Clearwater is about to have one of those fun, unexpected moments that puts a city on everyone’s radar.
From January 10 through January 26, Coachman Park in downtown Clearwater will host the World’s Largest Rubber Duck. The 61-foot inflatable, nicknamed “Mama Duck,” will serve as the centerpiece for a 17-day stretch of events along the waterfront. Love it or roll your eyes at it, the duck is doing exactly what public art is supposed to do: get people to show up, look around, take photos, and talk about a place.
Why this is happening here
Coachman Park has quickly become Clearwater’s gathering spot. With its open lawn, waterfront walkways, and the BayCare Sound amphitheater nearby, the park was designed to be active, visible, and community-forward. A giant installation fits naturally into that mission.
This is not happening in a random field. It is happening in the most walkable, central part of downtown, where visitors can easily move between the park, the waterfront, restaurants, shops, and the rest of the city. The duck turns Coachman into a living billboard for Clearwater’s downtown revival.
What to expect during the 17 days
The duck is not the whole event. It’s the anchor.
The city plans to build a full run of programming around it, including:
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Waterfront markets and vendor pop-ups
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Live music and concerts
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Family-friendly activities
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Evening lighting that makes the installation glow at night
In other words, the duck is the photo moment, but the real goal is to activate the park daily and bring steady energy to downtown for more than two weeks straight.
What this says about Clearwater and Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay keeps leaning into public spaces that create experiences, not just scenery. Clearwater’s waterfront transformation is part of the same bigger story you see in places like St. Pete’s shoreline or Tampa’s Riverwalk. Cities are investing in reasons to gather, walk, linger, and feel connected to the place.
Temporary installations like Mama Duck are a smart tool for that. They create a short, high-interest window that draws locals and visitors to a specific area, reminds people why the waterfront matters, and supports nearby businesses at the same time.
It’s playful on the surface, but it reflects a serious strategy: downtown Clearwater wants to be a destination people choose, not just pass through.
Local takeaway
If you live in the area, this is an easy, low-pressure reason to spend time downtown and enjoy Coachman Park. If you have friends or family visiting in January, it’s a built-in outing that’s memorable and very Clearwater-right-now. And if you’re watching how Tampa Bay continues to grow, this is another sign that the region is putting real effort into places that bring people together.
Some people will think it’s hilarious, some will think it’s ridiculous, and either way, they’ll be talking about Clearwater. That’s the point, and it’s a good one.
