawrence
National Rubber Ducky Day timeline
Manufacturers utilized Charles Goodyear’s method for rendering rubber into malleable material.
Rubber Ducks evolved into the recognizable floating yellow figure with an orange bill.
Ernie from Sesame Street sings his catchy song ‘Rubber Ducky.’
A cargo ship tipped over with 29,000 bathtub toys descending into the Pacific.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Rubber Ducky Day
Local businesses can make a splash for National Rubber Ducky Day by embracing the fun. Pet supply stores could host a ‘Ducky Dog Wash’ event, offering discounts on pet-friendly bath products and rubber toys. Cafes and bakeries might offer duck-shaped cookies or specialty yellow-themed drinks. Toy stores could organize a ‘decorate your own rubber ducky’ craft station or a rubber duck race in a kiddie pool. Even car washes could offer a ‘Ducky Deluxe’ package, giving away a small rubber duck with each premium wash. These playful activations create memorable experiences and encourage community engagement.
National Rubber Ducky Day FAQs
When is National Rubber Ducky Day?
In 2027, National Rubber Ducky Day will be observed on Wednesday, January 13. Get ready to honor the iconic yellow toy with a splash of fun and nostalgia.
Who invented the rubber ducky?
The concept of rubber toys emerged with rubber manufacturing in the 1800s. However, it was Landon Smart Lawrence who secured the first patent for a rubber duck in 1928, solidifying its design as a bath-time staple.
How many rubber ducks were lost at sea?
The famous ‘Friendly Floatees’ incident in 1992 saw around 28,000 rubber ducks spill into the ocean. Many of these ducks are still floating today, occasionally washing ashore on distant coasts and serving as valuable scientific tools.
What is the significance of Ernie's 'Rubber Duckie' song?
The ‘Rubber Duckie’ song, sung by Sesame Street’s Ernie, significantly boosted the rubber duck’s cultural impact. It helped transform a simple bath toy into a universally recognized symbol of comfort and fun for generations of children.
National Rubber Ducky Day Activities
Visit the Rubber Duck sculpture
What’s better than a tiny bath toy? A huge replica in the open waters! Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman created a collection of large ducks which can be seen in Amsterdam, Sydney, Hong Kong, and various other cities around the world. Hofman makes the ducks out of PVC, and the largest creation is 85 feet wide, 65 feet long, and 105 feet high.
Attend a rubber duck race
Every year, Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, OH hosts a race of the duckies through Big Walnut Creek. Each duck is purchased by a sponsor to support research for the hospital. You can buy one for $5, or a “brood” of 130 for $500. Thousands of the yellow toys are unleashed into the creek, and onlookers watch to see which one crosses the finish line first. The top three ducks (marked with their sponsor’s name) earn the sponsors big prizes—like a year-lease for a BMW!
Take a bath!
Celebrate the ducky in the way it was intended! Pour some bubbles into your tub, light some candles, and turn on some relaxing music. Take some time for yourself to relax and recharge, and put a couple rubber ducks in the bath for some added fun!
Why We Love National Rubber Ducky Day
They help out good causes
Rubber duckies are used all over the world as symbols to raise money for medical research and charitable organizations. Every year, The Samuel Dixon Family Health Centers in Valencia, CA hold a Rubber Ducky Festival to raise money for their programs. The United Nations Children’s Fund had more than 50,000 ducks swim the Danube River. In Chicago, The Windy City Rubber Ducky Derby raises money for the Special Olympics of Illinois.
Because Ernie says so
National Rubber Ducky Day gets its date from Sesame Street, when Ernie said the toy’s birthday was on January 13. He loved the duck so much, and made sure it was always there as a bath time staple. His famous Rubber Duckie song became such a hit that it even reached number 16 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Singles chart in 1970 and was nominated for a Grammy for Best Recording for Children!
The Queen loves them
Supposedly. Rumors swirled in 2001 from a British tabloid saying that Queen Elizabeth II had her own royal version of the rubber ducky in her bathroom—complete with a crown! Fans went crazy and sales for the toy rose by an amazing 80%!
National Rubber Ducky Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 | January 13 | Wednesday |
| 2028 | January 13 | Thursday |
| 2029 | January 13 | Saturday |
| 2030 | January 13 | Sunday |
| 2031 | January 13 | Monday |
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