I wasn't able to attend this year, however there were a few people on last fridays free for all that complained about the price of it all.
I made a comment about the prices being high because of the fact that Westcoast amusements uses diesel fuel and gasoline to bring the show to them but some didn't really understand what I was saying.
The PNE and the SanDiego Zoo are stationary amusements that don't require trucks and trailers and thousands of liters of fuel to get their shows to the public. Thats why our EX is EXpensive.
Cause it costs a lot of money for fuel for them to get their show to you.

To all the naysayers out there who feel compelled to compare the PGX with the PNE;
The reported success of this years' fair says it all. Thirty eight thousand people, same as last year, not bad for a fair that is only around for a few days a year.
The PNE, as lostfaith says, is generally not a mobile affair, and it is in operation for months, with many many more vendors who are all paying rent and probably percentages of sales, compared to ours, which is temporary, and has only a few paying vendors. Those people comparing price based value PGX to PNE should just skip our hometown fair, really, don't bother supporting local enterprise, and go ahead, drive or fly to Vancouver, get a hotel room, probably go shopping, but definitely save lots of money going to
"the superior" exhibition. yeah, much better value for the money, uhuh.
metalman.

I hear what you're saying - and I am certainly not bashing our local fair. What I am saying is: for a child - $50 minimun to go and stand in line all day. Rip off. If they were interested in the displays and the rest of the stuff geared toward the adult crowd, perhaps it would be great value, but for a child, it is a rip off. Kids want to ride - plain and simple. So - why not make the armbands more affordable? Multiply that by 3 children and it is not affordable for the average family. Just my opinion.

IMHO I think that the $25 armband is not expensive, my son wants to be there as soon as the fair opens and we usually leave around 6pm and he is on every ride he can get on as many times as possible and standing in line is not a problem for him, and as for the food I state that we are only spending $25 on food for the day and I pack snacks with us when we go!!

Love the PGX!!!

can't wait for next year!!

Posted by: singlemom on August 20 2008 9:04 AM
I hear what you're saying - and I am certainly not bashing our local fair. What I am saying is: for a child - $50 minimun to go and stand in line all day. Rip off. If they were interested in the displays and the rest of the stuff geared toward the adult crowd, perhaps it would be great value, but for a child, it is a rip off. Kids want to ride - plain and simple. So - why not make the armbands more affordable? Multiply that by 3 children and it is not affordable for the average family. Just my opinion.
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You don't see any connection between the price of fuel to deliver all those kids attractions right to your door and the prices that are charged for people to use these attractions?

Westcoast Amusements doesn't bring the fair to town for free. I sure wouldn't want to pay their fuel bill.

Unfortunatly the price of fuel is causing everything to rise in price.
There are many things I used to do that I can no longer afford to do because of the price of fuel.
That fact is going to cause many people their jobs because people are no longer able to buy what they used to.

Bottom line is, if the fair is to expensive then I suppose you will have to find something else to do thats cheaper.

Should read...That fact is going to cause many people to lose their jobs because people are no longer able to buy what they used to.

Armbands were $30. Add $10 admission. And $25 for food? That's $65. Multiply by 3. It's not affordable. I set a limit of $10 for food, each. Period. still $150, not including adults.

Perhaps most don't think it is a "rip off" and maybe my words are too harsh. I'm sure the expense of brining the fair to PG is a contributing factor. I still believe, however, that an average family cannot afford $200 for a day at the fair. if you can afford it, great. Enjoy.

I would like to know what the deal is with the "advance purchase" of the armbands. Why is it that they are $5 cheaper if purchased a week in advance? Does someone kick in the difference? I just wonder why the price jacked up to $30 on the day of the fair?

"I would like to know what the deal is with the "advance purchase" of the armbands. Why is it that they are $5 cheaper if purchased a week in advance? Does someone kick in the difference? I just wonder why the price jacked up to $30 on the day of the fair?"

If you haven't noticed, this happens all the time with ticket sales. The promoters want to drum up interest and not have to rely purely on the day of the event. It gives people a little incentive to pre-purchase their tickets.

As many have noted, the price of everything has gone up. If you can't afford it, go every second year.

Hi singlemom, sorry, I do not intend to criticize anyone personally, my contention is that we have this local fair that is largely run on volunteer power (correct?)
and that local industry should be supported. I know that some folks will refrain from purchasing their eats at the fair, eat before and/or bring their own. Of course it can be difficult when the kids want to have 'fair' food. Prepurchasing armbands is a good idea, I did not know that option was available.
metalman.

If one can afford to support local industry, then one should do so - I'm all for that.
Don't get me wrong here - I used to go to the PGX faithfully, year after year when my children were very young. It was a bit more manageable due to the fact that kids would get in free on one of the days and I was blessed enough at that time to be able to be a stay at home mom, so it being a weekday didn't matter, and yes, we packed our food. We would all spend our time standing in line, and that was ok - they had a blast and it cost me $15 each child (wrist bands - purchased in advance) and my own admission fee. It was affordable. Now the youth (over age 12) are considered adults and charged as such. The prices for wrist bands has skyrocketed. I cannot take them on the "free kids" day since I no longer have the benefit of being a stay at home mom, and 2 of my children no longer qualify as being "kids".
I understand the cost of everything has been going up and the end result being higher prices for consumers. It makes sense and I don't dispute that.
The bottom line is that it costs an average family $150 just to walk in the door and allow their 3 kids to ride. It's just my humble opinion that I think it is too expensive. This is not to say we will never go. If we have that money laying around, sure. The kids love it.