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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think £5pp is ridiculous to charge for entry to a summer fete?

42 replies

5FootMama · 21/08/2022 09:09

We were on holiday the other day, and having an amble around a small town, and saw there was a summer fête on in the green. So we went over, saw it was a bit quiet, bit assumed it's because it was just about 45m after opening. We got to the entrance to find they wanted £5 per person to go in Shock

It didn't "include" anything like a drink or a go in a ride etc. Just literally pay to gonoast the table.

We didn't go!

AIBU to think it was way too much? We'd pay around £2pp normally.

OP posts:
NoSquirrels · 21/08/2022 09:12

Local carnival by us is £5 per adult, kids free. It’s a brilliant day out - you get nothing extra for that price (free car parking though, I suppose) but I’m always happy to pay it. They do loads of exhibition events like dog tricks team, fire brigade demos, chainsaw axe sculpting & what have you alongside the stalls and activities.

Ilovemycatalot · 21/08/2022 09:13

If it’s a simple fete type think then it’s taking the piss and people should of walked away.

Arbesque · 21/08/2022 09:14

So 20 quid for 2 parents with 2 children? Yes that sounds ridiculous. No wonder it was quiet.

PutinIsAWarCriminal · 21/08/2022 09:14

They are quite expensive to set up.

Bananarama21 · 21/08/2022 09:14

That's where it was so quite they shot themselves in the foot there.

CruCru · 21/08/2022 09:15

What was it for? Most summer fetes are to raise money for a good cause. I’d expect to pay a fiver per adult and have children go free.

Longdistance · 21/08/2022 09:15

I went to a pub last week and they wanted £7 per person to enter their garden for some carnival they were having. The singer was way off key and I’m sure the campers appreciated all the noise. We just went inside the pub for a drink instead.

womaninatightspot · 21/08/2022 09:15

£5 seems a lot. I’ve paid £6 a head but it’s included unlimited bouncy castle for kids and a drink for adults. I don’t think it takes much to make it more appealing.

Plumbear2 · 21/08/2022 09:15

I wouldn't. I would normally only spend £5 maximum anyway at the moment. £5 just for entry is far to much.

Arbesque · 21/08/2022 09:16

I've never paid an entry fee to a garden fete. The money is raised at the stalls, refreshments area, selling raffle tickets etc

Original poster
5FootMama · 21/08/2022 09:16

CruCru · 21/08/2022 09:15

What was it for? Most summer fetes are to raise money for a good cause. I’d expect to pay a fiver per adult and have children go free.

No mention of raising money for anything.

OP posts:
Fuckitydoodah · 21/08/2022 09:17

I've never ever paid to go into a fete or even heard of this being a thing. Surely the point is people turning up and spending their money at the various stalls and usually the stallholders pay a fee to be there. I wouldn't pay £20 for the four of us to go in and then have the kids pestering me to spend more money on refreshments and tat.

Pebblebeach15 · 21/08/2022 09:18

£20 for the average family is way too much ! That would be a no from me. Around here is is either free for the smaller ones or if they are bigger with a portaloo a few quod for adults and kids go in free . In that case you don’t mind as you are paying for the facilities .

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 21/08/2022 09:22

YABNU. OTT price. As a previous poster said no wonder it was so quiet.

In my village and the three or four surrounding villages - we have had summer fetes over the last three months - none of which charged anything to get in ...so I find it really odd that anyone is charging anything be honest with you.

Also a carnival.. I've never known anybody be charged to enter a carnival like a previous poster said .. who charges people to go to a carnival? it's just a procession through the streets isn't it?

SpinCityBlues · 21/08/2022 09:22

Our church fayre business model is:

1 Free entry, but smiling tin rattlers at every gate;
2 Stall holders pay for their pitches (some pay quite a lot, eg the beer tent);
3 A small arena with entertainment from local talent, most of whom provide it for free to showcase their lovely dancing and jumping about to music (I think Mr Punch and Judy gets a fee):
4 Small grant from the local council and/or they sort the rubbish out.

Everybody happy. Any profits - which there are - go the church charity which is a homeless project.

I can hear the church bells ringing now.

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 21/08/2022 09:22

YABNU should be YANBU!

SpinCityBlues · 21/08/2022 09:24

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 21/08/2022 09:22

YABNU should be YANBU!

I wonder what the Yoda version would be. NUYAB?

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 21/08/2022 09:25

That’s crazy. It would cost us £25 just to get in and then I couldn’t afford to spend anything in there!

Discovereads · 21/08/2022 09:29

Just went to one last weekend at a stately home and it was £5 entry as it was a fundraiser for charity. I was fairly big and had plenty of stalls with goods and food to sell. Ice cream van as well. From what I have seen the fetes that charge tend to have higher quality stuff at the stalls.

fufflecake · 21/08/2022 09:33

Seems a very odd business model

JaceLancs · 21/08/2022 09:38

I work for a charity for similar events we charge £1 and children go free
we don’t charge for drinks just a donation (people actually give more sometimes)
Then they have plenty left to spend on the stalls, games and competitions

zingally · 21/08/2022 09:43

I'd have said, "You've got a decimal point in the wrong place, surely?!" laughed in their faces and walked off!
£5 per person is a joke!

I'm on the village fete committee for the village where my mum lives. We charge 50p per adult, and kids are free.

PuttingDownRoots · 21/08/2022 09:43

It was our Village Fair yesterday.
Free parking, free entry, and the competitions were free to enter (a "local" business sponsors the rosettes, its an international company but HQ in the village).

The Scouts run the tea and cake stand
The pub sells booze
Local craft businesses have stalls they pay for
A few rides etc, that you pay for.

Popular and a good afternoon out.

Favouritefruits · 21/08/2022 09:44

£5pp for a fate! No wonder you didn’t pay it! I get annoyed at 50p to enter the local car boot!

milkysmum · 21/08/2022 09:44

Our school fair this year was £5 entry for children, £8 for adults- couldn't believe it!