More than 90 seafarers will climb aboard their boats for the annual Pirates of Lanier Poker Run 2015 on Lake Lanier.

The family-friendly event will be July 16-18 at Sunset Cove, 7000 Lanier Islands Parkway, in Buford.

Events will kick off at 6 p.m. Thursday with a “Meet and Greet” at Gianni’s Italian Bistro & Pizzeria at Lake Lanier Islands Resort.

More activities will follow Friday as entrants participate in a “Cheeseburger in Paradise” Raft-Up on the lake. A free lunch for registered participants will provided by Norman’s Landing restaurant in Cumming.

Boaters then can prepare for registration and the captains’ meeting may at the Grand Hall Pavilion. Registration will be open from 2-8 p.m. Friday.

Afterward registering, boaters may participate in activities in the “Vendor Village” from noon to 11 p.m. in Sunset Cove’s parking lot.

Then on Saturday the poker run will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., allowing participants time to collect their cards from five different stops.

In a boat poker run, participants travel from one designated stop on the lake to another by boat. At each stop, they will pick up a playing card until they complete all of the stops and collect five playing cards. Stops include Lanier Partners Headquarters, Holiday Marina, Port Royale Marina, Gainesville Marina, Hideaway Bay Marina, Aqualand Marina and Habersham Pointe.

When the boat and its passengers return to Sunset Cove, the poker hands are evaluated at the “Casino” and scored. The best poker hand wins the grand prize.

This year, the cards will be in sealed envelopes and are not opened until the player returns to the “Casino.”

The pirate-themed event includes a contest for the best dressed pirate boats and crews. Prizes will be awarded for them, too.

A more detailed schedule is at lanierpartners.org/2015_schedule.php

Funds raised will benefit Camp Sunshine, Camp Twin Lakes and the Hall County Boys and Girls Clubs. Camp Sunshine is a Georgia children’s camp program that enriches the lives of Georgia’s children with cancer and their families through year-round recreational, educational and support programs. Camp Twin Lakes is the location for Camp Sunshine. The Hall County Boys and Girls Club serves the needs of “At Risk” children in Hall County.

For more information, visit www.piratesoflanier.com.