Lake Chelan Poker Run
The 2026 Lake Chelan Poker Run will take place July 10–12, 2026, on Lake Chelan in Washington. Hosted by the Lake Chelan Boating Club, the event marks the poker run’s 25th anniversary and will carry a “Red, White & Blue on Lake Chelan” theme tied to America’s 250th anniversary.
The weekend begins Friday, July 10, with check-in at the Lake Chelan Boating Club from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Participants will pick up event packets and swag during the kickoff gathering, which is scheduled to include food, drinks, music, and time with fellow boaters and nonprofit partners.
Saturday’s poker run starts with a 9 a.m. captains’ safety meeting at the docks. The run is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., with boats traveling to five card stops across Lake Chelan. Participants collect sealed envelopes at each stop and hold them until the final turn-in, where poker run staff tally the cards and determine the best five-card hands.
Poker hands are due back at the clubhouse by 2 p.m., with winners announced at 5 p.m. The after party location is still listed as to be determined. Sunday is listed as an open day for participants to enjoy the lake, docks, and clubhouse.
The Lake Chelan Poker Run began in 2001 and was originally created as Lake Chelan Offshore, giving larger offshore-style boats a weekend event on the lake. The Lake Chelan Boating Club took over operation of the poker run in 2007 and has since expanded the event to include a wider range of boat types and sizes.
Registration is offered in three tiers. The Standard Pass is listed at $285 and includes one poker hand, entry for two people, two dinner tickets, Saturday breakfast and lunch, and an official event T-shirt. The Premium Pass is listed at $325 and adds an extra poker hand, priority boat docking, and one entry into the VIP-only stakes raffle. The Captain’s Club Pass is listed at $395 and includes the Premium benefits plus guaranteed priority dock parking, two extra poker hands for three total, two VIP-only stakes raffle entries, and a special swag bag. Additional poker hands are available for $35.
The event is described by organizers as a game, not a race, and serves as the Lake Chelan Boating Club’s main fundraiser. The club states that one-third of net proceeds go to charity, supporting local causes such as the LCBC Scholarship Fund, boater safety classes, kids’ water safety classes, Lake Chelan swim lessons, marine patrol training support, and Fourth of July fireworks in Chelan and Manson.
The 25th anniversary edition gives Lake Chelan boaters a full weekend built around a traditional poker run format, a patriotic theme, local fundraising, and organized boating across one of Washington’s major recreational lakes.