Story by Alisa Howlett
The Belleville Waterfront Festival and the Bay of Quinte Poker Run have teamed up again this year and with more time to prepare than last year.
“As far as poker run last year, it was done so quickly and done so well that this year we’re really looking forward to seeing how it will expand this year with time to actually prepare,” said Jack Miller, Belleville city councilor, in a press conference yesterday morning at Meyers Pier.
Ryan Williams, president of Bay of Quinte Tourism, said this is the biggest single event combined for all of Eastern Ontario, excluding Ottawa.
This weekend’s events are catered to adults and children. Land and sea activities will begin this evening around 4p.m. and go until Sunday around 8:30p.m. Events will take place between West and East Ziwick’s park.
Williams thinks partnering with Power Boating Canada and hosting the poker run is a great way to include the surrounding area.
“It’s a great event because it’s a regional event. There is stops in Belleville, there is stops in Quinte West, Trenton, Deseronto, Picton, so it uses all of the Bay of Quinte waterway,” he said.
Todd Smith, MPP Prince Edward Hastings, said he cannot think of a better way to use the area’s natural resources.
“We have one of the greatest resources in the Bay of Quinte that we just don’t use enough,” he said. “So this is a great example of how we can use our wonderful body of water that we have here.”
Bill Taylor, Poker Runs America President, said Belleville could one day surpass the originating event place.
“I could see Belleville becoming the Kingston event, the way people are interested in it,” he said in an interview after the press conference.
Taylor wants people to remember the poker run is a game of chance, not a race. Participants will travel by high performance boat to four or five different stops and pick up mystery cards in envelopes. The team with the best poker hand at the final stop will be declared the winners.
While the poker run is the main attraction, there are many other events. There is a full midway, ethnic food vendors, sidewalk sales, paddleboat rides, and much more. An RV and boat show will also be introduced this year.
This year a focus will be on Belleville’s local music talent. Bill Saunders, CEO Belleville and district Chamber of Commerce, said there will be eight bands all together, featuring four local bands, and two winners of Battle of the Bands.
Williams expects around 30,000-35,000 people, roughly the same as last year. This is the 29th year.