136 Boats Participate in 21st Annual Charity Event on Florida’s St. Johns River 

A record-setting 136 boats participated in the 2021 Velocity Powerboats Toys Tour Dec. 3-5 on the St. Johns River, starting the Palatka, Fla. Event organizers report that participants donated hundreds of toys to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department for distribution to underprivileged children and young victims of domestic violence. 

The 21st annual event stretched over three full days, a fitting close to the 2021 performance boat event of the season. The weekend began on Friday with the popular Dunn’s Creek run on a twisty section of the St. Johns River to Crescent Lake for lunch at Three Bananas, which attracted 65 boats. The run was followed by a welcome party at the host venue, Crystal Cove Resort and Marina, food trucks serving dinner, and live entertainment. The son of Toys Tour founder Rus Matos, Louie Matos took on the DJ and master of ceremonies roles. 

For the main event on Saturday Scott McCormick of title sponsor Velocity Powerboats paced the fleet on the St. Johns River to the first stop and toy drop at Welka Public Docks before heading to lunch at Renegades On The River and then on to the pristine waters of Silver Glen Springs, a 72-degree crystal clear spring that attracted a number of manatees to the cove. At the end of the day, the fleet returned to the Crystal Cove Resort and Marina for evening activates. 

“This was perhaps the best banquet that any poker run has ever seen,” said Walt Braithwaite, the vice president of Velocity Powerboats and the executive director of Toys Tour, Inc., a nonprofit charity. “The red carpet was rolled out and the event room decor was festive. In addition to six food stations with prime rib, oysters, sushi, ceviche and more catered by Qui Mia—one of Jacksonville’s premier caterers—there was a cigar roller and hookahs. 

“John Nickoloff and the Rear View Mirror band rocked the event until way after midnight, and Saturday night’s master of ceremonies, Del Flores of the Spartan Powerboat Club, gave away door prizes including a really cool mini-bike,” he continued. “The night was perfect and the guests were treated like royalty.” 

A new feature on Sunday morning saw the organizers and the Putnam County Sheriff’s department host the event’s first-ever children’s Christmas party. 

“This is what it is all about,” Braithwaite said. “To see these kids’ faces light up that morning makes me even more passionate to make this even a bigger event next year.” 

For those who wanted a little extra Florida sunshine on the St. Johns River, the event finished up Sunday afternoon with a run to Jacksonville. Approximately 40 boats made the trek to Whitey’s Fish Camp for lunch. 

Event sponsors were Velocity Powerboats, Tomes Landing Marina, Renegades on the River, and the Putnam County Tourism Council. PokerRuns of America. The 2022 Toys Tour will be held on December 2-4.