Our seasonal three-day weekend is on the horizon. If you don't already have plans for the 72 hour break from the work week, then check out some of these things going on in Jackson Hole this weekend...

Labor Day Mania at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort:
Friday, August 29th
8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Labor Day Ski Sale--FREE
Great deals on last year's equipment!
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Festival of the Arts in Teton Village--FREE
Juried art show with great artists from all over the region.
4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Dog Dayz in Teton Village--FREE
Local Dog Kennel Club with perform demonstrations and owners can take their pooches through the agility course.
9:00 p.m.
Movies in the Village--FREE

Saturday, August 30th
Labor Day Ski Sale
Festival of the Arts in Teton Village
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Marmot's Ultimate Ladies Day--FREE
All girls adventure day. Bike riding, interpretative hike, fly fishing, rock climbing and yoga will all be available with Marmot women. All ages and abilities. FREE lunch at the top of the Bridger Gondola.. Advanced registration required at JH Sports or by email ericap@jacksonhole.com
4:00 p.m.
3rd Annual Disc Golf Series-Finals--$5
Sign up at Jackson Hole Sports for the last Frisbee Golf game of the season!
10:00 p.m.
Live music at the Mangy Moose: Eric McFadded Trio--$10 at the door

Sunday, August 31st
Labor Day Ski Sale
Festival of the Arts in Teton Village
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
BBQ Showdown and Beer Tasting--$10 / plate
Join us for this 3rd year event! Taste all the yummy BBQ selections from Teton Village chefs of the Mangy Moose, Q, Cascade Grill, Village Café, GameFish, Alpenhof, The Peak and Nick Wilsons. Live outdoor music at the Bridger Gondola.

Monday, September 1st
Final Day of Labor Day Ski Sale
Festival of the Arts in Teton Village
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Kids' Fishing Derby--FREE

Argentine Tango Workshop Hosted by the Dancers' Workshop
The Dancers' Workshop is bringing David Caditz from San Francisco to conduct a Tango workshop August 29th and 30th. Private instruction will be available on Sunday morning as well. To learn more, contact the Dancers' Workshop at 307-733-6398.

Rory Stewart Presentation
Author and activist Rory Stewart will speak on August 29th at 7:30 p.m. in Studio 1 of at Dancers' Workshop at the Center for the Arts. Tickets are $20 at Valley Bookstore, 307-733-4533. $25 at the door.

The New Orleans All-Star Mountain Jam-balaya
Friday, August 29th from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Friends of New Orleans and the Tipitina's Foundation present a benefit for the nonprofits of New Orleans starring The Voice of the Wetlands All-Stars: Cyril Neville, Anders Osborne, Big Chief Monk Boudreaux, Waylon Thibodeaux, Jumpin' Johnny Sansone, Papa Mali and Johnny Vidacovich.
The New Orleans funk jam also will feature a rare appearance from three of the original Meters – Leo Nocentelli, George Porter Jr. and Zigaboo Modeliste – with guests Henry Butler and Walter "Wolfman" Washington. Also hear the "Queen of New Orleans Blues" Ms. Marva Wright and the New Orleans Brass All-Stars featuring Kirk Joseph, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, Big Sam and James Andrews. And experience a New Orleans Second Line with the Soul Rebels Brass Band and the original Wild Tchoupitoulas Mardi Gras Indians, plus performances from New Orleans songstresses Lauren Barrett and Mary McBride.


Jackson Hole Farmers' Market
8:00 a.m. at Town Square.

The Bluebird Movie
August 30th from 6:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Features tons of local riders (Mark Carter, Adam Dowell, Travis Rice, Marc Frank Montoya, Bryan Iguchi) on plenty-streep local terrain. Catch screenings at 6:30 or 9:00 in the Center Theater. Proceeds will benefit the JH Ski and Snowboard Club.

This evening, make sure to head to the Cloudveil flagship clothing store on Pearl Street in downtown Jackson. You'll want to do this for a few reasons. First, you'll want to check out the End of Summer sale on your favorite Cloudveil clothing, from hip summer shorts and shirts to layering systems and stylie outerwear. Secondly, local skier and (who knew) graphic-illustrative artist, Lynsey Dyer, will be featuring her art throughout the store--art she describes as having a strong connection with the local community and the outdoors. In addition to her professional skiing career, which has taken her all over the world, Lynsey also has a degree in graphic design and specializes in graphic illustration a portraiture photography.

