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Buffalo Poker Run

Buffalo Poker Run

The Buffalo Poker Run is scheduled for August 7-8, 2026, bringing offshore performance boats, catamarans, center consoles, and high-performance pleasure boats back to the Niagara River and Buffalo waterfront for one of Western New York’s premier boating weekends. Hosted by the Western New York Offshore Powerboat Association, the annual event continues to grow following recent resurgence efforts that have helped revitalize the long-running poker run tradition in the Buffalo area.

The 2026 event will once again be headquartered at Buffalo Launch Club, where participants will gather Friday evening for check-in activities, a welcome dinner, and a dock party featuring live music from Nerds Gone Wild. Organizers describe the Buffalo Poker Run as a “premium weekend on the water” centered around performance boating, waterfront hospitality, and the unique boating conditions of the Niagara River system.

Saturday morning activities begin with breakfast at 8:00 a.m. followed by the mandatory driver’s meeting at 9:00 a.m. The official poker run is scheduled to begin at approximately 10:30 a.m. as participating boats depart Buffalo Launch Club and head into the Niagara River route.

The planned 2026 poker run route includes several major waterfront stops throughout the Buffalo and Niagara River region, including:

  • Buffalo Launch Club
  • LaSalle Yacht Club
  • Ray's Boathouse
  • Canalside
  • Remington Tavern

One of the highlights of the route remains the Niagara River itself, where participants experience high-speed stretches, downtown Buffalo waterfront views, and several of the most recognizable boating corridors in Western New York. Organizers continue to promote the run as one of the country’s most unique poker run environments due to the combination of river boating, Great Lakes access, and urban waterfront scenery.

Saturday evening concludes with poker hand submissions beginning around 5:00 p.m. followed by the Awards Dinner at 6:30 p.m. back at Buffalo Launch Club. Registration packages for captains and crews include weekend hospitality access, event merchandise, and official poker run participation materials.

Beyond the boating itself, the Buffalo Poker Run continues to maintain strong charitable ties throughout the Western New York community. According to WNYOPA organizers, proceeds from the event support organizations including Excalibur Leisure Skills Center, which provides adaptive boating experiences for adults and children with physical and cognitive disabilities, as well as the E.M. Cotter Fireboat Conservancy, which helps preserve Buffalo’s historic fireboat.

The Buffalo Poker Run originally launched in the mid-2000s and quickly became one of the Northeast’s major offshore boating events before temporarily scaling back in size during the late 2010s. Recent organizational changes and renewed support from WNYOPA have helped place the event back into growth mode heading into the 2026 season.

Organizers continue emphasizing a polished but approachable boating atmosphere that welcomes both longtime offshore enthusiasts and newer participants entering the poker run scene. Registration for the 2026 Buffalo Poker Run officially opened in May and availability is expected to remain limited.