ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. -
The price of taking your family to the fair is going up. This story had a lot of folks talking on our Facebook page, people wondering how families can afford the rising costs. Fox 44's Brittney Hibbs breaks down the numbers to find out just how much this is going to cost you.
The 10 day festival will go up from 10 dollars for adults to 12 dollars with kids pricing staying the same. But it's a price some families say they just can't afford. Fuel prices are getting the blame and it's costing more to bring in acts and entertainment this year.
In one month, thousands of folks will line up to attend the fair in Essex Junction. But this year it's going to cost a little bit more to get through the gates.
"Five dollars for kids and 12 dollars for adults," said Tim Shea, Executive Director, for the Champlain Exposition.
A two dollar increase on adult tickets, a price mom, Ashley Parah, calls ridiculous, "It's hard enough on families as it is, to raise the ticket prices two dollars."
I wanted to find out just how much it would cost a typical family of four to attend this year's fair, here's what I found:
Let's say the Johnson's have two kids over the age of five and it's five dollars a car to park. Of course you'll each get a corn dog and each want a drink to wash it down. Let's not forget fried dough, everyone can find room for that!
Plus, as Ashley puts it the kids will be begging to go on a couple rides, "I want to do this. They are doing that. Can I? Can I? Can I?"
Add it all up and for a day at the fair you are looking at a grand total of $108 dollars.
"That's a whole week of groceries right there."
But as Shea puts it, "The prices to go into the movies, area attractions and local water parks we feel we are right in line and competitive and quite honestly a great value."
Great value or not, it's a price Ashely isn't willing to spend on one day, "It's definitely too expensive this year to go."
Now one thing you can do is buy discounted tickets the week before the fair at the box office to get 25 % off ticket prices.