Proceeds from this evening's art sales will go to benefit SheJumps.org, a nonprofit organization Lynsey co-founded that is a community dedicated to acknowledging, inspiring and suporting women to reach their potential. 

Show up between 5 - 7pm and you can sample wine, cheese and local brews from Snake River Brewing.   

This is always a conflicting time of year in Jackson Hole. To wit, I spent most of yesterday hiking to Holly Lake in Grand Teton National Park. The twelve mile round-trip adventure departed from the String Lake parking lot and headed up to one of Grand Teton's many high alpine lakes, full of crystal clear, mountain blue, freezing cold water. The weather was warm, despite the occassional scattered thunder cloud. And we got to enjoy heaps of huckleberries along the way. Surprisingly, the bushes haven't been picked over by humans or bears just yet. We followed up the hike with a swim in String Lake to cool off. It was quite the summer day in Jackson Hole.

But this morning, I woke up to some clouds in the sky and a bite in the air. When I logged onto my computer this morning, I was reminded that Powder Magazine's September issue hits stands today. "Powder to the People!" the summary exclaimed. What?! Powder? Already? You can't be serious. It's only... well, it's nearly September, I guess. Maybe powder isn't all that far away.

Which brings me to the question at hand. Which season is it? Hiking in the park and picking huckleberries one day and talking about new ski boots the next. The answer is, it's that time of year. That time of year when we find ourselves gazing up at cascading mountain waterfalls one minute and wondering how long it will be before they begin to freeze the next. After a long hike in the park, we come home and flip through the pages of Powder's latest issue to get editorial advice on which boots we should buy this year. And soon, we'll be presented with the questio as we sit at the top of Teton Pass, "Do I bike down and enjoy the mountain trails or do I hike up Glory and take a few backcountry ski runs?"

Like I was saying, it's that time of year in Jackson. That time of year when we're still enjoying summer, but starting to get our hopes high for the possibility of a mountain top dusting of snow. That time of year when mountain bike maintenance and ski tuning are done in the same afternoon. That time of year when "huckleberry" refers to one of two things: a) the deep purple little ball of mountain sweetness or b) the color trend in ski apparel for the 08/09 season, according to Powder Magazine.

Whichever season it is for you, the days are getting shorter and the snow will be flying soon. So get out and enjoy the tail end of summer while you try to keep your mind from wandering to the early throws of winter.

 
*Photo courtesy of National Park Service 

As I was biking up toward Cache Creek yesterday, I was passed by a covered wagon train and had to navigate around some "indians" on horses. And no, I'm not kidding. Every night during the summer, Jackson Hole visitors pile into the horse-drawn covered wagons and make their way to the dude ranch up the road for some down-home, old west cookin'. Face-painted indians on horses rush out of the trees with a whoop-whoop that gives the wagon goers a startle, but also allows them to visit those old west times, which are presumably a big part of the reason they came to Wyoming in the first place. It was a good reminder of how full of history this area is. The cowboy-and-indian visit comes to an end in the early evening and visitors and cowboys and indians alike go back to their respective modern day lives. But there are other, more permanent reminders of both long-ago and more recent historical Wyoming landmarks.

I was reminded of one in particular when I picked up the Jackson Hole News & Guide yesterday. I was only eight years old in 1988, but I can vividly remember the television images that were broadcast internationally, showing Yellowstone National Park engulfed in flames. It began on August 20, 1988 and has gone down in history as Black Saturday, the day that one of the largest and most consuming forest fires since 1910 took hold of Yellowstone. Presumably started by lighting strikes, the fires burned into September until rain and snow finally began to squelch the flames. All told, 36% of the park was scorched, 1.5 million acres were burned by fires started by 42 lightening strikes and nine acts of human error and 67 government and private buildings were destroyed.

As devastating as it was then, the fires of 1988 have gone on to spark (pardon the pun) debates on how to better manage our national forests and their fire policies. It forced an advance in technology that now allows Forest Service officials to better predict weather patterns and wind changes. The black char is now home to an abundance of wildlife and is said to be greener now than it was before the summer of 1988. And even the blackened tree trunks that remain standing add an element of beauty to the park's vast wildlands.

