World's largest rubber duck makes splash in Maryland

Mama Duck, courtesy Leonardtown Wharf

The world’s largest rubber duck, named “Mama Duck,” has arrived in southern Maryland for its first ever trip to the D.C. region.

The 61-foot-tall rubber duck will be in Leonardtown from Aug. 4-6 and in Crisfield on Maryland’s Eastern Shore from Aug. 11-13.

WTOP sports reporter J. Brooks and WTOP reporter Matt Kaufax made the trek out to Leonardtown to meet the mother of all ducks in person.

Cathy Hakun and her son Stephen say they knew they just had to come after they saw the duck was appearing in a town near them.

“We have a puppet duck that has been in our family since my son was 18 months old, and he got it from a daycare,” Cathy said. “We have taken that duck around the world and taking pictures of it everywhere, so we had to get a picture of it with mama duck.”

“It’s totally unique,” Stephen added. “It’s drawn a lot of international attention.”

Others who live in Leonardtown say this is the busiest things have been in a while.

“We don’t normally see this many people around here,” Chandler Moore said.

The Moore family live in a house just a block from the Leonardtown Wharf where the event took place.

Chandler’s father Jim Moore, daughter Gabrielle Moore-Sydnor and son-in-law Daniel Sydnor all took part in putting up a “rest stop” for tourists.

Their lawn setup included a water station for dogs and free duck stickers.

“What better way to make people smile like stickers,” Gabrielle said. “No matter who you are, no matter where you’re from, that duck makes you smile.”

“Make duck fest a thing!” exclaimed Gabrielle’s husband Daniel, wearing a full duck onesie.

“You are never too old to see a rubber duck and smile,” Jim added.

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