◆ Raffles, children’s activities this Friday and Saturday.
The annual Winter Jubilee sponsored by the town of Alpine will feature fireworks, snow sculptures, a light parade, ice skating and even a snowman building party – all to raise scholarship money for Star Valley kids.
What started several years ago as “community togetherness” in the cold winter months “worked into raising money for local scholarships,” said Melody Young of Alpine Town Hall. “We put out a lot of effort to bring the community together, and we hope you come and join us.”
Speaking with SVI Media about the annual event scheduled for this Friday and Saturday, Jan. 29-30, Young said between the raffles of grand prizes and smaller prizes donated by local businesses, various activities that draw families and the purchase of food, the event raises several $500 individual scholarships for youth – mostly high school seniors – from Lincoln and Teton counties. Youth entering their names for scholarships write essays from which several winners are chosen.
“It’s a great resource for them,” Young, a town hall administrative assistant, told SVI. “About a month [afterward, Star Valley High School] holds an awards night and someone from the [jubilee] committee hands out those scholarships.”
According to www.alpinewy.org, the 2021 Winter Jubilee will begin at 5 p.m. on Friday at the Civic Center Gazebo with a hog dog roast. A light parade follows starting by the Tavern on the Greys (now known as Greys River Saloon) at 6:30 p.m., with fireworks adjacent the Tavern at 7:15 p.m.
The next day, Saturday, children’s activities hosted by Alpine Recreation will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Then from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., “Casino Night” will be held at the Civic Center where the raffles will be held. Young related that grand prizes in the past have included such items a KLIM jacket, Ipads and an expensive drill. There are also myriad smaller prizes including gift certificates to local businesses and other gift items.
Young emphasized that businesses donate all the prizes in support of the scholarships. She emphasized the Saturday children’s activities, including ice-skating and sledding parties.
In addition, as in years past, participants and visitors will see myriad of snow sculptures by local artists. Sponsored by the Top of the Rockies Snowmobile Club, the sculptures are created by participants using mainly chain saws and other tools for details, Young related. One year, she joined the sculpture party and made a fishing bear with a pond.
“Some of them are really detailed. Mine aren’t,” she added, chuckling.
Young explained the sculptures are made from snow stomped into snow boxes built by the snowmobile club. Backhoes fill the boxes. And each year “stompers,” including Scouts, pack the snow down.
Young related that what began as an effort to “get people out of their houses in the middle of winter” now makes money for youth to further their educations after high school. Even her son, on a year she did not serve on the committee, won a scholarship.
“He’s graduating college this year from USU (Utah State). It helped a lot. Every little bit helps.”
For more information on the 2021 Alpine Winter Jubilee, go to www.alpinewy.org. Click on Events, then Winter Jubilee.
