Whoop-Up Days Whips Into Action for 2024!
August 13, 2024
It's time to giddy up and head for the fairway to spend the end of summer under the Southern Alberta and bright multi-coloured lights of Whoop-Up Days 2024! Like every year before, this is one of the biggest events of the year and the biggest event of the summer!
This year is different, however, with free admission to the fairway until 3 PM August 20th – 22nd, thanks to Gas King's sponsorship! Now, you can get in on the action and enjoy the bright lights of the Ferris wheel and wondrous whirligigs without worrying about admission! Wristbands and tickets are still required for rides, but there's so much more to see and do than just the fairway rides at Whoop-Up Days!
Whoop-Up Days Parade
Like every year since 1897, the Whoop-Up Days Parade is the inaugural event of this year’s Whoop-Up Days celebrations! Starting August 20th at 9 AM from Park Place Mall, the parade moves down 3rd Street South and then heads east on 3rd Avenue. The parade will then flow to 13th Street, which will navigate north onto 9th Avenue North and end at Galbraith School. Floats are encouraged to decorate with the theme “Grow up Western,” keeping floats focused on all things Western this year, so there will undoubtedly be some incredible and creative showcases as part of the Whoop-Up Days Parade!
Whoop-Up Days Pancake Breakfasts
You can't giddy up and get in on the big 'Whoop' if you've got a rumbling stomach! Luckily, Lethbridge knows better than to leave parade goers hungry, so the community comes together to make sure more than enough pancake breakfasts are happening around the city every morning to ensure Whoop-Up Days aren't dampened by rumbling stomachs. To find a complete list of all the pancake breakfasts and BBQ lunches around the city, click the button below!
Lethbridge & District Siksikaitsitapi Pow Wow
The Lethbridge & District Siksikaitsitapi Pow Wow is a two-day event from August 21-22, from 1-6 PM. The Siksikaitsitapi Pow Wow is a part of Indigenous programming for Whoop-Up Days, which is meant to honour and showcase the incredible history, talent, heritage, and culture of the Indigenous People of Canada. With a prize pool totalling over $65,000, there will certainly be some incredible and competitive performances at this year’s Lethbridge & District Siksikaitsitapi Pow Wow!
Please remember that while this event is open to the public, Pow Wows are sacred cultural experiences and should be treated as such. Please remain respectful and follow all customs and instructions while attending this Pow Wow.
Pow Wow Marketplace
During the Siksikaitsitapi Pow Wow, an Indigenous marketplace will also be held there. Indigenous vendors and merchants will be present, selling their wares to the public. This is an incredible opportunity to support Indigenous artists, artisans, and creators within the community directly!
Princess Pageant
A Princess Pageant will also be part of the Indigenous programming during Whoop-Up Days 2024. The Princess Pageant, held on August 20th from 1-5 PM, recognizes and honours Indigenous girls and women while showcasing Siksikaitsitapi Heritage, history, and culture. The Miss Siksikaitsitapi winners will be crowned and will go on to represent the Lethbridge & District Exhibition and the Siksikaitsitapi throughout the following year. Don’t miss this incredible display of culture and heritage on August 20th.
Whoop-Up Days Midway
Bright lights, live music, fried food, show-stopping performances, skill-testing games, prizes waiting to be won, and rousing rides all around. This is what the big ‘Whoop’ is all about at Whoop-Up Days! Every year, the summer comes to an illuminated end with the Whoop-Up Days Midway, where Summer days end later than ever. Catch a ride, eat an elephant ear, win a prize, and finish with a trip around the Ferris wheel!
Lethbridge & District Pro Rodeo
The only Pro Rodeo hosted in Lethbridge returns this year for another three days of incredible bucking bronco action August 22nd – 24th! Learn more about what you can see at the rodeo with the Lethbridge & District Pro Rodeo! For more information on the Lethbridge & District Pro Rodeo, click the button below!
Whoop-Up Days Marketplace, Buskers, & More
Located in the Agri-Food Hub & Trade Centre, The Whoop-Up Days Marketplace is the perfect place at Whoop-Up Days to support local creators, artists, and artisans! While you browse the many talented sellers at the Whoop-Up Days Marketplace, there will also be live buskers spaced throughout the market floor to entertain and add a bit of ambiance to the shopping experience. There’s even more to find still, with the Wildlife Festival, Extreme Dogs, and so much more present on the Whoop-Up Days Fairgrounds! The fairgrounds come alive with performing groups, buskers, and markets from August 20th – 24th. Learn more about the full lineup of entertainers and performers by click the button below!
Original 16 Beer Gardens
August 20th-24th will also have the original 16 Beer Gardens open on the fairground of Whoop-Up Days from 1 PM to 12 AM. If you’re thirsty and need a refreshing, bubbly brew, look no further than the Whoop-Up Days Beer Garden! With local brews filling cups until the last call at 11 PM, there’s always a perfect time to stop at the Beer Gardens!
Original 16 Stage
Dance the night away under the midway lights with the Original 16 Stage each night of Whoop-Up Days! There are performances on all five nights, with three special headlining performances on August 22nd, 23rd, and 24th.
Even More to Discover!
With so much more to see and do at Whoop-Up Days this year, it’s no surprise we couldn’t fit all the attractions and excitement into one blog! To learn about the long list of live performances, community events, fair food, and midway rides, head to the Whoop-Up Days website for all the details!
Don’t forget to share all your favourite photos from Whoop-Up Days on social media with #ExploreLethbridge. We love seeing how everyone explores our city, and we even share some of our favourite shots on our social media! Don’t worry, though; we always ask permission before reposting!