JH Travel & Tourism board denies funding for Horseshoe Music Fest, Teton Skijoring

The Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Joint Powers Board voted March 12 to allocate $850,000 in FY27 “signature event” lodging-tax funding — but awarded $0 to two new proposals: the Horseshoe Music Festival and Teton Skijoring. The final slate funded Jackson Hole International Film Festival ($125,000), Pedigree Stage Stop Dog Sled Race ($40,000), Rendezvous Music Festival ($572,500) and Native Voices & Teton Powwow ($112,500). (Board Meeting Minutes; signature-event slate)

In discussion, board members raised concerns that the Horseshoe Music Festival’s proposed late-September 2026 dates could fall during historically high occupancy, when “additional occupancy is not necessarily needed,” even as they thanked organizers for the event’s production. For Teton Skijoring — proposed for Jan. 16–17, 2027 — members flagged that organizers had not secured a final venue and said the board could not use allocated funds “in the same way” if the venue later changed. (Board Meeting Minutes)

Earlier, at the board’s Feb. 12 meeting, members reviewed both applications and compiled follow-up questions focused on projected attendance, visitor share and date/venue certainty — including where skijoring would be held and how likely organizers were to secure a suitable site. The March vote indicates the board was not satisfied those uncertainties were resolved enough to commit lodging-tax dollars at the “signature event” scale. (Regular Meeting Minutes)