Hartwell Lake Poker Run
The 2026 Hartwell Lake Charity Run is set to return to Lake Hartwell June 11–13, 2026, bringing another major weekend of boating, live entertainment, and charitable fundraising to the Upstate South Carolina boating community. Benefiting Meals on Wheels - Anderson, the annual event has grown into one of the Southeast’s premier charity boating gatherings and is now entering its 17th year.
Centered around Green Pond Landing and Event Center, the Hartwell Lake Charity Run regularly attracts boaters from across the Southeast who come together for a full weekend of cruising, waterfront parties, live music, auctions, and lake activities — all while helping raise funds for elderly and disabled homebound residents throughout Anderson County.
Widely considered the highlight of the summer boating season in the region, the event combines organized fun runs with a laid-back social atmosphere designed to welcome everything from performance boats and center consoles to cruisers and family lake boats. Throughout the weekend, participants travel to scenic lake destinations collecting coupons and event tickets while enjoying some of the most popular waterfront locations around Lake Hartwell.
The 2026 event schedule begins Thursday evening with the popular “Social on the Green” VIP event, presented by Park National Bank, Loftis Heating and Cooling, and World Insurance. The Thursday gathering will feature catered food, live music, auction previews, and the official event T-shirt reveal, helping kick off the weekend festivities at Green Pond Landing.
Friday’s schedule includes a morning “Fun Run” departing toward The Grill at Clemson Marina followed by an afternoon raft-up on the water. Later that evening, participants return to Green Pond Landing for packet pickup, onsite registration, and the first mandatory captain’s meeting before the Friday Night Street Party begins.
The Friday evening celebration will feature catered food, a full cash bar, live music, and a live charity auction alongside the event’s “Feed the Need” fundraiser. Organizers note that all participating boat captains must attend one of the official captain’s meetings in order to participate in Saturday’s main event.
Saturday serves as the centerpiece of the weekend with the official Hartwell Lake Charity Run launching at 11:00 AM from Green Pond Landing following the second captain’s meeting. Participants will spend the afternoon visiting scenic stops around the lake before returning to Green Pond Landing for award judging, cash prize drawings, and the popular “Best Of” awards presentations.
Additional activities throughout the weekend include food trucks, vendor displays, live entertainment, raffles, and marina gatherings that help create a full festival atmosphere both on and off the water.
Organizers also remind participants that sponsorship packages include one boat registration, meaning sponsors do not need to purchase separate boat entries. Pre-registration for the event closes June 7, 2026, while onsite registration will remain available throughout the weekend at increased pricing.
Thanks in part to continued support from title sponsors Iron Harbor Self Storage and Old Stone Tractor, the Hartwell Lake Charity Run continues to grow as one of the Southeast’s most respected charity boating events.
Beyond the boats and entertainment, the event’s primary mission remains helping Meals on Wheels - Anderson provide food and support services to vulnerable residents throughout Anderson County. Every registration, sponsorship, auction bid, and fundraiser donation directly supports programs serving elderly and disabled individuals who rely on home-delivered meals and assistance throughout the year.