Ray the Baby Duck visiting Essentia Health

As the Duluth Festival of Sail drifts toward Canal Park, Essentia Health is getting into the spirit by welcoming a special guest this week.

Ray the Baby Duck will spread smiles on Wednesday and Thursday at the downtown Duluth campus. Billed as a baby, Ray nonetheless is 10 feet tall with a supersized personality to match. He will be at the following locations:

• Essentia Health-St. Mary’s Medical Center Children’s Hospital teen solarium from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday
• Essentia Health-Duluth Clinic First Street Building atrium from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday

While Wednesday’s event is internal only, Thursday’s is open to the public. Patients, as well as their family and friends, are invited to swing by and take a picture with Ray. Any reporters wishing to attend should do so between 1-2 p.m., when Craig Samborski, president of the Duluth Festival of Sail, will be on site and available for interviews. As will Essentia Health dermatologist Dr. Hilary Reich, who will be talking about sun-safety awareness.

Ray, whose companion, Mama Duck, is a featured attraction of the Festival of Sail, also will be at the Miller Hill Mall from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday.

Essentia Health is a presenting sponsor of the Duluth Festival of Sail, which runs Sunday through Tuesday.