HCBOA Poker Run

The 36th Annual HCBOA Poker Run is scheduled for Saturday, July 25, 2026, on the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky. Hosted by the Harrods Creek Boat Owners Association, the long-running event brings boaters from Kentucky, Southern Indiana, and the surrounding Louisville area together for a day of card collecting, river cruising, food, music, and entertainment.

The event follows a recreational poker run format, with participants using clues and event materials to locate dealer boats positioned along the Ohio River. Each stop provides another card toward the participant’s final poker hand, with prizes awarded based on the best hands rather than speed. The poker run is not a race and is open to a variety of recreational boats.

Poker hands are priced at $35 and include a custom HCBOA event T-shirt, dinner, entertainment, and admission to the post-run pavilion area. Advance registration is scheduled at Captain’s Quarters on Wednesday, July 22, from 6 to 8 p.m. Any additional passenger pricing, extra-hand options, and day-of registration availability should be confirmed directly with organizers.

The poker run is scheduled to take place from approximately 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Final dealer boat locations, card collection deadlines, clue information, and post-run gathering instructions are expected to be included in the official participant materials distributed by HCBOA.

The Harrods Creek Boat Owners Association serves boat owners and boating enthusiasts from both sides of the Ohio River. In addition to organizing social gatherings and recreational boating events, the association promotes safe boating, community involvement, and responsible use of the Louisville-area river system.

The Ohio River near Louisville is an active commercial and recreational waterway, giving participants the opportunity to enjoy a full day of boating while navigating one of the region’s most recognizable stretches of river. With more than three decades of history behind it, the HCBOA Poker Run continues as one of Louisville’s established summer boating traditions.