Yellowstone--the country's oldest national park-- still boasts the famous Old Faithful and hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year who come to see the wildlife that ranges from bison, elk and deer to wolves, eagles, coyotes, mountain lions and more. If you're in the area, make sure to visit the park on this twentieth anniversary of Black Saturday. Amidst the old stands of burnt pine and new growth, you'll see some ultimate Wyoming history in the making.

'Tis the season. Pre-ski season. It's a phenomenon in many a ski town. It's about this time of year that snow junkies start jonzing for shorter, colder days and mountain top dustings. The skis come out of the closet and hit the tuning table. www.MountainWeather.com starts to get a lot more traffic from those hoping that they'll see a storm cloud or two in the five-day forecast.

Of course, it's a little premature. It is only August after all. According to the seasonal calendar, we're still sitting squarely in summer. But a few things start to happen this time of year that get those of us who love to ski thinking winter a bit sooner than we might otherwise.  

The first is the arrival of Skiing Magazine's annual Gear Guide, which showed up in mail boxes last week. Skiing has traditionally been the first of the ski rags to emerge from the summer slumber with a gentle reminder that November is just around the corner. And wouldn't you know it, at least three Jackson locals grace the inside pages, including professional skiers and gear testers, Charlotte Moats and Jeff Annetts and ski photographer Chris Figenshau. It's hard to walk by any flat surface, from the grungy top of a ski bum coffee table to a professional workspace desk, without seeing the black cover and screaming neon green lettering that reads, "GEAR GUIDE."

Soon, Powder and SKI magazines will follow suit with their innaugural 08/09 issues. But before they do, Labor Day ski sales and swaps will be happening on every corner and in every ski shop from here to Who-ville. Those who are more skiwear savy than myself (I tend to stick to basic all black) will start researching the new attire trends. Is it a mono-chrome year? Or is an all-orange outfit so 2004? Is neon in? And how do we feel about one-pieces this season?

After the skis have been tuned and the ski clothes purchased and the ski magazines are littering floors and tables and night stands, it's time for ski movie premiers. If you grew up skiing, then you've probably been to at least one of these. You know, those classic ski films that feature the iconic say-so of Warren Miller as he voices over the likes of Glen Plake and Scott Schmidt doing back scratchers in their neon North Face one-pieces. And if you get your pre-season fix from these films, then you're probably a frequenter of productions from Matchstick, Level 1, Nimbus Independent, Poor Boyz, Rage Films and Jackson's local ski film production house, Teton Gravity Research.

Of course, it's all down hill from there. Once you've been teased with big screen powder shots, there's no turning back. It's time to train with squats and lunges and hikes up the nearest hill with skis or a snowboard strapped to your pack. Okay, maybe not. But with the arrival of that glorious Gear Guide last week, we did see the start of the pre-season madness. Get out the wax and check out the pre-season trailors. Lunges and squats are optional. 

Jackson might be a small mountain town, but that doesn't mean we don't get our fair share of world culture. From the Jackson Hole Film Festival to Cinco de Mayo celebrations, we're privy to some pretty great global good times. This weekend, it's Scotland's turn to show its stuff when the Wyoming Highlanders come to Teton County Fairgrounds for the 8th Annual Jackson Hole Scottish Festival. Head into town on Friday or Saturday (August 15th and 16th) to get your kilt and bagpipe fix. The festival will take place both days and will include:

Scottish Heavy Athletics
Highland Dancing
Individual Piping and Drumming Competitions
Kids' Athletics
Scottish Clans and Celtic Vendors
Scottish Foods and Refreshments
Bagpipe Bands
Irish Bands
Scottish Battle Reenactment Group
Scots Gaelic Classes
Wolves of Dunvegan
Renaissance Scots

The event is free and doors open at 8:00 a.m. both days. For more information, visit www.WyomingHighlanders.net.
*2007 Festival photos by W. Garth Dowling.

Visitors and locals alike know that Jackson is a unique place. It offers a lot that other places, including other mountain towns, can't. And one thing that makes Jackson unique is the people who live here and the jobs that people do in a place like Jackson Hole.

