Whoop-T-Do a smashing success
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Lisa Dell’Amore
Iowa Park Journal
Every city worth its salt has a festival. Or a fair. Maybe a county fair. Or a state fair. But not many have a Whoop-T-Do.
Iowa Park welcomed its 52nd Whoop-T-Do last Saturday complete with food, football tossing, face painting, and axe-throwing. That’s right, axe-throwing. Jennifer Lopez, owner of Viking Axe Throwing in Wichita Falls, said the public at Whoop -T-Do has been hurling axes at targets for two years. Her youngest contenders are 10 to 12 years old.
Iowa Park Chamber of Commerce member and organizer of Whoop-T-Do, Matthew Cooper, estimated 1,500 people ambled their way through the crowd at the annual event on October 19th.
“It was the biggest crowd we ever had,” said Cooper, who has been involved in the Whoop-T-Do planning since 2022. “We had a good turnout last year (but) we had the most vendors we ever had, “ (this year), “Cooper explained, with over 100 different sales booths this year.
Cooper also originated the first Whoop-T-Do Dash, a 5k Run at this year’s Whoop-T-Do. Proceeds from the run benefit the Iowa Park Volunteer Fire Department and the Animal Reclaim Center in Iowa Park.
Kenneth Via, also a Chamber member, kept the train rides running smoothly despite a change in the original route.
“Instead of going down Park Avenue, we went down Bank Street, one block north,” Via said, so as not to upset those visitors on the main artery.
Via reported 230 children and 128 adults took the four to six-minute train ride at Whoop-T-Do last week.
Musical entertainment was provided by Joe Cortez, master musical mixer and owner of Hawk Nutrition in Iowa Park. Cortez provided the music for local dancers from Defining Moments performing hip-hop and jazz routines.
Emma Williams, 11, of Iowa Park, participated in her first public appearance Whoop-T-Do this year. She recognized how important dance has become in her life.
“Love yourself,” she urged others, “because I know how it feels to think that you’re not good enough for anyone. It (dance) makes me love myself even when I mess up.”
First time vendors at this year’s Whoop-T-Do, sister-in-laws Brandi Theurer and Mary Theurer of Sweet Southern Sisters in Burkburnett, were elated at the turn-out.
“It’s busier than I thought it would be,” said Brandi Theurer, who, with Mary, creates wooden door hangers, car decals, and car freshies.
Cooper said all 107 vendors at the 2024 Whoop-T-Do were thrilled with the success of the event.
“I just appreciate the community support year-in and year-out and we’re going to strive to make this boost local commerces and businesses,” Cooper asserted.
Lilly Walker, 8, of Iowa Park, takes a hammer to her parent’s 2009 Kia during the car smashing at Whoop-T-Do last Saturday. Christina Walker, Lilly’s mother, said she and her husband, Cameron, decided to offer their car for the annual event after the car’s transmission blew.
Lisa Dell’ Amore/
Iowa Park Journal
