Mystics of Pleasure Poker Run Sunday Offers $1,000 Prize on Six-Stop Boat and Car Route
The Mystics of Pleasure Poker Run on Sunday, Oct. 11, sends boaters and drivers to six Gulf Shores and Orange Beach-area stops, with $1,000 for the top hand.
GULF SHORES, Ala. — The Mystics of Pleasure krewe is inviting the public to spend this Sunday, Oct. 11, on the water or the road during the Mystics of Pleasure Poker Run, a six-stop tour of beach-area restaurants and bars that participants can complete by boat or by car, with $1,000 in cash going to the best poker hand.
Players will move from stop to stop collecting a stamp at each location to build their poker hand over the course of the day. Organizers stress that the event is open to everyone, not just members of the krewe.
Registration and breakfast
The day begins with registration and breakfast at Tacky Jacks Gulf Shores from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Organizers encourage participants to pre-register through the Mystics of Pleasure website so they can skip the registration line on the morning of the event.
The route
After the opening stop at Tacky Jacks Gulf Shores, the poker run follows a set schedule through the rest of the day:
- Stop 1 — Registration and breakfast: Tacky Jacks Gulf Shores, 8:30 to 10 a.m.
- Stop 2: Island Time Daiquiri Bar, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
- Stop 3 — Lunch: Last Mango, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Stop 4: Pirate’s Cove, 1 to 2:30 p.m.
- Stop 5 — Pirate theme: Cobalt, 2:30 to 4 p.m.
- Stop 6 — Poker Party: Tacky Jacks Orange Beach, beginning at 4 p.m.
The final stop doubles as the day’s big finale. At Tacky Jacks Orange Beach, the krewe will host a grand Poker Party with food, drinks and live music to close out the event.
Entry fee and prizes
Entry costs $100 per participant. In an unusual twist, every participant will get that $100 back, either in cash or as a gift card. The player holding the top poker hand at the end of the run will win a $1,000 cash grand prize.
Organizers credit the event’s restaurant sponsors with making that prize structure possible.
Background: how a poker run works
Poker runs are a popular format for motorcycle clubs, boating groups and charitable organizations. Instead of sitting at a card table, participants travel a set route and receive a playing card, or in this case a stamp representing a card, at each checkpoint. By the end of the route, each player has assembled a five-card hand, and the best hand wins.
Because the outcome depends on the luck of the draw rather than on speed, poker runs are not races. Participants are free to enjoy each stop within its scheduled time window, which is part of what makes the events social, relaxed outings.
Standard poker hand rankings typically apply. From highest to lowest, those are:
- Royal flush
- Straight flush
- Four of a kind
- Full house
- Flush
- Straight
- Three of a kind
- Two pair
- One pair
- High card
Participants should confirm any event-specific rules, including how ties are broken, when they register.
Background: krewes beyond Mardi Gras
Along the Gulf Coast, krewes are best known as the social organizations behind Mardi Gras parades and balls. Many of them stay active throughout the year, hosting fundraisers, social events and community gatherings well outside of Carnival season. The Mystics of Pleasure Poker Run is one example of a krewe opening an event to the general public.
Safety on the water and the road
Because the event includes bars and a party with drinks, participants should plan ahead to get around safely. Boaters should designate a sober captain, and drivers should designate a sober driver or arrange other transportation. Operating a boat or a vehicle while impaired is illegal in Alabama and dangerous to everyone on the water and the road.
Boaters should also carry the required safety equipment, including a properly fitting life jacket for every person on board, keep an eye on weather and water conditions and be mindful of other vessels in busy waterways. In Alabama, boat operators generally must hold a vessel license issued by the state.
Event details
- What: Mystics of Pleasure Poker Run, open to the public by boat or car
- When: Sunday, Oct. 11; registration and breakfast 8:30 to 10 a.m.
- Start: Tacky Jacks Gulf Shores
- Finish: Poker Party at Tacky Jacks Orange Beach, starting at 4 p.m.
- Cost: $100 entry, with $100 returned to each participant in cash or a gift card
- Grand prize: $1,000 cash for the top poker hand
- Pre-registration: Available on the Mystics of Pleasure website
