Madisonville And St. Tammany Ready To Host Tickfaw 200 Poker Run Riverfront Festivities

This Saturday (May 4), the St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce, the St. Tammany Corporation and the town of Madisonville are teaming up to provide entertainment and a “warm community welcome” to the participants of the 2019 Tickfaw 200 Poker Run in Louisiana.

sttammany riverside

This year, the city of Madisonville in Louisiana plans to roll out the red carpet on the bank of the Tchefuncte River for the Tickfaw 200 Poker Run participants. Photo courtesy Riverside Bar

With more than 300 boats expected for this week’s annual event, which is hosted by Blood River Landing in Springfield, La., the powers at be near two of the poker run’s nine stops located on Water Street along the bank of the Tchefuncte River in Madisonville—Morton’s Seafood and Riverside Bar—are putting together a community-enriched festival for the first time this year.

According to a press release from the Chamber of Commerce, St. Tammany Corporation and the Chamber have worked together with Madisonville Mayor Jean Pelloat, Dawn Davis of Morton’s Seafood, Kyle Ross of Abita Roasting and Steve Savoy of Riverside, along with Mike Saucier of Gulf States Real Estate Services and Todd Whalley of My Hospitality/Holiday Inn, to produce Saturday’s happening.

“We encourage members and local citizens to come view the boats and enjoy live music,” said Mike Saucier, a member of the Chamber’s board of directors. “Our goal is to provide the boat owners a warm welcome to St. Tammany Parish, and a destination on Saturday with entertainment by the Vega Brass Band from 10 a.m. until noon and The Jessie Ritter band from noon until 3 p.m. This is a free event with food and drink available at nearby area restaurants and bars, which will be open for business and ready for visitors and locals alike.”

Saucier said event sponsors include the St. Tammany West Chamber, St. Tammany Corporation, St. Tammany Tourist Commission, Morton’s Seafood, Abita Roasting and the Town of Madisonville.

“Although it is called the Tickfaw 200, the boats travel a route inclusive of our beautiful Tchefuncte riverfront in Madisonville,” stated Madisonville Mayor Jean Pelloat, who has been actively engaged in welcoming efforts for the boat owners. “Local residents and especially boaters will enjoy coming out to see the powerboats, aka Cigarette boats, and enjoy live music provided by sponsoring businesses and organizations from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.”

Participants in the poker run, which is a 501(c)3 charitable organization with funds raised annually going to specific water, safety, preservation and education-related projects, are sure to gather in front of Riverside Bar at 3 p.m. to watch the annual Chicken Drop, which is always a highlight of the Tickfaw 200 Poker Run.

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