13th Annual Boyne Thunder roars into Boyne City July 8-9

Bigger than ever, the 13th annual Boyne Thunder Poker Run will bring speed, thunder and excitement to Northern Michigan on July 8 and 9 in Boyne City. The poker run showcases 115 high-performance boats from all over the country, including California, Washington State, Florida, New York and Ontario, roaring through the waters of Lake Charlevoix and Lake Michigan on a 130-mile excursion in search of the best poker hand. 
The Poker Run begins with a series of parade laps starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 9, leaving from the Boyne City Marina. Veterans Park offers some of the best views for spectators. Card stops include Northport, Elk Rapids, Harbor Springs and Bay Harbor, with a lunch stop in downtown Charlevoix The Beautiful. Boaters wrap up their day on the water with a final card stop near Horton Bay and a reception at Sommerset Pointe Yacht Club. The day concludes with a dinner and an auction at Veterans Park, where participants play their cards to see who has the best hand.
In addition to the Poker Run, the weekend offers other activities in Boyne City, including a Friday night dinner for the boaters in Veterans Park and Stroll The Streets, running from 6 to 10 p.m. This downtown even includes music, entertainment and incredible displays of power boats and classic cars filling the streets for people to see up close. This year the addition of Fountain Friday will showcase a wide array of Fountain boats lining Lake Street. While here, people can also enjoy Boyne City’s newest dining establishments – the Boyne City Tap Room and 7 Monks Taproom, both located on South Lake Street.
Saturday activities also include the “best in the north” farmers market from 8 a.m.-noon at Peninsula Beach, a beautiful park on Lake Charlevoix, just south of downtown, and a Champagne Cruise to get an up-close view of the spectacular boats aboard yachts generously donated for the day by area boat owners.
Boyne Thunder is brought to you by Boyne City Main Street and supports two non-profit organizations, Camp Quality and Challenge Mountain. Camp Quality serves children with cancer and their families by providing a year-round programs, experiences, and companionship. Challenge Mountain is dedicated to enriching and improving lives for the mentally and physically challenged through outdoor recreation.
SPONSORS - Main Street and the Boyne Thunder Committee expressed their special thanks to their major sponsors: Mystic Power Boats, Sommerset Pointe Yacht Club, Fox Motors and Ajax Paving. For more information about Boyne Thunder, visit www.boynethunder.com or email mainstreet@boynecity.com.