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AWAKENING OF THE HORSES - Donzi Rally

Awakening of the Horses

The 2026 Awakening of the Horses Performance Boating Run is set to return to the waters of Norris Lake May 14–16, 2026, bringing another high-energy weekend of performance boats, raft-ups, lake runs, and dockside gatherings to East Tennessee. Hosted primarily around Springs Dock Resort, the annual event has become a favorite among performance boating enthusiasts looking for a more relaxed, social lake-running atmosphere.

The three-day event begins Thursday, May 14, with participant arrivals and an evening meet-and-greet dinner at Shanghai Marina followed by a sunset fun run back toward Springs Dock. Organizers describe the Thursday gathering as a relaxed kickoff to the weekend, giving boaters an opportunity to reconnect before the main lake runs begin.

Friday’s schedule centers around the first official lunch run of the weekend. Participants will gather Friday morning at Springs Dock to inspect boats, review safety equipment, fuel up, and prepare for departure. Following the national anthem and engine start-up ceremony, the group will depart for a lunch run to Bubba Brews.

After lunch, boaters can either stop at Sugar Hollow Dock or continue toward a large group raft-up and swim gathering hosted between Springs Dock and the Tiki Hut area. Organizers are encouraging participants to bring anchored floats, coolers, and pool noodles for the afternoon raft-up festivities. Friday evening concludes with dinner at the Tiki Hut, accessible by both boat and vehicle, followed by a casual taco bar gathering and social activities.

Saturday’s main event features another organized lunch run departing Springs Dock and heading toward Twin Cove Marina before continuing to Powell Valley Resort. Throughout the day, participants will cruise some of Norris Lake’s most scenic stretches before regrouping for a return run near the famous Jumping Bridge area around Cedar Creek.

The Saturday raft-up portion of the event encourages participants to anchor together, swim, socialize, and spend the afternoon enjoying the lake before returning to Springs Dock Resort for the evening dinner gathering at the marina restaurant.

Unlike competitive poker runs focused on top speed, the Awakening of the Horses event emphasizes organized cruising, social boating, and lake culture while still attracting a large number of high-performance catamarans, V-bottoms, center consoles, and custom-built boats from across the Midwest and Southeast.

Springs Dock Resort will once again serve as the host property for the weekend, offering marina access, lodging, restaurant facilities, and direct lake access for participants staying onsite. Organizers have also listed nearby accommodations through Shanghai Resort and other lodging options throughout the LaFollette area.

With scenic East Tennessee mountain views, organized lake runs, raft-up gatherings, and one of the most active boating communities in the region, the Awakening of the Horses XXVI event is shaping up to deliver another memorable weekend for performance boating fans on Norris Lake.