Charleston Harbor Poker Run Shooting For A 2025 Comeback
Though the Charleston Harbor Poker Run came back strong with 70-ish boats in 2021 and 2022 after being canceled in 2020 courtesy of the COVID-19 pandemic, the South Carolina event hasn’t been held since. A number of issues, most notably skyrocketing lodging rates in the area, forced primary organizer Chad Walton, who has lived in the charming city for 25 years, to scrub the run in 2023. Walton and company had hoped to bring it back this year on the third weekend in May.
But for positive reasons, would-be Charleston Harbor Poker Run, would-be participants will have to wait until May 2025 for the event.
Captured here during the Florida Powerboat Club 2022 Key West Poker Run, Brian Forehand’s Marker 17 Marine Outerlimits SV 50 sportboat was in the mix during the most recent Charleston Harbor Poker Runs. Photo by Jeff Helmkamp copyright Jeff Helmkamp Photos.
In December, the citizens of Charleston elected business friendly William S. Cogswell, Jr., as their mayor, Walton explained.
“We have a new mayor and he supports growing boating in the area—and he wants the city to get the behind the event,” he said. “So we decided to take 18 months to work with him and the city rather than rush it along. We are regrouping and will come on the third weekend of May 2025.”
The 2025 event will be capped at 100 entries. Rather than designate a single host hotel, Walton said he plans to offer a list of local lodging options so participants can “stay where their pocketbooks tell them.” To make up for the loss of a centralized location for poker-run-related activities such as card-play and celebrations, the organizers will set up tents in the park behind Bristol Safe Harbor Marina, the event’s primary launch facility and starting point.
“That will also help us attract sponsors, such as boat companies, that want to display their products,” he said.
Registration for the 2025 Charleston Harbor Poker Run is slated to open two months prior to the event.
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