Whoop-Up Days is once again underway. Hundreds of people were waiting outside the gates well before fair grounds opened on Tuesday. Once the clock struck noon, excited guests flooded in. “All the planning, all the work that goes into it – It’s really worth it once you see the people stream through the doors, said Excite Lethbridge event development director Paul Kingsmith. Most of what attendees saw on the grounds wasn’t there a couple of days ago; West Coast Amusements only rolled into Lethbridge Sunday night. “Usually, we can (set it all up) in about a day,” said manager Laura Mae Slack. “Our guys are pretty experienced. A lot of them are returning employees.” Only an hour after the gates opened the midway was packed. Organizers aren’t necessarily gunning for another attendance record, but say they’re thrilled with the enthusiasm. “We don’t want to chase the numbers,” Kingsmith said. “We want to put on a quality show, and them it means that the attendance will follow. “If it is setting records, it means that people are finding value in the show, that they’re having fun here and they want to come out. We hope that’s the case once again.” Whoop-Up Days runs until Saturday.
