Florida Keys Rev Up for 43rd Annual Poker Run
Motorcyclists will be island hopping and exploring the Florida Keys during the week of Phil Peterson’s 43rd Annual Key West Poker Run. Besides picking up cards at the five stops along the 113-mile Overseas Highway, participants can enjoy special rates on rooms, meals and adventure tours as they make their way to Key West for the bike show, street fair and winner-take-all poker game.
What began as a way to increase business during a usually slow time has turned into a unique motorcycling experience and an important fundraising event that attracts more than ten-thousand riders and raises thousands of dollars for Key West Sunrise Rotary Club charities and the Diabetes Research Institute.
Keys Bike Week opens on Monday, Sept. 14, with the first four stops hosting parties and events. Poker cards become available at 9 a.m. on Thursday at Gilbert’s Resort in Key Largo, Mile Marker 88 Restaurant in Islamorada, Island Fish Co. in Marathon, Boondocks on Ramrod Key and Conch Republic Seafood in Key West.
Thursday night’s Upper Duval Crawl opens the Key West festivities followed on Friday by the Duval Street Party, the Hog Roast Welcome Party at the Schooner Wharf Bar and the Sunset Arts Festival at Mallory Square.
The street fair on Friday and Saturday features collectable Poker Run shirts, caps and pins, custom motorcycle enthusiast items, food vendors and entertainment with the bike show 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in front of Rick’s Bar and Durty Harry’s at Duval and Greene streets.
Riders wishing to park bikes on Duval Street must purchase a band to display on the right-hand mirror allowing parking in a designated zone until 2 a.m.
The main event takes place Saturday at 11 p.m. at Rick’s and Durty Harry’s when the participants holding the ten best poker hands play one round of Texas Hold’em with the winner getting a choice of a Harley-Davidson 500 motorcycle or $6,000 cash. The raffle winner will also be announced and awards will be given for the Farthest Traveled and the Oldest Official Poker Run T-shirt.
A Biker Bloody Mary and Burger Brunch at Conch Republic Seafood on Sunday serves to send riders on their way back up the Keys.
The full Poker Run schedule is available at www.petersonharley.com. Owners are urged to ride responsibly and obey Florida muffler and noise laws.
Phil Peterson’s Harley-Davidson dealerships in Miami offer a pre-Poker Run open house and party the weekend of Sept. 12-13 with 2016 model test rides and collectable t-shirts, caps and pins. Parking bands and raffle tickets will also be available.