Čabar: Rubber Duck Race with 1,600 Participants Becomes a Hit
The "Cuklar" Carnival Society organized the unusual event in Čabar for the fifth time, with the number of adopted ducks growing from the initial 500 to nearly 1,600.
The "Cuklar" Carnival Society organized the unusual event in Čabar for the fifth time, with the number of adopted ducks growing from the initial 500 to nearly 1,600.
The fifth edition of the rubber duck race "Čabranka 2026" brought together nearly 1,600 rubber competitors-a figure that far surpassed the modest 500 adopted swimmers from the event's first edition. The Čabranka River in Gorski Kotar once again became the stage for one of the most unusual, environmentally conscious, and humanitarian events in this part of Croatia.
Each of these ducks carried its own humanitarian contribution. It is precisely this component-alongside carefully planned ecological logistics-that sets the Čabar race apart from similar events.
The president of the "Cuklar" Carnival Society, Herman Trope, emphasized that ecology was not just a passing phrase. After the race concluded, society members carefully inspected the entire route. At the finish line, all rubber participants were collected into boxes-where they will safely await the next start, without compromising the beauty of the Čabranka.
The idea from the enthusiasts at "Cuklar" thus turned a children's toy into a symbol. In Gorski Kotar, the word "duck" has long ceased to be associated only with the bathtub.
Trope told Novi list that prizes went to almost everyone. "The first three ducks were awarded, several consolation prizes were given out, and even the last duck received a symbolic prize. There were also our raffles, where every ticket was a winner," he said.
The message is clear: in Čabar, speed is not the only thing celebrated. The perseverance of the last swimmer was also celebrated.
Mayor Antonio Dražović did not hide his satisfaction with the event's growth. He thanked the organizers, participants, and visitors, highlighting the humanitarian character as a key feature. "This event keeps growing and growing, and it certainly makes us special. Especially because it also has a humanitarian character," Dražović said.
Thus, Čabar-thanks to the rubber heroes on the Čabranka-is gaining an increasingly prominent place on the map of interesting Croatian destinations. Five years after its humble beginnings, the event has grown into a brand that combines ecology, humanity, and pure fun.
