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AIBU?

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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:
Randomthoughts992 · 21/08/2022 09:47

That is expensive ! I think £3 pp max or £5 pp but Kids free is okay but 5 PP is silly

SpiderinaWingMirror · 21/08/2022 09:47

Jeez. I thought fetes were just annual community events.
Mind you, we went to a village fete last week. Dh went off to get some honey. Didn't get any £8 a jar!

CeeJay81 · 21/08/2022 09:54

I agree that's ridiculous just for entry. I found the prices ridiculous at our local carnival which is on every year(except during pandemic). It was £4 for 5 slides down the inflatable slide! and £3 for one of those large lollipops you get at fairs. You dont have entry fee though, so you aren't forced to pay it. I'd never pay £20 just to get in unless it included a drink and snack.

Sunnyqueen · 21/08/2022 09:54

I've never been to a summer fete that's charged entry I don't think. You pay on the various attractions, food tents etc. Maybe it's simply because it's at a touristy type place they try take the piss a little bit?

NoSquirrels · 21/08/2022 10:03

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?

The procession through the streets is free, then on the carnival field it’s all the stalls, displays, competitions etc. In the day time it’s family oriented and in the evening it’s live bands and street food etc. Usually 12 noon til gone midnight. It’s honestly worth a fiver per person!

Arbesque · 21/08/2022 10:05

Perhaps the low participation rate will make them rethink their strategy for next year.

Otherwise they're going to ruin a lovely village tradition with their greed.

5foot5 · 21/08/2022 10:06

If there was some entertainment provided as part of the price then it could be justified I suppose. But only if there was sufficient entertainment to keep you entertained for at least an hour. If the only entertainment was looking at stalls where you had to spend more money then that is ridiculous.

AssignedSlytherinAtBirth · 21/08/2022 10:12

There are several village fetes round here and it's usually been free or 20p or 50p entry, but one last weekend was £2, which seemed expensive. The school fete was free - local gymnasts, judo demos, choir etc, and presumably the band didn't charge either, but the barbecue food seemed expensive so presumably that's where they made their money. Cakes (donated) were 50p each. Good value!

Antarcticant · 21/08/2022 10:17

There seems to be a growing trend for this - and you can't really see what's on offer before you pay the fiver. I give them a miss. They may be losing money in the long run as I might have spent more than £5 had I visited, but I am not risking £5 and it turns out to be crap.

RaininSummer · 21/08/2022 10:18

I never go to these craft fairs and vintage fairs that charge entry as I find you are paying for nothing. If they want people to come in to look at their stuff and maybe buy something than don't charge a cheeky entry fee

LynetteScavo · 21/08/2022 10:23

I think paying to get in to the fete is silly- unless it's £1 and you get a raffle ticket.

Around here fetes are free, but it's a brave person who wins anything if they're "not from the village".

BeggarsMeddle · 21/08/2022 10:31

I know it's a different set up but the commercial fair which set on the park near us charged £12 per adult for entry. Not sure if there were further charges for rides once inside. It was not well attended. Visitors were sparse. I think they shot themselves in the foot because who wants to wander around highly visible and not lost in a crowd.

And in my experience there's always a bit of a buzz in the air when it's busy and the crowd is happy and entertained and hasn't had to pay through the nose to get in.

mondaytosunday · 21/08/2022 10:44

Not if it's just a bunch of tables selling stuff. If it's a fair with rides maybe.

transformandriseup · 21/08/2022 10:52

£20 is more than what we would spend at a village fete altogether so we wouldn't have been able to have bought anything when we got there.

There was a mini comic con type event on locally and it was £10 per ticket just to get in. I have been there before and it is great but can no longer justify the cost just to look around before we have bought anything.

PinkiOcelot · 21/08/2022 13:35

I wouldn’t have paid either. £20 before you even start. Don’t think so.

roarfeckingroarr · 21/08/2022 17:05

Sounds cheap to me

Antarcticant · 21/08/2022 17:57

roarfeckingroarr · 21/08/2022 17:05

Sounds cheap to me

Gosh, you must be really rich!

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