BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN)....It wasn't even an official opening but as crews began inflating the six-story tall "Mama Duck" on the Canalside lawn, a huge crowd of spectators stopped to gander a look at the giant yellow duck.
Thursday's afternoon crowds serve as a prelude to what Canalside officials hope is a record-breaking holiday weekend in terms of visitors - with the 61-foot tall Mama Duck and her three 12-foot-tall ducklings draws huge crowds.
"That's exactly what we hope happens," said Brigid Burns, Buffalo Waterfront marketing and promotions coordinator.
Ten years ago, one giant rubber duck was parked at the mouth of the Buffalo River just across from Canalside's boardwalk and it drew thousands, creating traffic jams in and around Canalside.
This year, Mama Duck and her ducklings are on the lawn, so visitors can get better photos and see all four in an up close and personal way.
"We want people to create their own memories," Burns said.
Columbia, S.C. resident Brent Blankenship heard about the duck and brought his wife and four sons to Canalside. The family is on vacation in Buffalo.
"How can you go wrong with a duck this big?," Blankenship said. "This is way to cool."
Just how big is Mama Duck.
She stands 61 feet (or six stories) tall and 74-feet wide. It takes 175,000 cubic feet of compressed air to inflate her and it takes her crew as long as 75 minutes to fully inflate Mama Duck.
The ducks are on a national tour.
They came to Buffalo from a weekend in Minneapolis and from Buffalo, the crew is headed to just outside of Sandusky, Ohio.
"We were so lucky to get Mama on a big, holiday weekend," Burns said. "I think it is because of the reception they got the last time they were in Buffalo."
The ducks are the centerpiece of a busy, holiday weekend at Canalside that includes a July 3rd Outer Harbor Terminal B performance by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra followed by a fireworks display.
The ducks will be inflated at Canalside from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, July 3 and Saturday, July 4 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday July 5.
There is no cost.to see, photo or touch the ducks.
Giant rubber duck expected to draw thousands to Canalside
Giant rubber duck expected to draw thousands to Canalside
