Lake Carmi Poker Run

The first Lake Carmi Boat Poker Run will bring boaters together Saturday, August 15, 2026, for an afternoon of card collecting, cruising and poker competition on Lake Carmi in Franklin, Vermont.

The inaugural event is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Participants will visit five host locations around Lake Carmi, collecting one sealed envelope at each stop. Once all five stops have been completed, the cards will be used to create each participant’s five-card poker hand.

Participation is not limited to one poker player per boat. Multiple people riding in the same boat may purchase and play their own hands, allowing entire crews to compete while traveling the lake together. Current organizer information lists poker hands at $25 each.

The event also allows participants to reach the five host locations by boat or by vehicle, making it possible for people without access to a boat to participate in the poker competition. The boating component, however, gives crews an opportunity to turn the event into an afternoon cruise around Lake Carmi while visiting each checkpoint.

A $500 cash prize is planned for the best poker hand. Organizers have also announced a prize for the worst hand, giving participants another chance to leave with a prize even if the cards do not go their way.

The Lake Carmi Boat Poker Run is being promoted as one of the lake community’s summer gatherings and is designed around recreational boating and poker rather than speed or racing. The Facebook event is hosted by Bailey Corwell and Darla Bates Lothian.