WHAT: 2023 Fall Harbor Hop
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023
WHERE: Throughout the Lake of the Ozarks area
Visitors and locals alike will have an opportunity to enjoy a day out on the water and fun festivities at many of the Lake of the Ozarks‘ most popular restaurants and marinas during the 38th Annual Fall Harbor Hop, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.
The Harbor Hop, which is a casual and entertaining poker “hop,” is a semi-annual event where participants try to complete the best poker hand (or hands) by traveling on the Lake or on land to their choice of participating waterfront checkpoints across the Lake of the Ozarks. Depending on the location, “hoppers” can grab a bite to eat, enjoy a tasty beverage and listen to live music as well.
Over forty Lake-area businesses, consisting primarily of restaurants, bars and marinas, make up the Harbor Hop stops. The participating locations are broken down into three sections based on their physical location, from the 0 mile marker (mm) to the 13 mm, 17.5 mm to the 26 mm and the 28.5 mm to the 38 mm.
“Hoppers” arrive at the participating establishment of their choice to register and pick up their first card(s) for a $20 donation per hand before traveling, either by boat or by car, to their next locations. Participants can purchase more than one hand. The six remaining additional cards are obtained by “hopping” to six more checkpoints, drawing one card, per hand, at each location. The hand is complete when the seventh card is drawn. An optional eighth card can be drawn for an additional $5. The complete seven-card hand(s) will be turned in at the checkpoint where the seventh card is drawn.
Prizes will be awarded to the overall best 10 hands as well as the overall four worst hands. Additionally, there will be prizes for “section winners” (those that complete their hands within one of the three different sections), and 10 randomly-drawn hands also will receive prizes.
Harbor Hop hours vary from location to location, with venues opening between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. and closing from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. All poker hands must be turned in at the participants’ last stop to qualify for the Harbor Hop prizes.
For complete details on the 2023 Fall Harbor Hop, including a list and a map of participating locations and hours of operations, visit www.funlake.com/events/harbor-hop.
Anyone traveling to the Lake of the Ozarks for the Fall Harbor Hop will have plenty of options when it comes to overnight accommodations. There are full-service large-scale resorts and smaller family-owned and operated resorts as well as charming bed and breakfasts or comfortable cabins and cottages. There is no shortage of fully furnished vacation rental homes and condominiums to choose from. There also is a selection of familiar hotels and motels at the Lake. For those who prefer sleeping under the stars, there are spacious campgrounds and RV parks interspersed throughout the area. For a complete list of accommodations available at the Lake, visit the “Lodging” tab at www.FunLake.com.
Visitors also can learn more about all the fun events, attractions and activities, as well as lodging and dining options available year around at the “Best Recreational Lake” and “Best Lake for Water Sports” in the Nation at www.FunLake.com or by calling the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau at 1-800-FUN-LAKE (386-5253).
