The 16th Annual Mark Dobbs Memorial Boat Poker Run will return to Bull Shoals Lake on Sunday, September 6, 2026, bringing boaters together for an afternoon of recreational cruising, poker competition and fundraising in Bull Shoals, Arkansas. The event is presented by the Yellow Hat Association and Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock.
The poker run will begin at noon from Dock 14 at Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock, with participating boats having until 5 p.m. to complete the day’s run and return. The event is a pleasure-boating poker run rather than a race, with the winning result determined by the cards collected during the event.
This year’s top poker hand will take home a $1,000 cash first-place prize. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Bull Shoals Fireworks Fund, helping support the community’s annual fireworks celebration.
Boaters have two opportunities to complete registration. A pre-registration session will be held Saturday, September 5, from noon to 3 p.m. at Bull Shoals Lanes, located at 2109 Central Boulevard #2 in Bull Shoals. Event-day registration will be available Sunday from 10 a.m. until noon at Bull Shoals Lake Boat Dock, Dock 14. Registration is also currently open through the event’s online registration form. $60 for 1 Hand and 2 event shirts.
The Mark Dobbs Memorial Boat Poker Run has become a Labor Day weekend tradition on Bull Shoals Lake, combining an afternoon on the water with a community fundraiser. The 2026 event marks the poker run’s 16th year.
