The Great Smoky Mountains Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will throw its annual banquet at 5 p.m. Saturday, July 31, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Hotel.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation was integral to the reintroduction of elk in the Smokies. The annual banquet is their primary fundraising and social event of the year.

The lively evening includes a prime rib dinner, raffles, silent auction and live auction — including more than 15 rifles or shotguns and a bow. Other auction items include hunting trips, a pack trip and Bristol race tickets.

The park’s two elk experts, wildlife biologist Kim DeLozier and elk researcher Joe Yarkovich, will give a presentation on the status of the Smokies elk prior to the banquet at 4 p.m.

$45. Contact Joyce Cooper in Cherokee at 828.506.3308 or Rusty McLean in Waynesville at 828.452.2896.