Lake Winnebago in Oshkosh, WI, will host the inaugural Bago Big Bet Poker Run June 20-23, with title sponsor Mercury Racing.

This four-day Mercury Racing owners run is being organized by Shannon Higgins, who oversaw the successful Four Horsemen Poker Run on Lake Winnebago for many years. Mercury hand-picked Higgins and her company, Offshore Wench, to spearhead the new event.

Registration for Bago Big Bet launched at the end of February, and spots have been selling briskly. "I'm planning to cap the participation to 100 boats, just because of space availability," Higgins tells Speedboat. "We're already upwards of half full. We're going to see a mix of people who have attended my events over the last decade, as well as some new ones. I'm excited to meet some new faces and build some new friendships."

The event promises a high-stakes poker adventure on the waters of Lake Winnebago as you navigate the designated checkpoints, collecting poker cards along the way. The itinerary includes:

• Thursday: First, an impressive boat parade will transform Main Street in Oshkosh into a nautical spectacle at 4 p.m. Admire the procession of decked-out boats, each telling its own story through creative decorations and enthusiastic participants. The parade will also showcase the hardware of upwards of 25 participants. At 6 p.m., live music meets the camaraderie of boating fanatics as the sounds of blues and rock culminate in a boater's concert where you will be the VIP.

• Friday: At 11 a.m., an optional Lunch Run has been scheduled at the Fond du Lac Yacht Club. There will be a shuttle from the Yacht Club to the Mercury Racing factory for those who would like to take a tour. Afterwards, participants will meet at Streich's sandbar for an afternoon of music and games where you can snag the first card of your poker hand. At 6:30 p.m., there will be an event Kickoff Party at the Fox River Brewing Co. in Oshkosh.

• Saturday: After a Captain's Meeting at 9 a.m. at the hotel's Convention Center. The main event begins at 11 a.m. with stops at Pioneer Marina, Winneconne, a lunch stop to be determined, and Stockbridge before returning to the starting point. 6 p.m. brings a Glam Night Reception with dinner and bowling at the Howard.

• Sunday: Participants will reconvene for a morning brunch at Fratellos Riverfront Restaurant, then enjoy a day on the lake.

Bago Big Bet will provide participants an opportunity to support the designated charity, K9 for Warriors (https://k9sforwarriors.org/), the nation's largest provider of service dogs for Veterans. You can help make a difference for these men and women.

To register for the event, please visit https://www.bagobigbet.com.

‍