I bring this up because, as we were all flipping through the morning paper here at Cen Res, we caught a glimpse of a picture featuring our friend Jesse. Jesse's current job title? Balloon Chaser. Not even kidding. Every morning, Jesse wakes up at the crack of dawn and heads to the open fields between Wilson and the town of Jackson where people head up, up and away in order to see Jackson's sites from the quiet of a hot air balloon basket. Jesse and friends work to layout the balloons and fill them with helium. But the excitement comes more in the landing. Often, the balloons land not far from where they took off. But occasionally, a wind will carry them from the landing area and Jesse will "chase" the balloon down to help guide it to the ground. Heading toward a bad spot? Jesse grabs the ropes and leads the giant vessel back to a cushier pillow of grass.

A Balloon Chaser has a few rivals for most unique job title in Jackson Hole. Whitewater Raft Guides weave their way down the winding Snake River in rubber rafts full of adventure-seeking enthusiasts. Stagecoach and Covered Wagon Drivers take people around the town of Jackson and up into the hills for some historical Western experience. Of course, there's the no-nonsense job title of Cowboy, for those who still work dude ranches and lead horseback rides in the Jackson area. Paragliding Instructors take students to flight when they walk off the top of mountains.

So, if you decide that a short visit to Jackson just isn't enough and you'd like to stay, there's plenty of job opportunity that goes above and beyond the usual nine-to-five.

I hadn't been out to Teton Village in a few weeks, so I was a little shocked when I rolled into the parking lot at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort yesterday. "The Vil" is usually quieter in the summer, a small mountain community tucked away against the backdrop of Jackson's famous snow-less ski runs and the towering peaks of Grand Teton National Park behind that.

But this weekend saw some serious action. When I pulled in, I was greeted with spool upon ten-foot-tall spool of cable and a new tram dock that sits ready and waiting for the tram cars to arrive and begin shuttling skiers and snowboarders to the top of the mountain. Jackson Hole's "tram-formation" is getting closer and closer to completion, with crews working 13-hour days, six days a week in order to meet the December 20th deadline.

New additions to ride-to-the-sky include: 

The 80-foot clock tower and lower tram terminal, complete with working motor room.
Tram towers 2-4 are finished and tower 5 is well on its way to joining the line up that will usher cars to the top of the mountain.
Crews continue to work on the upper terminal and are working on ways to increase foot traffic efficiency and accessibility for those with disabilities.

There is no doubt that this year will prove to be a notable one for Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. The new tram will rise 4,139 feet, carry 100 passengers (double that of the original tram), will travel at 1970 feet/minute, and will take passengers from top to bottom in approximately nine minutes. With this increased accessibility to Jackson's famous terrain and exceptional views, it's a season you won't want to miss.

There's mountain music in the air. With the Jackson Hole Music Festival slated to take place next weekend and the 21st Annual Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival set to start tomorrow, Friday, August 8th, it's a great time to head to the Jackson area for some of the best beats around.

The Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival has been compared to what the Telluride Bluegrass Festival used to be: solid, shakin' bluegrass music without the crowds. You can purchase tickets online at TicketWeb or locally at Tobacco Row in Jackson (307-733-4385), Big Hole Music in Driggs (208-354-3659) or at Yostmark Mountain Equipment in Driggs (208-354-2828). Ticket prices are: $150 for onsite camping (includes a 3-day Festival pass), On-site oversized RV fee (vehicles over 22 feet): $50, Child Camping Pass (ages 12 and under): $15, All Weekend Pass (no camping): $125, Friday only: $50, Saturday only: $65, Sunday only: $55, Child Pass (ages 12 and under, music only): FREE, Parking pass: $5.00 per car per day.

Bring the family and a blanket and camp out in the grass while you listen to world class bluegrass music in one of the most beautiful mountain venues around.

