KennyOffShore

Speed, excitement and fun returns to northern Michigan for the ninth annual Boyne Thunder Poker Run on July 13 and 14 in Boyne City.

This unique boating event is a fund-raiser for Camp Quality and showcases high performance boats roaring through the waters of Lake Charlevoix and Lake Michigan on a 135-mile excursion. Card stops during the journey on gorgeous Lake Michigan include Northport, Elk Rapids, Harbor Springs, Bay Harbor, with a lunch stop in beautiful downtown Charlevoix. Boaters wrap up their day on the water with a final card stop near Horton Bay and a gathering at Sommerset Pointe, a beautiful waterfront development near Boyne City and one of the event’s sponsors. The day concludes with a dinner at Veterans Park where participants play their cards to see who has the best hand.

The Poker Run, which starts at 9:30 a.m. Saturday from the Boyne City Marina, is the highlight of the weekend but the event offers so much more. From the moment the boats arrive to the time they depart Sunday there are activities galore in Boyne City. Events begin Friday with a dinner for the boaters at the Veterans Park Pavilion.

That same evening, downtown Boyne City comes alive for an expanded Stroll the Streets Friday evening. Incredible displays of Boyne Thunder boats and classic cars, combined with music on every street corner will make for a glorious evening in beautiful downtown Boyne City.

Also on Friday evening, a benefit auction for Camp Quality will take place with items on display starting at 6 p.m. and the auction beginning at 8 p.m.

On Saturday the roar of engines will echo from the Boyne City Marina for the start of Boyne Thunder. The boats will be divided into two groups with the first group leaving at 9:30 a.m. The second group will then follow. Both will do a parade lap to give spectators a great view of the boats before they head down Lake Charlevoix for the open waters of Lake Michigan.

Saturday’s festivities also include a Champagne Cruise for people to get an up-close view of the spectacular boats. Guests are invited to come aboard one of the yachts, generously donated for the day by area boat owners. Once aboard, you will be served beverages and hors d’oeuvres while you cruise about Lake Charlevoix, viewing all of the action from your vantage on the water. Later, your yacht will join up with all of the other Champagne boats for a “raft off.” Tickets for the Champagne Cruise are $75 and reservations can be made by calling 231.582.6222.

The day’s activities continue at Sommerset Pointe for a reception beginning at 2:30 p.m. Tickets for the reception are $10. The day’s events will conclude with an evening barbecue at Veterans Park starting at 7 p.m. The dinner is open to the public. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at the Boyne Area Chamber of Commerce, 28 S. Lake St.

In addition to a great event in a beautiful area, what has made Boyne Thunder special is its relationship with Camp Quality, a non-profit organization that provides special experiences and support for children with cancer. The goal of Camp Quality is to allow children with cancer to be children again, facilitate experiences and friendships, and provide confidence for these special children and their families in a way that matters. Since it began, Boyne Thunder has raised more than $220,000 for Camp Quality, and it has become an important part of the camp’s success.

Major sponsors for this year’s event are BoatCustoms.com and Sommerset Pointe.

For more information about Boyne Thunder, visit www.boynethunder.com or email [email protected].