There will be up to 60 boats from around the county giving new meaning to the term showboating this weekend. Lake Murray’s inaugural Dam Boat Run at Lake Murray is June 23-24.

According to the event’s website, it will “showcase what can only be described as some of the most impressive works of nautical beauty, style, and engineering that the world of powerboating has to offer. Boating enthusiasts from across the country will come together for two days of a thundering show of power and performance touring Lake Murray.

“This is a fun charity run for boating enthusiasts to experience and have a fun, safe day,” organizer Bret Laso said.

“I am active in multiple boating communities and boat clubs and do runs across the United States,” he added. “We wanted to bring one to the local lake where we live.”

All of the proceeds from the run will be split among three organizations – The Big Red Barn Retreat (which helps veterans and first responders deal with on-the-job traumas), the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and the state Department of Natural Resources. Even if people can’t attend or be a part of the run, donations can be made via the event’s website at lakemurraypowerboatrun.com.

“The number one goal is to generate as much funds for charity,” Laso said. “Other than that, there is no main goal except to enjoy time together. There’s no benefit for anybody except for money to go to charity.”

Registration is still open for boats, but Laso says there’s a 75 boat maximum when it comes to docking.

There are a variety of boats participating, with people coming from Texas, Illinois, Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama and many other states. Laso said it will be a diverse crowd.

On the day, the boats will run for a couple of hours, leaving from the intake towers at the Lake Murray Dam. There is no rush to get from one point to the next, Laso said, but everyone will need to be back at Liberty on the Lake/the Lake Murray Marina by 4 p.m.

The event will also include a social at Little Sandy from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, with proceeds going to the aforementioned organizations. At 4 p.m. that day, everyone will head to the marina for any registration that still needs to be completed. Then at 6 p.m., there will be a mandatory captains meeting and a social afterwards.

On Saturday, the captains will meet at the towers by the dam and then they will just need to be at the marina by 4 p.m. for an awards ceremony and social afterwards.

“We just want to support local charities and hopefully we’ll see people come out and we can make this an annual event,” Laso said.