IT IS that time of the year again when the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and hundreds of community members prepare for another Poker Run event on Tims Ford Lake, scheduled for June 10. Registration for the event will commence at 9:30 a.m., and participants must turn in their cards by 2 p.m. The Poker Run will take place across several marinas, including Twin Creeks Marina, Holiday Landing Marina, Tims Ford Marina & Tims Ford Bass Club.
Visitors can participate by paying $10 per hand and drawing cards from volunteers at each marina. Participants will receive their first card at the marina and the last two at the Bass Club.
The visitor with the best hand of the day wins $500 in cash. There is also a prize for the worst hand. Giveaway door prizes are available, and visitors can purchase unlimited hands and start at any marina. For each hand purchased, visitors will receive one raffle ticket, and door prizes will be awarded after the last hand is turned in.
Visitors are invited to shop for merchandise and order food and drinks while visiting each marina.
Visitors without boats are also welcome to join in for a day of fun, starting at the marina and driving around.
The chamber started the annual Poker Run in June 2020, right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Business owners and companies were forced to shut down and cancel upcoming events, and the chamber was no exception.
Franklin County Chamber of Commerce’s Kayla Doney said, “Between February through that year, we were trying to come up with something safe to bring the community together and also be a fundraiser for the chamber.”
The chamber thought it would be a great idea to start a Poker Run in the summer for community members and visitors to enjoy a fun time on the lake. Doney said the Poker Run is a great team sport allowing people to hop on boats and enjoy lake recreation.
Tim’s Ford Lake was a great choice as a venue because it allowed people to spread out and keep their distance during COVID and allowed them to get out and enjoy nature.
Doney said the chamber had received lots of positive feedback, and they would not have such successful events without the support of such a strong community.
“They really look forward to it every year. The volunteers have fun because they’re outside of the marinas. They can have lunch on the lake while they’re working. We bring in a lot of tourists to this event.”
Doney also said many people from out of town travel to the lake to visit and play each year, and she looks forward to many more years of lake fun with the community and everyone who visits.
The annual Poker Run event is a great way to bring the community together for fun on the water. As we look forward to this year’s event, let’s appreciate the chamber’s tireless efforts to unite the community and look forward to more summers of lake fun with family and friends. GN
