Whoop-Up Days
Encyclopedia
Whoop-Up Days is an annual non-profit festival
, exhibition
and rodeo
held in Lethbridge
, Alberta
, for five days in the last full week of August.
The event includes a 4-km parade through downtown
, daily concerts, bull riding, a rodeo, an indoor and outdoor trade show, entertainment on the free stage, a midway
, HobbyWorld and city-wide pancake
breakfasts. In 2007, a record-breaking attendance at the event numbered 69,964. The previous record was set in 2006 when 67,590 visitors attended.
Economic impact from the fair amounts to roughly $2.5 million spent by event operations, locals and 13,000 visitors.
, which is on the eastern edge of the city. Permanent structures at the site include a 10,664 m² (114,787 ft²) pavilion complex (main, north, west and south pavilions, and Saddle Room), Heritage Hall, Pioneer Park, a grandstand, and a racetrack.
In 1904, eight years before the Calgary Stampede
, the first large-scale rodeo was staged as part of Whoop-Up Days.
In 1912, the festival was moved to its current location east of Henderson Park
.
Festival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
, exhibition
Fair
A fair or fayre is a gathering of people to display or trade produce or other goods, to parade or display animals and often to enjoy associated carnival or funfair entertainment. It is normally of the essence of a fair that it is temporary; some last only an afternoon while others may ten weeks. ...
and rodeo
Rodeo
Rodeo is a competitive sport which arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain, Mexico, and later the United States, Canada, South America and Australia. It was based on the skills required of the working vaqueros and later, cowboys, in what today is the western United States,...
held in Lethbridge
Lethbridge
Lethbridge is a city in the province of Alberta, Canada, and the largest city in southern Alberta. It is Alberta's fourth-largest city by population after Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer, and the third-largest by area after Calgary and Edmonton. The nearby Canadian Rockies contribute to the city's...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, for five days in the last full week of August.
The event includes a 4-km parade through downtown
Downtown Lethbridge
Downtown Lethbridge is the commercial centre of Lethbridge, Alberta, hosting most of the city's banks and several accounting and law practices, including national firms.-Boundaries:...
, daily concerts, bull riding, a rodeo, an indoor and outdoor trade show, entertainment on the free stage, a midway
Midway (fair)
A midway at a fair is the location where amusement rides, entertainment and fast food booths are concentrated....
, HobbyWorld and city-wide pancake
Pancake
A pancake is a thin, flat, round cake prepared from a batter, and cooked on a hot griddle or frying pan. Most pancakes are quick breads; some use a yeast-raised or fermented batter. Most pancakes are cooked one side on a griddle and flipped partway through to cook the other side...
breakfasts. In 2007, a record-breaking attendance at the event numbered 69,964. The previous record was set in 2006 when 67,590 visitors attended.
Economic impact from the fair amounts to roughly $2.5 million spent by event operations, locals and 13,000 visitors.
Location
Whoop-Up Days takes place at the Exhibition ParkExhibition Park (Lethbridge)
Exhibition Park is an exhibition complex located on the eastern edge of Lethbridge, Alberta.-Facilities:Permanent structures at the site include a 10,664 m² pavilion complex , Heritage Hall, Pioneer Park, a grandstand, and Whoop-Up Downs.-Events:Roughly 950 events are held at the park every year,...
, which is on the eastern edge of the city. Permanent structures at the site include a 10,664 m² (114,787 ft²) pavilion complex (main, north, west and south pavilions, and Saddle Room), Heritage Hall, Pioneer Park, a grandstand, and a racetrack.
History
The first fair was held on 5 October 1897 at the agricultural grounds in Queen Victoria Park (renamed in 1955 to Gyro Park). It included stage presentations, traveling shows and horse racing.In 1904, eight years before the Calgary Stampede
Calgary Stampede
The Calgary Stampede is an annual rodeo, exhibition and festival held every July in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The ten-day event, which bills itself as "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", attracts over one million visitors per year and features one of the world's largest rodeos, a parade, midway,...
, the first large-scale rodeo was staged as part of Whoop-Up Days.
In 1912, the festival was moved to its current location east of Henderson Park
Henderson Park (Lethbridge)
Henderson Park is a 47 hectare located in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. The park contains many amenities and attractions, including a 24 hectare man-made lake, the largest lake in the city...
.