Arrr ye lookin’ for adventure on a body o’ water surrounded by ports o’ call just loaded with treasure and swim beaches? If yer answer’s aye, then give yer cares the heave-ho and get yer ship together. Just raise the Jolly Roger on ‘er and gather with a rascally bunch o’ like-minded hearties for the 3rd Annual Beaver Lake Pirate Poker Run on Saturday, June 20!
Although, according to event chair Sharlene Kenyon, “Run” might be a bit of a misnomer. This day of plundering poker cards from 7 dock locations on the lake in hopes of assembling a winning hand has nothing to do with speed. Instead, participants have from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to leisurely collect cards and even enjoy a Pirate Party.
“The idea is ‘fun,’ not ‘fast,’ Kenyon said. “We encourage our participants to take their time, stop and swim, and dine at our sponsor restaurants (Starkey’s, Jaclyn’s at Prairie Creek, and Ventris Resort Restaurant) where each is offering an event day Pirate Special.”
The annual event raises funds for the Grassy Knob Volunteer Fire Department, and this year NEBCO Fire-EMS and Inspiration Point fire departments will also benefit from the proceeds. Kenyon, who chairs the committee of 13 that has worked for the past year on planning, said the three fire departments provide 50 volunteers it to keep the many moving parts of a long day going in the right direction.
“We have seven card stops,” Kenyon said, “Starkey Marina, Prairie Creek Marina, Rocky Branch Marina, Coppermine Lodge, Ventris Resort, Beaver Lakefront Cabins, and Lake Shore Cabins. You can draw for seven cards in your hand, but you only need five to play. Parlay tokens add to the fun, like a Mulligan, so you can trade a parlay token to draw a different card if you don’t like the first one.”
All types of boats are welcome to register – from yachts to jet skis – up to 100 of them, and all are encouraged to decorate in a pirate theme.
“This is a fun, family event! We were surprised the first year at how many people dressed as pirates,” Kenyon said, “and each year the number increases. In 2025, 64 boats participated with more than 300 on board playing 287 hands. Most participants dress in some type of pirate attire, and some go all out decorating their boats, and/or the entire crew will dress up. We have two $200 prizes, one for best decorated boat and one for best pirate crew. This year we also have pirate prizes for the kids at four of our stops.”
In addition to Best Boat and Best Crew, prizes for winning poker hands run from $300 to $500.
Registration materials include an explanation of the poker hands, so non-poker players can easily participate. Also included is a complete schedule for the day, maps, list of prizes, rules of play, and more.
For complete rules and information, go to beaverlakepiratepokerrun.com. Registration per boat is $100 and $50 for personal watercraft (such as jet skis). Cost includes one poker hand, a pirate flag, a deck of event cards, and a swag bag full of sponsor booty. Extra hands are only $25, or 5 for $100, no limit.
Participants will pick up registration packets at either Starkey or Prairie Creek Marina. Only 100 boats get to play, so don’t be a bilge-sucking scallywag, sign up today and support our volunteer fire departments!