Boyne City to celebrate 15th annual Boyne Thunder

BOYNE CITY — Bigger than ever, the 15th annual Boyne Thunder Poker Run brings speed, thunder and excitement to Northern Michigan July 13-14 in Boyne City.

The poker run showcases 120 high-performance boats from across the country, roaring through the waters of Lake Charlevoix and Lake Michigan on a 130-mile excursion in search of the best poker hand. The Poker Run begins with a series of parade laps starting at 10:15 a.m. on July 14 leaving from the Boyne City Marina.

Card stops include Elk Rapids, Northport, Harbor Springs, Bay Harbor, with a lunch stop in downtown Charlevoix. Boaters wrap up their day on the water with a final card stop near Horton Bay and will turn in their cards once back at the Boyne City Marina. The day concludes with a dinner and an auction at Veterans Park where participants play their cards to see who has the best hand.

In addition to the Poker Run, the weekend offers other activities in Boyne City, including a Friday night dinner for the boaters in Boyne City's Veterans Park and Stroll the Streets in downtown Boyne City running from 6-9:30 p.m. where music, entertainment and displays of powerboats and classic cars fill the streets for people to see up close.

To celebrate the 15th year of the event, the Petoskey Steel Drum Band will be making a special appearance and there will be a jumbotron-type screen in Sunset Park to feature highlights from the event over the years.

Specific information on the boat route, viewing locations, full event schedule and frequently asked questions can be viewed at www.boynethuder.com/spectators.

Boyne Thunder is put on by Boyne City Main Street and supports Camp Quality, Challenge Mountain and Boyne City Main Street programming. For more information about Boyne Thunder, visit www.boynethunder.com or email mainstreet@boynecity.com.