18th Annual Poker Run (Ride/Drive)
Saturday, September 19, 2026 at Happy's Place, Dubuque, Iowa.
The day, start to finish
- Date
- Saturday, September 19, 2026
- Start and finish
- Happy's Place2323 Rockdale Rd, Dubuque, IA 52003 · 563-556-9734
- Entry
- $20 per handRegistration includes a meal ticket for Happy's Place.
- Prizes
- Top three handsCash prizes for the top three poker hands.
Schedule
- 8:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. Registration at Happy's Place. Pay your entry, sign in, and browse the silent auction.
- 11:30 a.m. Send-off and departure, sharp. The pack leaves together, so be fuelled up before this.
- Afternoon Three card stops across the county. Draw one card at each and take your time.
- Late afternoon Back at Happy's Place for your final card, your meal, and the raffle.
- 6:00 p.m. Live auction, then the reveal of this year’s total.
5 stops, 5 cards
Draw one card at each stop. Best hand at the end of the day takes the cash. Ride it at your own pace and obey the traffic laws.
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Stop 1: Happy's Place
Registration, send-off, meal, and the live auction
2323 Rockdale Rd, Dubuque, IA 52003
Directions -
Stop 2: Bernard Park
First card
Bernard, IA 52032
Directions -
Stop 3: Dirty Ernie's
Second card
201 1st St N, Farley, IA 52046
Directions -
Stop 4: The Barn
Third card
5090 Sherrill Rd, Sherrill, IA 52073
Directions -
Stop 5: Back to Happy's Place
Final card, meal, silent auction close, live auction at 6:00 p.m.
2323 Rockdale Rd, Dubuque, IA 52003
Directions
Pins mark each stop. The exact roads between them are handed out at registration, and the ride leaves together from Happy's Place.
Bring with you
- Your signed waiver, filled out at home
- Cash for the entry, the raffle and the auction
- A full tank before 11:30 a.m.
- Rain gear and a layer. It is September in Iowa.
- Your family. There is a meal at the end of it.
Good to know
- Registration closes at 11:00 a.m. and the pack leaves at 11:30 a.m. sharp
- Registration includes a meal ticket for Happy's Place.
- Silent auction items open at registration.
- Cash prizes for the top three poker hands.
- Ride your own ride. Obey every traffic law between stops.
Questions we get every year
Do I need a motorcycle?
No. It is a ride or drive. Cars, trucks and side-by-sides run the route every year, and plenty of people bring the whole family.
How does a poker run work?
You pay $20 for a hand, then draw one card at each stop along the route. Five cards makes your hand. The best three hands at the end of the day take cash prizes. Nothing about it requires knowing how to play poker.
Can I register early?
Registration happens at Happy's Place on ride day between 8:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.. To save time, download the waiver, fill it out at home, and bring it with you.
What if it rains?
The ride happens. September in Iowa can do anything, so pack a rain jacket. If the weather turns dangerous, the committee posts on Facebook first.
Can I come just for the auction?
Yes, and people do. Silent auction items open at registration and the live auction starts at 6:00 p.m. at Happy's Place. You do not need to have ridden to bid.
Is my entry fee tax deductible?
Registration fees, raffle tickets and auction purchases are not deductible charitable contributions, because you receive something in return. A straight donation through the University of Iowa Center for Advancement is. Ask us if you need documentation.
Where does the money actually go?
To the brain tumor and heart defect research programs at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. The committee presents one check every fall. See the totals.
Can my business donate an auction item or sponsor a stop?
Please do. That is a big part of the total every year. Call Mark Reiss at 563-542-9063 or send a message.
See you at Happy's Place
Registration runs 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.. Download the waiver, fill it out at home, and bring it with you.
