Lethbridge’s annual fair is being extended by a day in 2025.
Whoop-Up Days will be open for a sixth day in August and according to Director of Event Development at Lethbridge & District Exhibition Paul Kingsmith, it is going to be a scaled-down day with the midway and food trucks.
“It’s a chance for people to take in the stuff that they like and want to be a part of and it’s only $5 to get in on that day,” Kingsmith says.
Along with the extended schedule, this year, lumberjacks will be coming to the event. Kingsmith says it is exciting to have them at Whoop-Up Days because it is the first time the show is touring in the area.
“They’ll be set up right in the middle of the midway and we know that’ll bring big crowds and we’re just really focused on making it bigger and better and refining everything and making sure that the guest experience when you come to Whoop-Up Days is top notch.”
On the Original 16 stage on Friday and Saturday night, he says there are some exciting acts for the rock and country nights. On Friday, Trooper will be the headliner for the rock lineup, with Econoline Crush also playing.
“You just keep going through their songs and you know every single one of them and so to bring Trooper back to the city, it’s the first time in over a decade that they’re going to be playing Whoop-Up Days.”
“Saturday night as we wrap up, the Lethbridge and District Pro Rodeo, that’s our country night and we’ve got Chad Brownlee who has put out hit after hit after hit. He is a multi-platinum artist here in Canada,” he states. “Along with some of the best up-and-coming Alberta talent in Nice Horse, Foxworthy and Brayden King supporting him on that country night, if you’re a country fan, you’re going to want to be there for that show.”
The Lethbridge Pro Rodeo will also be returning from Thursday, August 21 to Friday, August 22. The Lethbridge event takes place on the last weekend contestants can qualify for the Canadian Finals Rodeo, so while the Lethbridge event is one of the top 10 paying Canadian events, it can also be one of the deciding events for who will be heading to the finals in October.
“Last year saw how we were so close to selling out, and I think that this year is the year where we do sell it out. It’s become an event that the city gets behind, that we get behind and we know the excitement is there, and the rodeo action is just second to none given where it is in the schedule.”
Along with the rodeo, the Warrior Relay Races will be taking place. This is something Kingsmith says the Lethbridge and District Pro Rodeo made sure was part of the rodeo when they brought it back, because it is important to shine a light on the Indigenous athletes and the traditional heritage that goes along with that sport.
“Anyone who’s seen it, they know why you want to stay and watch it. It is wild, it is insane to watch, it’s so much fun and the horsemanship, the athleticism that goes into that kind of event is just next level and so we know it’s a fan favourite,” he adds.
“We know that people will stay to watch it because of how exciting it is and to work with the Blackfoot Confederacy and make sure we’re executing and involving the Confederacy and introducing those elements of Indigenous culture into our programming is super important to what we do.”
Whoop-Up Days runs August 19 to 24 at the exhibition grounds.
A full schedule can be found here.
