Whoop-Up Days Marketplace Application

About Us

Located in the heart of the Lethbridge Trade & Convetion Centre (formerly the Agri-food Hub & Trade Centre), the Marketplace featuring a wide array of local and out-of-town vendors, is a vibrant shopping destination. With endless variety and unique finds, it’s the perfect place for visitors to discover quality goods and enjoy a truly one-of-a-kind experience.

For the Vendors

As one of Lethbridge’s largest community events, Whoop-Up Days set a modern attendance record in 2025 with more than 50,000 guests over five days. The Marketplace is your chance to be part of that momentum and showcase your business to a massive and engaged audience.

The Marketplace gives you the opportunity to:

• Showcase your business to tens of thousands of community members and visitors
• Connect with shoppers who love to shop, eat, and support local
• Promote and grow your brand with a low barrier to entry
• Test your products in a lively, high-traffic environment
• Build lasting relationships and get involved in the Lethbridge community

Dates & Times

August 18 - 22, 2026 

Hours of Operation

August 18	12 PM - 10 PM
August 19	12 PM - 10 PM
August 20	12 PM - 10 PM
August 21	12 PM - 10 PM
August 22	12 PM - 10 PM

*Young entrepreneurs may request reduced hours by emailing the event management team at whoopupdays@excitelethbridge.ca.

Booth Costs

10 x 10	$750 + GST
10 x 20	$1,400 + GST
10 x 30	$2,150 + GST
20 x 20	$2,600 + GST

Bulk spaces (larger than a 20x20) will be sold and discounted on a case-by-case basis. 

Inclusions:

• Back and side drape
• 8' skirted table
• 2 folding chairs
• 2 vendor badges per 10x10 space

Booth Add-Ons:

Additional tables, chairs, power services, booth carpet, and other display accessories can be ordered through Global Convention Services.

Please note, Global Convention Services operates independently from show management and will provide exhibitor kits outlining all available services, add-ons, and pricing. Exhibitor kits will be distributed to approved vendors who have paid in full several weeks prior to the show.

Add-ons may also be purchased during move-in; however, early bird pricing will not apply at that time

Marketplace Design & Layout:

The Family Fun Zone has quickly become a favourite feature of the Marketplace, located at the back of the trade halls. With bouncy castles, stage entertainment, and interactive kids’ activities, it creates a lively hub that draws families in and keeps foot traffic flowing throughout the market each day.

Paired with our prime location beside the midway and a layout designed to highlight our diverse vendors, the Marketplace offers an energetic, high-traffic environment where visitors can shop, explore, and enjoy the full Whoop-Up Days experience.

Vendor Placement 

Vendor placement will be determined at the discretion of market management to ensure a balanced layout that enhances the overall marketplace experience. All booth assignments will be made with the best interests of the event and its vendors in mind.

Vendor Move-In

August 16	12 PM - 5 PM
August 17	10 AM - 7 PM

Vendors who are not checked in by 11 AM on August 18 will be considered a no-show and risk forfeiture of their booth space.Vendor Move-Out

Vendor Move-Out

August 22	10 PM - 12 AM
August 23	8 AM - 5 PM

Site Access

Parking will be provided to vendors on a first come, first served basis. No parking passes will be provided due to the limited parking available.

Vendor badges will be available for vendors to access the Whoop-Up Days site.

Registration 

*Please note: if your power requirements are not listed above, we are unable to accommodate them.

All food and beverage vendors MUST comply with Alberta Health Services (AHS) policies. Preparing raw meat, heating, portioning, or serving perishable food on-site in your booth space is strictly prohibited.

Vendors may serve pre-packaged foods and offer pre-portioned, non-perishable dry foods (including samples). If vendors will be handing out samples, they must have hand sanitizer and have with access to a handwashing sink, or have a handwashing sink within their booth space.

Food and beverage vendors must submit an AHS special event vendor notification form 14 days before the event. 

Food and beverage vendors must agree to the following guidelines:

• No hot-and-ready food; all items must be pre-packaged, take-home products
• Samples of non-perishable foods prepared prior to the event or portioning dry foods into single-use cups without touching the food (such as pretzels or nuts) is allowed. When sampling food vendors MUST have hand sanitizer available at their booths and access to a handwashing sink.

All food and beverage vendors are required to submit a Special Event Vendor Notification form to AHS, with a copy provided to Marketplace management. Forms must be submitted no later than August 4.

AHS inspectors will be on-site conducting checks. Vendors who fail to comply with regulations will be shut down by AHS or show management. Refunds will not be issued to vendors closed due to non-compliance.

