• Casino Night brought nearly $6,000 to the Alpine Scholarship Fund

Wyoming winters are famous for record-breaking temperatures and snowfall, but the Town of Alpine fully embraces the glory of winter with a Jubilee that lights their world with the joy of friendship and giving.

Last weekend, families and friends from throughout Star Valley gathered in Alpine, sharing the warmth of a community hotdog roast, smore’s, and a light parade.  Children squealed in delight at the community sledding party. Regional artists created detailed, life-size snow sculptures. Snow-covered ground danced with light and shadow as flames from the artistry of fire dancers split the night sky. Then, of course, folks came with hearts and wallets wide open in support of graduating high school seniors in preparation for their collegiate experiences.

This year’s Casino Night raised nearly $6,000 to put towards scholarships for Alpine and Etna students graduating from Star Valley High School in 2025.  Andrea Burchard, Alpine Town Council Member, feels that the Casino Night was a great success with generous donations for the raffle activity, and generous folks enjoying the food, drink and casino offerings.

“Winter Jubilee is one of my favorite events,” said Burchard. As a fundraiser for the Alpine Scholarship Fund, the Jubilee fundraiser opens doors for graduating seniors. “We’re always excited to read the [students’] applications and learn more about the kids in our community and their plans for the future.”

“Casino Night was a huge hit,” said Melody Leseberg, who serves as Deputy Treasurer to the Town of Alpine. “Everyone seems to really enjoy the atmosphere, and it was a great opportunity for people to come together and have some fun. We saw a lot of people getting into the spirit of the evening.”

Alana Carpenter, who serves on the Winter Jubilee Planning Committee was pleased that “most people were able to take home a raffle prize” from the Casino Night. “Those that did not receive a prize were given a complimentary snack bag, ensuring that each attendee went home with something from the event.”

Leseberg said that the family events on Friday were a great start to the weekend. “We had strong participation, with families of all ages coming out to enjoy the activities. It was fun and energetic, with kids, parents, and even grandparents joining in the fun.”

Alpine’s Travel and Tourism Board supplied a grant that covered the cost of The Lava Flow Fire Dancers, from Lava Hot Springs, who were a huge success, electrifying the crowd with their performance.

Jubilee highlights for Burchard included the “amazing” snow sculptures, created by local artists from large blocks of snow. “The fact that the temperatures had gone up made people excited to get out and enjoy the events,” said Burchard. “We’re used to crazy weather here and don’t let it slow us down much.”

“The more, the merrier,” definitely applies to the light parade each year. Burchard and other planning committee members always hope for a long line of entries. “We’re really excited about the success we had this year working with the Star Valley Arts Council on the snow sculptures and hope to double participation on that next year.”

Leseberg expressed gratitude to all the Jubilee volunteers, sponsors, and attendees for making the weekend a success. “The event wouldn’t have been possible without everyone’s hard work and dedication. It’s truly a community effort, and the most wonderful aspect of the event was seeing the community come together,” said Leseberg. “It was heartwarming to witness so many community members, laughing, and sharing in the festivities. The sense of community and the positive energy really stood out and made the event special.”

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY AMY SIMPSON, DOUG MONSON, JEREMY LARSEN, LXI WEBER, JANET ERICKSON AND AL;INE TRAILS AND PATHWAYS.