Participant Information

Most guests arrive via Business 75. Once you hit Boyne City, take Division Street to Front Street. Do not follow M-75 into downtown, the turn near town is too tight for trailers, and will be difficult to navigate.

We suggest entering the event area slowly and cautiously, especially during peak arrival times Thursday evening and Friday morning.

Thursday

Midday: Fun Run for early arrivals

Evening: Welcome Reception

Friday

10:00 AM – Event Registration Opens
All captains and crew must check in and sign waivers to receive wristbands.

3:00 PM – Street Show Setup
Boats and displays should be in place on Water & Lake Streets.

Evening – Dinner + Drinks under the tent
Stick around to enjoy the street show afterward!

Saturday

8:30 AM – Captain’s Meeting & Roll Call
You must be present to participate in the run.

~10:00 AM – National Anthem & Parade Lap Formation

Get your Pace Boat Group color assignment at check-in.

Download Full Event Schedule

Wristbands are required for entry to all Friday and Saturday events, including meals and boating.

• Full Access Wristbands: For captains and crew. Required for both land and water events.
• Meal-Only Wristbands: Appropriately color-coded for Friday and Saturday meals.
• Charlevoix Lunch: You must have a wristband to eat.
  There will be no on-site distribution. No exceptions.

All wristbands are distributed at Friday registration. Each person must be present to sign their waiver and receive their band.

Please plan ahead. Parking is limited.

• No parking is allowed on the north end of Lake Street near the event area.
• After launching, take your trailer to:
  • Boyne Boat Yard (974 Division Street)
  • Or Somerset or Boyne Mountain if you’re staying there

• No overnight parking is allowed at the in-town launch.
• Overflow vehicle parking will be marked and available on-site or at designated partner lots.

Docking opens Friday at noon and closes Sunday at noon. Please follow these guidelines:

• Do not arrive early unless you’ve made arrangements in advance.
• Use only your assigned slip. Do not switch or reassign without approval.
• All changes must be approved by Mark Yallup.
• Unauthorized changes may result in your boat being trailered.

Our team has coordinated slip assignments carefully. Please help us keep the process smooth and fair for everyone.

We are fully coordinated with local emergency services throughout the event.

• Event Channel: VHF Channel 68
• Emergency Channel: VHF Channel 16
• In case of emergency, you may also dial 911

Please ensure your onboard radios are working and tuned before launch.

Stay alert and boat responsibly. Here are some important notes:

• Lake Charlevoix is approximately 8 to 9 inches lower than last season. Use extra caution during launch and approach.
• Lake Michigan shorelines contain large submerged boulders. Stay well clear of shoreline areas.
• Racing buoys are active in:
  • Lake Charlevoix
  • Harbor Springs
• Use extra caution around tight corners, nearshore zones, and unfamiliar waters.

On December 8th, 2025, beginning at 9am EST, you may call 231-582-9009 to register as a sponsor for Boyne Thunder 2026. We have a limited number of poker run sponsorships available. Street Show sponsors are welcome to call beginning the same day as well. On March 1, 2026, at 9am EST, we will use Eventbrite for general registration for the remaining poker run spots. We highly recommend using a computer and refreshing often – and perhaps use a couple of people to try. We will not take calls at the office for the purpose of registration.

We will keep a short waitlist for both the sponsors and the general registration positions. In 2025, we had very limited cancellations and expect that trend to continue.

If you are a general registrant, you have until June 1, 2026, to cancel your registration and will receive a $650 refund. If you cancel after June 15, 2026, there will be no refund. If you are a sponsor and need to cancel, please call the office at 231-582-9009.

In the event there is bad weather on the poker run day, we will keep to the published schedule as closely as we can. Our goal is to not cut the run short, but to insure the safety of all participants. There will not be a rain date. Following social media and being a part of the texting service is encouraged.

Sponsor Show Area is located by the city marina and the Boyne Thunder event area. Space in this area is limited and approval is required to use it. Any request for use of this area must be made prior to June 1 of the event year.

We pride ourselves on having a fun, music-filled, energetic street party on Friday evenings in our downtown area. We welcome street show sponsors and for poker run sponsors to display your hardware. Arrangements to be a part of the street show need to be made by early April of the event year.

Please upload video clips to the folder linked here:

Video Shared Folder