All food and beverage vendors must also submit a Certificate of Insurance with a minimum liability limit of $2,000,000. The Certificate must list ‘Excite Lethbridge’ as an additional insured.

As a valued vendor of Whoop-Up Days, we are excited to inform you that Excite Lethbridge has a venue-wide partnership with Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Limited.

Through this exciting partnership, Coca-Cola will be the exclusive supplier of non-alcoholic beverages for resale, distribution, promotion or marketing at Whoop-Up Days 2026. As such, external beverages such as lemonade, slushies, smoothies, ice caps etc. are not permitted for resale, distribution, promotion or marketing at Whoop-Up Days, Lethbridge Trade & Convetion Centre and all buildings and facilities unless approved by market managment in advance.

By submitting this application, I acknowledge that all beverages sold will be Coca-Cola-branded beverages, purchased through Excite Lethbridge.

Excite Lethbridge, its officers, and its agents will not be held responsible or liable for any manner of loss or damage that may occur to property or persons during times of move-in, event, and move-out. Vendors are responsible for all their materials and should always take adequate security measures.

All food & beverage vendors must provide proof of insurance (“Certificate of Insurance”) as evidence that insurance is maintained for their booth, including comprehensive general liability and property damage with a minimum limit of $2,000,000.

The Certificate of Insurance must list ‘Excite Lethbridge’ as an additional insured.

Non-food and beverage vendors are strongly encouraged, but not required, to provide proof of insurance.

Deadline for insurance submission: July 30, 2026.

Invoices will be sent to all vendors upon application approval.

Credit card payments can be made by calling Finance at 403-328-4491, or in person at our reception office on the second floor of the Lethbridge Trade & Convention Centre (formerly the Agri-food Hub & Trade Centre) during regular office hours, Monday to Friday, 8 AM – 4:30 PM (closed over the noon hour).

Interac e-Transfers can be sent to payments@excitelethbridge.ca and cheques can be mailed to 101 Exhibition Way S, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 4R3.

For e-transfer and cheque payments, please include your booth name and the event (WUD Marketplace) for which the payment is submitted.

A $250 deposit is due within five business days of invoice issuance; booth space will not be held without a deposit and may be resold if it is not received.

All fees are due in full by July 23, 2026.

1. Eligibility for Refunds
   
   • If the vendor wishes to withdraw from the event before July 30, 2026, a partial refund may be issued, less an administrative fee of $250. 
   • No refunds will be issued for withdrawals after July 30, 2026
2. Requesting a Refund
   
   • Vendors must submit a refund request in writing to the event organizers. 
   • Refund requests should be made before July 30, 2026.
   • The refund request must include the vendor's name, contact information, and the reason for the request. 
3. Processing Refunds
   • Excite Lethbridge will review refund requests within 3 business days. 
   • Approved refunds will be issued using the original method of payment.

• Equipment and/or vehicle displays must be approved by show management or will be rejected on-site at move-in.

• Individuals operating equipment for set-up or display purposes must carry an insurance policy for a minimum of $2 million in liability and property damage coverage, must be able to present their operator’s license to Excite Lethbridge staff, and must wear hi-visibility vests while operating equipment.

• When equipment and/or vehicles are operating during move-in/out, all persons in the event space must wear hi-visibility vests and other appropriate PPE as designated by Excite Lethbridge staff.

• For equipment and display vehicles, ignition systems must be kept locked at all times. If locking is not possible, battery cables must be removed. Fuel levels in tanks or cylinders cannot be more than ¼ full and all such tanks or cylinders must be equipped with a lock-on fuel cap.

• As a standard safety procedure, a set of keys must remain on-site with Excite Lethbridge staff when a vehicle or equipment is left on-site overnight.

• Mats, drip trays, or poly sheeting must be placed on the floor under the engines and tires of all equipment or vehicles.

• Wet or muddy vehicles/equipment are not permitted in the venue. Operators are responsible for cleaning/drying before entering the venue.

• Washing vehicles/equipment inside the venue is not permitted. If washing is required outside, arrangements must be made in advance with the Marketplace Manager.

• Vehicles with studded tires are not permitted in the venue.

1. Vendors will not be permitted to select their location.

2. Vendors must attend the Marketplace for all the dates and hours outlined; partial attendance will not be considered.

3. Excite Lethbridge reserves the right to move booth placements, if required, up until the event move-in.

4. Vendors are to wait for approval of confirmation before contacting Excite Lethbridge to submit payment.

5. A $250 booth deposit must be received within five business days of receiving the invoice; otherwise, booth spaces will be released to waitlisted vendors.