Lineup:

Friday, 8/08:
4:00 p.m. - Spring Creek
6:00 p.m. - Infamous Stringdusters
7:30 p.m. - Sparrow Quartet featuring Bela Fleck, Abigail Washburn, Casey Driessen, & Ben Sollee,
9:00 p.m. - Tim O'Brien

Saturday, 9/08:
12:00 p.m. - Tony Trischka's Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular
1:30 p.m. - Tim O'Brien
3:00 p.m. - Emmit-Nershi Band
5:00 p.m. - Darrell Scott Band
7:00 p.m. - Blue Highway
9:00 p.m. - Sam Bush Band

Sunday, 10/08:
12:00 p.m. - Brother Mule
1:30 p.m. - The Waybacks
3:00 p.m. - Jeff Austin and Friends (featuring Darol Anger, Billy Nershi, & Eric Thorin)
5:00 p.m. - Dan Tyminski Band

Summer 'tis the roadtrippin' season when we all pile into our vehicles, load up on snacks and caffeine and hit the road for some good, old-fashioned American adventure. And although leaving is usually the last thing people want to do once they've arrived in Jackson Hole, there are some beautiful roads and routes leading into the Wild Blue Yonder when one hops on a blue highway heading out of Jackson.

This month, Outside Magazine features a series of road trip ideas across the country. Of course, our favorite was Jackson to Vegas. That's right, Outside decided to couple the pristine wild summer experience of Jackson with a little bit of Vegas craziness. The result is a roadtrip you won't want to miss if you're the type who likes a little bit of mountains, a little bit of fishing, a little bit of floating and a little bit of black jack.

"Heading for Trouble" Distance: 1,055 miles in 5 days 

Start with a stay in Jackson, WY.
Grab your rod and reel and head south along the Green River.
Hole up at the top of the Flaming Gorge (the canyon below holds as many as 14,000 trout per mile).
Head south on Scenic Byway 12 before stopping for a hike in Zion National Park.
After a few days of "roughing it", you're probably ready for a little R&R Vegas-style.
Outside suggests staying at Red Rock Casino, which offers guided river trips on the Colorado from Hoover Dam through the Black Canyon.

For the entire article, click here.

I know I've mentioned this before, but it's worth mentioning a few more times before acts like The Black Crowes, Wilco, Medeski Martin & Wood and more show up in Teton Village on August 16th. The first annual Jackson Hole Music Festival is going to be an outdoor concert to remember with a lineup like Jackson has never seen before.

For two days (August 16th and 17th), some of modern music's most famous faces will descend upon Teton Village at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. The two-day music fest will take place at the base of Bridger Gondola and will rock from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. each day.

Single Day General Admission is $72.50 for adults, $10.00 for children ages 5 to 12 and FREE for children 5 and under. Local residents passes will be made available at Jackson Hole Sports in Teton Village or at Jackson Hole Resort Store on town square. Residents must show valid driver's license to qualify for the local rate.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.jacksonholemusicfestival.com or call 877-655-4TIX (4849).

Saturday, August 16th (Venue opens at 10:00 a.m., music starts at 11:00 a.m.):
Wilco
Brian Wilson
Medeski, Martin & Wood
Kaki King

Sunday, August 17th (Venue opens at 10:00 a.m., music starts at 11:00 a.m.):
The Black Crowes
Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals
Robert Randolph and the Family Band
Son Volt
The Avett Brothers

This Friday, an expected 1,000 people will gather to show support and help raise awareness for those whose lives have been touched by cancer. The event will start at 6:00 p.m. on Friday evening and will end at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. Some will walk through the night and others will show up for a few hours to help support the cause. This year's theme is "Celebrate, Remeber and Fight Back," an appropriate moniker considering that one in every three Americans will get cancer in their lifetime.

For more information regarding the Relay for Life, contact Vicki at 733-3029.

You've seen it; that big fort-like building that sits on the hill as you head to the airport or into Grand Teton National Park. It's the National Museum of Wildlife Art and features collections of nearly 4,000 works of art. The musuem "strives to enrich and inspire public appreciation of fine art and humanity's relationship with nature by focussing its exhibitions and programs on wildlife." The musuem is unique in both its location and what it has to offer and if you haven't ever been, tonight might be your night to go.

Tonight, the National Museum of Wildlife Art is hosting Seen at the Museum, an evening of art, DJ, drinks and fun. If you're not much of a museum goer, but would like to check out some of the wildlife art featured and catch some good music and drinks, make your way out to the museum from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. Admission is free for members and $10 for non-members. Two drinks are included in the price of admission. Provide your email address and receive a 50% discount. DJ Zanne will be spinning an eclectic mix of international beats. You'll also be able to join the building's architect, Stephen Dynia, for a discussion of how the elements of nature and indigenous structure served as sources of inspiration for the architecture.

