Smith Mountain Lake Poker Run
The 2026 Smith Mountain Lake Poker Run will take place Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia. The charitable boating event is headquartered at Mango’s Bar & Grill and brings registered captains, players, guests, volunteers, and sponsors together for a weekend of lake stops, poker hands, food, music, and fundraising for local charities and lake-area organizations.
The event is organized as a traditional poker run, with boats traveling to designated card stops around Smith Mountain Lake to collect playing cards. At the end of the run, registered players submit their best five-card hand for prize consideration. The event is not a race, and organizers state that speed is not a factor. Boats of all types are welcome, including cruisers, pontoons, runabouts, and houseboats.
The weekend begins Friday, May 15, at Mango’s with a fun run at 11:30 a.m., followed by captain check-in and packet pickup from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday evening also includes dinner, beer and wine service, a cash bar, and live music scheduled from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Saturday’s schedule starts at Mango’s with continental breakfast from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., general information from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and a mandatory captain’s meeting at 10:30 a.m. Boats are scheduled to depart from the docks at 11 a.m. after the fireboat signal. Participants must return to Mango’s by 5 p.m., and hands must be verified by 5:30 p.m. to be eligible for prizes. Awards are scheduled for 5:30 p.m., with the event ending at 6 p.m.
The 2026 card stops are listed as a “choose your own adventure” format, meaning stops do not have to be completed in the order listed. Scheduled stops include Goodhue Boat Company - Blackwater and Coaster’s, Goodhue Boat Company - Eastlake and Drifter’s, Magnum Point Marina, Mango’s Bar & Grill, and Portside Marina. Goodhue Boat Company - Blackwater and Coaster’s will issue two cards, and Mango’s Bar & Grill will also issue two cards. Gill’s Creek Marina & Lodge is listed as a stop with card pickup moved to Goodhue Boat Company - Blackwater and Coaster’s due to water level.
Prize money includes $1,000 for the best hand, $500 for second best, and $200 for third best. The event also includes a $2,000 prize for the first player to draw five aces, along with additional awards for categories such as best appearing crew and most players on a boat.
Registration is priced at $380 for boat registration, which includes one captain and one player. Additional player registration is listed at $190 per player, while guest registration is $125 per guest. Players participate in the card game and qualify for prizes, while guests may attend the weekend festivities but do not participate in the poker portion.
The event is limited to 50 boats to help keep the run organized and manageable. Captains may carry as many registered players and guests as their vessel’s legal capacity allows. Organizers also note that if a boat cannot complete every stop within the event window, accommodations are made so participants can still complete their hand.
All proceeds from the Smith Mountain Lake Poker Run benefit local charities and lake-area nonprofit organizations serving the Smith Mountain Lake community. With a full Friday and Saturday schedule, multiple card stops, prize categories, and a clear emphasis on safety, the 2026 event continues as a structured charitable boating weekend on one of Virginia’s major recreational lakes.