For Immediate Release         Media Contact:  Pam Jones or Marjorie Beenders
October 5, 2009                                        Phone: 573-636-8282 « Email: pam@tbmg.net

Harbor Hop Extends the Boating Season
at Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks

 Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. –Boaters and visitors will have one more opportunity to cruise the Lake of the Ozarks—and win prizes--during the 24th annual Fall Harbor Hop, Saturday, Oct. 10, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“If we have good weather, we can expect at least 2,500 Harbor Hop participants,” says Michelle Thomson, marketing consultant for the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau.  “It’s always fun to greet the ‘hoppers’ and check out the zany Halloween costumes a lot of them put together each year.”

The Harbor Hop is a poker run in which participants pick up playing cards to build a winning poker hand and become eligible to win prizes.  There’s no official entry fee, but players are asked to contribute an optional $15 donation per seven-card hand.  “Hoppers” will start their run and draw their first card at any of 35 sponsoring restaurants, bars and marinas along the Lake’s main channel up to the 47 mile marker, and the Big Niangua and Gravois arms.  Six additional cards will be drawn as boaters "hop" to more checkpoints.  At the seventh and final stop, players will draw their seventh and final card and may turn in their hand(s).  Or, they may pay an additional $5 per hand and draw an eighth Bonus Card to increase the chances of creating a winning poker hand.  There’s no limit to the number of hands an individual may play.

The 10 winners who draw the best poker hands will be notified by mail after the event.  Prizes also will be awarded for the four worst hands and for 10 randomly drawn hands.  Winners also will be determined in each of four Lake sections (Gravois Arm, Main Channel 10 mm, Main Channel 13-24 mm and Main Channel 28.5-47 mm plus Big Niangua Arm).  Section winners must draw all of their cards from checkpoints in that section. Donation totals will determine prize amounts. Prizes will be awarded in the form of gift certificates.

The Fall Harbor Hop traditionally is held the second weekend of October.  The Lake of the Ozarks CVB sponsors the Fall Harbor Hop as well as the Spring Harbor Hop held the first weekend in May—the traditional start of the Lake boating season.  Other sponsors include the Lake of the Ozarks Marine Dealers Association and Waterfront Restaurants.

“The Fall Harbor Hop extends our tourism season into autumn--always a wonderful time to come to the Lake of the Ozarks,” says Tim Jacobsen, executive director of the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau. “
For more information about the Harbor Hop and other events, attractions, shopping, lodging and dining at Central Missouri’s scenic Lake of the Ozarks, visit www.funlake.com (386-5253) or call 1-800-FUN-LAKE.
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