For more information, contact Seen@WildlifeArt.org or visit the museum's website at www.Wildlife.org.

As I was scrolling through the usual news sources this morning, I typed in, www.nyt.com in order to get my morning fix of daily political, business and cultural rant from The New York Times. How pleasantly surprised was I when the homepage featured a picture of a lone cowboy and a title that mentioned Wyoming. The article was actually a mini history lesson on the state, telling of the times long ago (early 1939) when homesteaders from Wyoming, South Dakota and southern Montana attempted to succeed to form their own state: Absaroka--from the Crow word meaning "children of the large-beaked bird." Whether the attempt was whole-hearted or simply "something fun to do" during a time that was less than cheery remains a mystery today.

However, there are details that suggest that Absaroka might not have been a total flop. To wit, a street commissioner named A. R. Swickard from Sheridan, Wyoming (the hypothetical state's appointed capital), named himself Governor of Absaroka and started hearing writs of grievance. Liscence plates were created and distributed along with pictures of Ms. Absaroka 1939 (picture courtesy of Sheridan Library). The king of Norway even made a brief state visit when he swung through the Absaroka corner of Montana.

The article goes on to highlight that the spirit of 1939 Absaroka is still very much there, even if the short-lived state itself is long gone. The area still boasts ranchers and farmers, many of whom have now turned to tourism to help fund their efforts to remain Wyoming cowboys. This includes the Double Rafter Ranch, which invites tourists to pay to be a part of their cattle drives. The ranchers claim they would be driving cattle anyway, but this way, they can move the stock, still keep the ranch and help give some perspective on Wyoming life to those who might not entirely understand what it means to live in "The Cowboy State." 

For locals and visitors alike, the article is a good reminder of why we live, work, play and visit a place that is still full of discovery, backed by a spirit of serious exploration and unwaiveringly dedicated to doing things that others might consider just a little bit crazy. Crazy like Absaroka.

Not too long ago, a friend of mine started the Jackson Hole-based non-profit organization, Pursue Balance. PB (as she refers to it) provides information, education and support for creating happier, more balanced lives. Reaching out to local and global causes, Pursue Balance's home base is located here in Jackson Hole. And next Saturday, August 2nd, Pursue Balance will host an Around the Block road bike ride to help raise awareness and funds for the organization. When a friend first asked if I'd like to participate, I happily agreed. All I have to do is ride around the block for a good cause? Sure! Count me in! Of course, Jackson's definition of "around the block" is different from that of most other places. I quickly learned that we ain't talking the couple hundred yards of a city street. Oh no. This Around the Block ride to which I so readily agreed to do will take me 109 miles. I will (attempt to) ride over Pine Creek Pass into Victor, Idaho. From there, I can "refuel" before winding up Teton Pass for 14.4 miles (gaining 2,339 feet of elevation) and then drop down into Wilson, Wyoming.

Of course, should I decide that a Century Ride (as 100 miles in an uncomfortable bike seat is most commonly known) is too much, there are options to do a Quarter Block Ride (40 miles) and a Half Block Ride (70 miles). But I think I'm going to go for the 100 mile mark in my attempt to be charitable, the Jackson way. I figure that a bike ride that long is enough to garner the attention of my friends and family and raise some awareness for a great cause.

If a long bike ride isn't your thing, there are many other ways to give back Jackson-style. Check out these great organizations to see what kind of philanthropy is happening in the Tetons: 

The Cougar Fund aims to protect the nation's largest wild cat through education across the United States and also by supporting scientific and monitoring efforts.

The Community Foundation supports nonprofits through grants and technical assistance that build sustainability and positively impact evolving, critical needs in Jackson Hole. If you want to help fund Jackson area nonprofits, Old Bill's Fun Run for the Community Foundation is a great way to do it.

Grand Teton Music Festival has been considered one of the most important summer music festivals in the country since its inception in 1962. The symphony orchestra brings brilliant musical performances to the Jackson area every year and is primarily funded by donations and the world renowned Jackson Hole Wine Auction.

Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance is dedicated to responsible land stewardship in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to ensure that human activities are in harmony with the area’s irreplaceable wildlife, scenic and other natural resources.