Norfork Lake Poker Run

The 14th Annual Norfork Lake Boat Poker Run will take place Saturday, July 25, 2026, on Norfork Lake in north-central Arkansas. The event brings boaters together for a full day of card draws, marina stops, games, and prize opportunities across one of the Ozarks’ best-known recreational lakes.

The poker run is organized around a series of “Port of Call” card draw locations throughout Norfork Lake. Scheduled card draw stops include Fout Boat Dock, 101 Marina Lake, Norfork Marina, Panther Bay Marina, Buzzard Roost Boat Dock, Tracy Ferry Marina, and Blue Diamond Marina. Participants will collect cards throughout the day before turning in their final poker hands at Jordan Marina.

In addition to the standard poker run format, the event will include several side games and prize opportunities. The Luck of the Draw game will be held at Hand Cove Resort, where participants can turn in prepaid Luck of the Draw vouchers to receive their cards. Those who have not already purchased Luck of the Draw cards may also buy them at Hand Cove.

The event will also include a Pirate’s Booty game at Keller Kove Resort & RV Park, located near Hand Cove. Participants can stop there for a chance to draw from a pirate treasure chest, with prizes expected to include gift cards, resort stays, gifts, T-shirts, and other sponsor-provided items.

A Wild Card option will be available at Blue Diamond Marina. Boaters looking to improve their hand can stop there before 3 p.m. to draw another card for a $5 donation. Participants must choose which card they want to replace before drawing the wild card.

Norfork Lake has long been a popular boating destination near Mountain Home, Arkansas, known for its clear water, marina access, lake resorts, fishing, and summer recreation. The poker run uses that spread-out lake network to create a full-day event built around marina stops, card draws, games, and a family-friendly boating atmosphere.

The Norfork Lake Boat Poker Run continues to serve as one of the area’s organized summer boating events, giving local boaters and visiting lake families a structured reason to spend the day on the water. With multiple ports of call, a final hand turn-in at Jordan Marina, and added side games throughout the lake, the 2026 event is expected to be one of Norfork Lake’s larger boating gatherings of the season.