Nathan Jeffers/photo

Pictured (from left) are Ruth Fout, Martha Fout, and Jack Fowler of the Point Pleasant River Museum with the 12 plush animals which will be given away to the 12 lucky winners who find a lucky duck during Friday’s parade.

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POINT PLEASANT — Lions, tigers, and bears … and dogs, a horse and a deer.

While it’s not a trip down the yellow brick road to the Emerald City, some children attending Friday’s holiday parade will perhaps find their heart’s desire, or a just a new friend, at the Point Pleasant River Museum.

As a way kicking off the season of giving, the River Museum will be giving away 12 plush animals, including a lion, two tigers, a bear, several breeds of dogs, and a horse and a deer, to 12 lucky winners.

During the parade, which is set for 6 p.m., on Friday, Nov. 16, those riding on the Point Pleasant River Museum float will be throwing out approximately 500 little ducks, instead of the traditional parade candy. According to Ruth Fout, Administrative Assistant for the museum, 12 of the ducks thrown out during the parade will be “Lucky Ducks,” and will be marked and numbered. Those receiving a lucky duck should then bring their duck to the River Museum to claim their prize of one of the plush animals.

Fout also noted that one of the 12 lucky ducks will be a little extra lucky and will have a free Upper New River Ducky Trip for 2013 attached to it, sponsored by ACE Adventure Resort.

“We’re hoping we have a large turnout of kids at the parade,” Fout said when explaining the lucky ducks. Fout continued saying the River Museum tries to do something special every year for local children during the parade, having thrown out ducks, without any lucky ones, as well as small stuffed animals in the past. Fout also said since the parade is at night, it is a beautiful sight with the various decorations and the Christmas lights.

“It kind of gets you in the Christmas spirit,” Fout added.

According to Fout, the 12 lucky ducks are being sponsored by the following businesses:

Wiseman Excavating, Inc., Brad Wiseman, Liberty, W.Va.; The Home Place, Gallipolis, Ohio; S&S Signs & Shirts, Buffalo, W.Va.; Slone’s Variety Thrift Store, Eleanor, W.Va.; Whittington Farms, Bill and Brenda Whittington, Buffalo, W.Va.; Tri Counties Finest, Marilyn S. Young, Publisher, Teays, W.Va.; Buffalo Drug, Buffalo, W.Va.; The Mason Jar, Point Pleasant, W.Va.; Point Pleasant Printing, Point Pleasant, W.Va.

Fout also stated while there wasn’t a deadline set for children to claim their prize, those who get a lucky duck during the parade should come to the museum by Dec. 8, since that is the date the museum is also planning a puppet show.