Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen serves food at the Mayor's Community BBQ, part of the 2022 Whoop-Up Days festival, August 23, 2022. (Image: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Long lines, excitement as Mayor’s Community BBQ kicks off Whoop-Up Days

Aug 23, 2022 | 2:57 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The 2022 Whoop-Up Days festival got off to a wild start on Tuesday, August 23, 2022.

The morning began with the annual Whoop-Up Days Parade, which saw dozens of colourful and creative floats representing numerous cultures, businesses, governments, and more.

READ MORE: Whoop-Up Days Parade 2022: photo & video gallery

Following the parade, Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen hosted the Mayor’s Community Barbeque outside of Lethbridge City Hall. Hundreds of people enjoyed free food and a free concert by local country music star Trevor Panczak.

After riding through the parade on horseback, Hyggen came back to city hall with a huge smile on his face.

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“I’m super excited to come in here and see all of this after the parade, walk in, this is fantastic,” says Hyggen. “This is community, right? This is getting everyone together. It’s multicultural, everybody’s together and just enjoying themselves on the opening of Whoop-Up Days. This is fantastic.”

After two years of Whoop-Up Days being a toned-down affair without a parade due to COVID-19 restrictions, Hyggen says he is happy to see it return so people can enjoy the full festival once again.

Trevor Panczak says he is also excited about the return of Whoop-Up Days.

“I think my first Whoop-Up Days was in 1995, so that’s a long time ago already,” says Panczak. “Just to think back to when we played at Pioneer Park on the old stage before they had the canopy stage and winning a contest when I was a kid and just progressing. You remember your roots, and just to be able to come full circle like this and see ourselves on the front steps of the city hall headlining a show was pretty awesome.”

Panczak performed a full set just outside of the main entrance to Lethbridge City Hall.

He says it is always nerve-wracking playing at home because he always sees people he knows. At the same time, he loves knowing that he can entertain people that he knew long before breaking into the music industry.

The 2022 Whoop-Up Days festival runs until Saturday, August 27, 2022. For more details on everything happening at this year’s event, go to the official Whoop-Up Days website.

Trevor Panczak and Mayor Blaine Hyggen at the Mayor’s Community Barbeque, August 23, 2022. (Image: Lethbridge News Now)

Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen mid-burger-flip at the Mayor’s Community Barbeque on August 23, 2022. (Image: Lethbridge News Now)

Residents enjoying food at the Mayor’s Community Barbeque, August 23, 2022. (Image: Lethbridge News Now)

Trevor Panczak performing on the steps of Lethbridge City Hall at the Mayor’s Community Barbeque, August 23, 2022. (Image: Lethbridge News Now)

Members of the local Pattison Media crew attend the Mayor’s Community Barbeque, August 23, 2022. (Image: Lethbridge News Now)

READ MORE: Whoop-Up Days Parade 2022: photo & video gallery