The Town of Vulcan showed off its Star Trek-themed float at the 2023 Whoop-Up Days parade. The 2025 parade is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 19. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

What you need to know for Tuesday’s Whoop-Up Days parade

Aug 18, 2025 | 9:47 AM

Whoop-Up Days gets underway on Tuesday, August 19, and the parade will serve as the official kickoff.

Paul Kingsmith, Director of Event Development at Lethbridge & District Exhibition (LDE), says thousands of spectators will take in over 100 floats and nearly 1,200 people marching, covering a wide range of themes and community groups.

“Every year, you like to see the involvement from the community groups and what they come up with. Every year, it seems like there’s one or two floats that stick out from the crowd, and you’re like, ‘I haven’t seen that before. That’s awesome!’ You can hear the crowd buzz when they go by,” says Kingsmith.

As shown in the image below, the parade will start at Park Place Mall at 9:00 a.m. and proceed south on 3 Street South, east along 3 Avenue South, north along 13 Street North, and then east on 9 Avenue North, ending at Galbraith Elementary School.

The route for the 2025 Whoop-Up Days parade on Tuesday, August 19. (Photo: Lethbridge & District Exhibition)

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The honourary marshals for this year’s parade are the Morris family. They are the owners of Gas King and have repeatedly given back to the community over the last 40 years.

READ MORE: Morris family named honourary Whoop-Up Days parade marshals

The City of Lethbridge says the roads along the parade route will be closed, and the event will cause traffic disruptions.

“If you travel to an area within the parade route, plan accordingly for any route closures and allow for extra time to reach your destination,” reads a notice from the City of Lethbridge. “During the parade hours, some transit routes may be interrupted. Check your transit status at myride.lethbridge.ca.”

A total of 18 pancake breakfasts and BBQs are set to take place throughout the city this week, many of which will be raising money for a variety of local causes.

The majority of Whoop-Up Days activities will be at the Agri-food Hub & Trade Centre, including:

• West Coast Amusements Midway
• Whoop-Up Days Marketplace, Family Fun Zone and Community Stage
• Extreme Lumberjacks
• Lethbridge & District Pro Rodeo
• Magic Bean Ag Show
• Kids Pedal Tractor Pull
• Siksikaitsitapi Princess Pageant
• Siksikaitsitapi Music Showcase
• Siksikaitsitapi Powwow
• Jumbo Bites and 6th Street Sweets
• Food Truck Zone
• Original 16 Beer Garden
• Pure Power Wrestling’s Hot Summer Night
• Original 16 Stage live music
  • Headlined by Trevor Panczak on Aug. 20, Bebe Buckskin on Aug. 21, Trooper and Econoline Crush on Aug. 22, and Chad Brownlee on Aug 23
• Fireworks Finale

A new addition this year is the Whoop-Up Wrap-Up on Sunday, August 24. This is a midway-focused event with a pared-down list of activities, but admission is only $5.

Advance pricing on tickets to Whoop-Up Days and the Lethbridge & District Pro Rodeo is available until Aug. 19. Advance pricing for Pure Power Wrestling’s Hot Summer Night is available until Aug. 21.

Whoop-Up Days tickets and West Coast Amusements wristbands can be purchased in person at any Lethbridge or Picture Butte Gas King location. Tickets are also available at whoopupdays.ca.

A full list of events and information is available at whoopupdays.ca.

More pre-Whoop-Up Days coverage below:

Final preparations underway for Whoop-Up Days

Pure Power Wrestling main eventing Whoop-Up Days

Whoop-Up Days to feature increased Blackfoot programming