KANOPOLIS — The Kanopolis Fire Department will host its fourth annual Poker Run and Community Celebration June 7, featuring a family- friendly environment, live music, food and prizes.

Levi Schneider, KFD firefighter, said the event is a great fundraiser for the fire department, but will be moved away from the previous schedule during Fort Harker Days.

“It’s just everything revolves around volunteers, and we are taken away from Fort Harker Days and we didn’t have the help to do the Poker Run because people are helping with Fort Harker Days,” Schneider said. “They’re just doing stuff in the park, and we didn’t have enough people to help run the Poker Run, so we took it off Fort Harker Days and moved it up, and then we figured that Kanopolis Rec Committee was going to do food, so they were going to benefit from us moving it off that day.”

The Poker Run typically hosts around 300 side-by-sides, holding two to four people each, and Schneider said he thinks there will be a similar amount this year.

This year’s route will span over 50 miles of “scenic backgrounds and off-road trails.” Schneider said the route will be open to ATVs, UTVs and Jeeps at $20 per vehicle.

Those wishing to try their luck at the poker table can pay $10 per hand for as many games as they like. Merchandise, including T-shirts and hats, will also be available for purchase, along with 400 raffle tickets priced at $100 each, with prizes funded by many of the 43 sponsors of the event. The winning tickets will be drawn following the poker run.

Schneider said the event often has a large out-of-town attendance, including “a big crew from Nebraska” who come down in support of the fundraiser.

“Most of the people are from out-of-town, and then the local ones that have side-by-sides for four wheelers, they support us too,” Schneider said. “...It’s been an amazing fundraiser for us … the community has supported us good with being sponsors for and help pay for odds-andends like signs and banners and like T-shirts.”

The event will also feature live music, showcasing Ellsworth resident Ivan Weinhold and the Bo Phillips Band from Stillwater, Okla., as the main performance. The Kanopolis Recreation Committee and Randy Van Trump will also offer a pulled pork meal with sides.

Those wanting more information about the poker run are encouraged to contact the Kanopolis Fire Department.