You can tell spring is here and summer is just around the corner in Jackson Hole. Elk Fest is always an event that signifies the arrival of spring and the start of the summer event line up, Old West Days during Memorial weekend, weekly rodeos, music festivals and more.
Elkfest celebrates the 41st annual world famous Jackson Hole Boy Scout Elk Antler Auction. Every spring, the thousands of elk who live on the National Elk Refuge outside of Jackson during the winter lose their antlers before they migrate to their summer range. The Boy Scouts harvest the antlers and auction them to bidders around the world. The antlers are used to make furniture, wall decorations, jewelry and food products. Other events surrouding this classic Jackson weekend include a chili cook-off with live musical performances and the kick-off of the Mountain Man Rendezvous and the Antler Rendezvous, which support the winter feed program on the National Elk Refuge with 80% of the proceeds gonig back to the Refuge. For a complete event line-up, see below. To inquire about lodging options during Elkfest or other upcoming spring and summer events, contact Jackson Hole Central Reservations at 888-838-6606.
EVENT SCHEDULE:
Saturday, May 17 (All events on Town Square except where noted)
7am: Antler lots for B.S.A. Elk Antler Auction ready for viewing
7am - 1pm: Food Court provided by Jackson Youth Baseball
7am - 1pm: Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum booth
8am - 12pm: Private Antler Sale north side of the Town Square by Rotary Club, contact R.R. Pierce at 307.732.3050
8am - 5pm: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Great Elk Tour - the premier traveling conservation exhibit with some of the largest bull elk in the world! Sponsored by: the National Elk Refuge
9am - 1pm: Kids' Corner - including educational tables and games. Sponsored by: Wyoming Game & Fish, Jackson Hole Weed Management and the National Elk Refuge
9am: Registration for Boy Scouts of America Antler Auction begins
9am - 9:30am: Free concert by Jackson Hole Community Band
9am - 1pm: Elk Discovery Booth sponsored by Grand Teton Association with all proceeds benefiting the National Elk Refuge
10am - 1pm: World Famous Jackson Hole Boy Scout Elk Antler Auction begins
10am - 1pm: Jackson B.S.A. Boy Scout adn Cub Scout Expo
5pm - Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Casino games and Silent Auction begins at the Bar J Chuckwagon
7pm - Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Big Game Banquet Annual Fundraising Dinner at the Bar J Chuckwagon. For more information, call Chuck Teske at 307-739-0951
May 17 - 26
Mountain Man Rendezvous and Traders Row
9am - 6pm daily: Traders Row, Candy Cannon, Bow & Arrow Competition, Hawk & Knife Competition, and Atlatl Competition at the Teton Country Fairgrounds. Continues through Old West Days. For more information contact Tom Lucas at 307-330-7436 or tlucasart@wyoming.com
May 18 - 26
Antler Rendezvous
9am - 6pm daily: All kinds of raw antler, horns and everything handmade with or from antlers and then some! Vendors showcase their wares at the Teton County Fairgrounds. Continues through Old West Days. For more information, contact Joe Schloss at 307-733-4007 or jschloss1000@hotmail.com
Sunday, May 18
Historic Downtown High Noon Chili Cook-Off
Noon: Teams compete to deliver the best tastes of chili in the West! Professional adn amateur teams will take pride to serve you up some of the best chili to wind down the ElkFest weekend. For more information, contact Larry Jackson at 307-733-8888 or jsndrill@aol.com