Start your engines! Boyne Thunder's powerboats roar into town this weekend

Annie Doyle, The Petoskey News-Review
Boyne Thunder powerboats roar through Charlevoix's channel as the crowd cheers them on during the 2022 event.
Boyne Thunder powerboats roar through Charlevoix's channel as the crowd cheers them on during the 2022 event.

BOYNE CITY — Boyne Thunder's crowd-pleasing speed boats will be on point this weekend, July 7-8, for the 20th annual powerboat poker run, hosted by Boyne City Main Street.

The 150-mile poker run route winds its way through Lake Charlevoix, through Charlevoix's Round Lake, out to Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay, then all the way up to Little Traverse Bay, Harbor Springs, and back to Boyne City for the finish.

During the run, each boat makes its way to five checkpoints along the route to pick up a sealed envelope containing a single playing card. At the Saturday evening party, the cards are played and the crew holding the best poker hand is the winner.

A crew of pandas wave to the Boyne Thunder spectators during the 2022 event.
A crew of pandas wave to the Boyne Thunder spectators during the 2022 event.

The event draws in large crowds every year who are eager to see and hear the powerful boats zipping by.

According to organizers, participants will have several chances to see the boats in action across Northern Michigan on July 8.

The day's schedule includes:

  • Start in Boyne City at around 10:15 a.m. for parade laps.

  • Elk Rapids is the first card stop.

  • North Port is the second stop for cards.

  • Participants head to Charlevoix for lunch, then return to the run after 1:30 p.m.

  • Bay Harbor is the third stop for cards.

  • Harbor Springs is the fourth card stop.

  • Horton Bay is the final stop.

  • Poker hands are turned in back in Boyne City.

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Powerboats revved their engines for the crowds in Charlevoix during the 19th annual Boyne Thunder Poker Run.
Powerboats revved their engines for the crowds in Charlevoix during the 19th annual Boyne Thunder Poker Run.

There are several other events scheduled throughout the weekend surrounding the poker run.

On Friday, boats and cars will be on display during the Stroll the Streets street party in downtown Boyne City. From 6-9 p.m., there will be music, entertainment, dining, shopping, a car show and boat displays.

Boyne Thunder competitors are seen leaving Charlevoix during the 2022 event.
Boyne Thunder competitors are seen leaving Charlevoix during the 2022 event.

Boyne Thunder serves as a fundraiser for Camp Quality and Challenge Mountain.

More information can be found at boynethunder.com.

— Contact reporter Annie Doyle at (231)675-0099 or adoyle@charlevoixcourier.com. Follow her on Twitter, @adoylenews

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: 20th annual Boyne Thunder poker run returns this weekend

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