Heads up to all coming in. Noticed that the run is the same weekend as festival of speed. While it adds to the cool factor of things in downtown, it also adds to the chaos.

http://www.festivalsofspeed.com/js_e...st-petersburg/

Festival of speed takes up pretty much all of the Vinoy and park area in Downtown so parking will be sparse to say the least. There will definitely be a collection of bad cars and boat that weekend though for those that head on over. just expect big crowds is all.

That events has been running side by side for yrs w no problems. We gets docks they get the park. When poker run is over i go and look at all the cars. Win win lol

I always thought they ran back to back but not together

There have been one or two times where they were different weekends but it is really cool when it is the same weekend.

Pretty cool to walk out of the hotel and see a Bugatti, Enzo, Konesegg, and Pagani parked in front of the hotel just like "normal" cars!

Is there parking at the hotel for our tow rigs?

Not if festival is the same day and your staying at the vinoy. They tend to park the tow rigs that look good on the street in front of the hotel. The hotel parking lot out front will be full of exotics more than likely.

Is this event any good and worth traveling for? I've never done the TB PR, is it even remotely comparable to the events in the keys? Jackie, how many boats?

Nothing is the keys so not really a fair comparison at all.

However it is a great event I think with a lot of open water running and a great time.

Use the search function and look up pics and videos from the years before.

I have done this event now for 6 or 7 years and it is a great time. There are usually 50+ boats, great location with the Vinoy, fun stops around Tampa Bay, and the festival of speed just adds to it. Everyone hangs at the hotel bar and front porch and has a great time at night. It is completely different than a keys run but just as much fun and really brings all the poker runners together.

http://flpowerboat.com/tampa-bay-pok...015-gallery-1/

Thanks guys for the feedback. I was planning on being in FL that weekend but since I just noticed the Vinoy hotel/marina is filled, maybe I'll just see you guys at one of the stops.