Optimist Club of Alpena

07/17/2026

Join us for our annual Kids Fishing event!

🗓️ Sunday, July 19th (part of Michigan Brown Trout Family Day)
🕙 10 AM - 2 PM
📍 New location! Across from the Alpena Marina entrance, at the corner of Harbor and Prentiss St
🎣 No supplies needed to fish!

A huge thank you to the Alpena City Firefighters for providing the fish-pool and helping hands! Without them, we wouldn't be able to continue this event that has been a downtown tradition during the Brown Trout Festival for many years (previously held at the Culligan Plaza fountain).

Tips for the day:
- Bring a cooler if you want to take fish home.
- Check in at the end of the event to take some "uncaught" fish home with you!

07/08/2026

🏅We have a winner!
🐤 Our friend Tammy’s duckie #664 won the race at lightning speed! (The river current was in an our favor this year!)
Tammy was so kind as to donate a portion of her winnings back to the Optimist Club!

👏 Thank you Tammy, and thank you to all who participated in the Rubber Duckie race!

🇺🇸 We appreciate all of your support, Alpena.

While selling tickets, it’s great to meet all those at the parade who have been buying duckies for many, many years. It’s amazing to see how many people come from all over to be a part of Alpena’s 4th of July celebration! 🎆

07/04/2026

Annual 4th of July Rubber Duckie Race today!
Look for us in the crowd at the parade!
$5 per duckie (ticket)

03/19/2026

Join us for our Spring Break Free Family Fun day!
Tuesday, March 31st
10A - 2P
This annual event was formerly held at the Alpena High School, and the Alpena Fairgrounds Merchant Building (post-COVID).

07/08/2025

We have a winner!
Duck #711 took the title for the 2025 Rubber Duckie Race! The winner was excited, to say the least.
We had a beautiful day for the race! Unfortunately the race was cut short due to the heavy wind coming down the waterway, so one of our young spectators drew the winning duck via a raffle drawing!
Thank you to all who supported our fundraiser and came out to watch the race! Without your support, we wouldn't be able to do the things we do.

07/08/2025

Thank you for visiting our NEW page! (previously "Alpena, Michigan Optimist Club")

Join us for meetings:
5:30 PM - Last Thursday of each month (locations vary, message for details)
8:00 AM - All other Thursdays, at JJ's Steak & Pizza House

Local programs we support:
Youth sports, Optimist Park at Fairgrounds, Spring Break Day, Kids Fishing Day, Childhood Cancer Fund, host Oratorical & Essay contests

Send a message to learn more

07/04/2025

The 36th annual Rubber Duckie Race kicks off for 2025!