6. Booths will not be held beyond the deposit deadline. Payment must be received in full by July 23, 2026, or booth spaces will be released to waitlisted vendors.

7. Vendors who are not checked in by 11 AM on August 18 will be considered a no-show and risk forfeiture of their booth space.

8. No refunds will be issued and booth space will be sold to waitlisted vendors.

9. Vendors must not sublet or share booth space with any other business or vendor.

10. Direct selling is only allowed within booth space.

11. Lotteries and 50/50 programs are not permitted.

12. No purchase-necessary draws are permitted but must take place within booth space.

13. Vendors must wear provided vendor badges in their booth.

14. Signage must be professionally printed, free-standing (no tacks, nails or tape may be used on walls or floors), no taller than 12 feet, and must remain within booth space.

15. Security will be in effect from move-in until the conclusion of move-out. Excite Lethbridge is not responsible for lost or stolen goods.

16. Parking is not included for vendors.

17. Camping is NOT permitted on-site.

18. Excite Lethbridge reserves the right to cancel booth space if vendors are breaking agreed-upon terms.

19. Vendors acknowledge that all rights, titles and interests in the video(s) and/or photograph(s) taken at the Whoop-Up Days Marketplace, being original works, belong to Excite Lethbridge for marketing purposes.

20. No vendor will have exclusive rights to products. Other vendors will be permitted to sell similar products. Price undercutting will not be permitted.

21. No threatening or aggressive behaviour toward Excite Lethbridge employees, contractors, security, members of the public, or other vendors will be tolerated.

22. No helium or propane cylinders are permitted in the Lethbridge Trade & Convention Centre.

23. Helium balloons are also not permitted within the facility.

24. No animals except certified service animals are permitted in the Lethbridge Trade & Convention Centre.

25. No smoking of cigarettes, vaping or marijuana is permitted inside the Lethbridge Trade & Convention Centre.

26. Forklifts will be available on-site for move-in hours. Forklift and material handling services are to be arranged through Global Convention Services.

27. All food and/or beverage vendors must comply with the Alberta Health Services Food Safety Regulations.

28. All personal service vendors (face paint/makeup, temporary tattoos, Henna, etc.) must comply with Alberta Health Services Regulations and must submit a Temporary Personal Services Vendor Notification to both Excite Lethbridge and AHS.

29. Excite Lethbridge may at any time, at its discretion, remove the vendor, and/or its employees/volunteers from campus for any violation of this contract.

30. No sale of weapons (knives, swords, blades, guns etc.) will be permitted at the Whoop-Up Days Marketplace.

31. All Vendors must enter the venue via the back-of-house loading zone. Load-in/out through the main entrances of the venue is NOT permitted.

32. For load-in/out, vehicles must enter the loading zone via the north parking lot and immediately move their vehicles once unloaded.

33. Vehicles are NOT permitted to drive into the venue to unload. Display vehicles and equipment are an exception and must be approved by Marketplace Manager in advance or will be rejected on-site at move-in.

34. Equipment, carts, pallet jacks, etc. are not permitted in the event space until the guests have cleared the space.

35. Vehicles are not permitted to park in the loading zone; this area is strictly for unloading.

36. Children 15 years or under are not permitted to enter the back-of-house corridor without adult supervision.

37. Under no circumstances can anyone other than Excite Lethbridge staff make electrical service connections or repairs.

38. Electrical cords will not be provided by Excite Lethbridge. Vendors must provide their extension cords, as the power may not be located directly within reach of their booth.

39. Electrical cords must be organized and properly covered so as not to present a tripping hazard.

40. The only tape permitted to be used on the floor, walls, and other surfaces of the venue is gaffer’s tape. All other kinds of tape, tacks, nails, screws, and other items that may cause damage are NOT permitted.

41. Excite Lethbridge and Marketplace staff and management reserve the right to remove any inappropriate or indecent items from booth spaces at any time.

42. Items or displays promoting gang affiliations or any form of hate speech will not be tolerated.

Application Submission

This entry is subject and bound to all Whoop-Up Days Marketplace Terms & Conditions. The applicant, having read application and Terms & Conditions understands they form part of this contract, as entered into with Excite Lethbridge.

Please note that participation in previous markets does not guarantee acceptance into future events. Excite Lethbridge reserves the right to deny any vendor application at its sole discretion, without obligation to provide an explanation.

Application approvals may take up to two weeks. You will receive an email notifying you of your application status—approved, denied, or waitlisted.

For any questions, please contact whoopupdays@excitelethbridge.ca