• Proceeds go toward Alpine Trails and Pathways, and Lucky’s Place.

Alpine’s 8th annual Coney Classic Skijor and Dog Party is scheduled for Saturday, February 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the end of County Road 100 in Alpine, near the airport.  Festivities include timed races, a costume contest, raffles, and a silent auction. All proceeds go toward maintenance of the Alpine Trails and Pathways and to support Lucky’s Place.

The tradition began in 2001 in Jackson and has been moved to Alpine with increased sponsorship from local businesses and individuals. “Local businesses have really jumped up and done a lot of the sponsorships so that we don’t have to go to Jackson for much of our sponsorships,” said Lila Wheatley, event organizer.  “This is a community event.”

Wheatley described Skijor as an activity where people on Cross Country skis have their dogs pull them. “It’s not really a race.  It’s more like a fun run. If you want to be timed, we do have the time trials between 11:00 and 12:30. It’s a lot more relaxed than a race and it’s a lot more fun.” Skiers who want to enter the timed trials need only notify the timer at the start line and then begin their Skijor when they are ready.

The Dog Party includes food, music, a costume party, raffle, and silent auction, and of course, dogs. Dogs running, playing, and socializing everywhere. Pizza’s, donated by Driftwood Pizza, will be delivered at 12:30 for the crowd to enjoy lunch. Other refreshments will also be donated by Melvins, The Bull Moose and Broulim’s of Alpine.

“There will be all kinds of goodies and snacks,” said Wheatley.  “There will be music the whole time, which, of course, puts everyone in party mode.  Just the fact that there’s music and food, that’s some of the big equation to make a good party.”  Imagine 40 dogs just running around loose, having a great time, and the crowd watching and laughing. Guests are invited to dress in costume and some dress their dogs in costume.  The crowd votes on the funniest costume and the winner receives a prize.

“Even if you don’t have a dog, it’s still a great event to come to,” said Wheatley. “It’s for a great cause. All the money goes towards the Alpine Trails and Pathways, towards maintaining the trails. We have to hire a professional groomer from Jackson to groom the trails and pack them down twice a week, and that costs money. We give half the money that we raise to Lucky’s Place.  Lucky’s Place is always in need of funds to feed the animals and maintain their kennels.”

“The silent auction is kind of cool because it begins online before the event,” said Wheatley. The auction is currently open for bidding at 32auctions.com/coney2024. “If somebody can’t attend the event, they can do the silent auction online. They can have a proxy and set a limit and set bid increments and then that proxy will go and continue their bidding for them. That’s kind of a neat part that isn’t normal at most silent auctions.” Online bidding concludes Friday, February 9 before the event, and the live auction continues during the Coney Classic event.

For more information, visit alpinetap.org.