Crowds Flock Big Dam Party Despite Heat, Duck Merchandise In High Demand

The Gathering Place has remained packed the last few days for the Big Dam Party, and Sunday was no exception.

With the blistering heat today, the free water station ran out of water halfway through the event, and another vendor says their feature the giant duck is flying off the shelves. 

Kids attending the Big Dam Party have seen a lot of this during this celebration. 

“I saw face paint and I saw puppies,” said Mabry Judkins, Tulsa.

“I have seen food trucks and Indian Dancing,” said Jordyn Schulz, Tulsa. 

“They were giving water bottles next to a truck that had water in it,” Nicholas McDaniel, Tulsa said.

“First thing we see is a massive rubber duck it was a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be,” said Anthony McDaniel, Tulsa. “But I guess that's what you ask for when it's the biggest duck in the world.”

And Kids aren't the only ones enjoying the Big Dam Party.

“I've been thoroughly impressed,” said Chanker James from Kentucky.

Jay Dillard, a screen printer for Mythic Press says they are the official merchandise dealer for the event, and it's been a major success.

“We cannot keep stuff stocked enough,” said Dillard.

Dillard says anything with a Duck on it goes fast.

Anthony McDaniel says he was looking for a trucker hat with the duck on it. But it was sold out so he went with another hat with the mighty mallard on it. 

“I like the logo. I think it's really cool, I think that people that don't know what it is might be a little bit confused at first but after that, I think people will love this hat, they'll wish they came,” said McDaniel. 

Dillard also says it's been awesome to see people from out of town come to buy Tulsa-inspired merchandise. 

“They'll come in and by the stuff and they're like oh we're going to take it back to Chicago, we're going to take it back to Colorado. It's really incredible to see that we have something special to offer,” said Dillard.

After this weekend Chanler James from Kentucky says he's experienced what Tulsa has to offer.

“We're just constantly talking about how amazing it looks, and every time you keep taking a couple more deeper steps in it just keeps getting more elaborate,” said James.

Monday is the last day of the Big Dam Party, the Great Raft Race will kick off at 8 a.m. and the party ends at 8 p.m.