Ex-penses taking a bite out of customers’ wallets

People going to the Queen City Ex are leaving with their wallets feeling lighter. With an increase in costs, many will spend more money for the same items this year.

Alysia Czmuchalek was on the exhibition grounds Thursday along with her kids. She said to take her family of five to the carnival for the day took a big bite out of her wallet.

“We are spending way too much,” said Czmuchalek. “It’s more expensive for sure.”

Czmuchalek and her kids competed in the carnival game Wack-A-Mole. Players typically walk away with a prize, but the price to play has gone up. The price to play in previous years was $5, but that has now doubled to $10.

Including other expenses like entrance fees, tasty treats and ride tickets, Czmuchalek said it will add up to a $300 in total at the end of the day.

Despite the hefty price tag, Czmuchalek said the fun is worth the cost.

“It’s worth the experience to actually do something again,” she said.

For Bailey Morris, it was shocking seeing how much it cost to take her three-year-old to the fair for the day.

Morris said she never expected costs to be this high. Despite her child attending for free, Morris and her partner spent $14 each on early admission to get into the park.

“After buying ride tickets and food, it will be at least $200 to $300,” she said.

Morris said they will play lots of carnival games to make sure her daughter walks away with a stuffed animal.

Carnival barker Chuck said he has not lost any customers, despite the prices going up.

“If you have got enough money for gas, you’ve got enough money to play,” he said.

Chuck has been barking for seven years, and said these are the highest costs for games he’s seen yet. But despite the prices going up, he still said every game played will have at least one player walk away with a prize.

Shane Grassing said he has never seen costs this high in all the years he and his family have come to the exhibition.

“It seems like its way more expensive, and I just got here,” he said. “I’ve got four kids, and its $200 just to get in the door with the day passes and everything.”

Grassing said by the time he pays for food, games and rides the total bill will probably be well over $400.

Grassing’s kids, on the other hand, said they were glad to spend their dad’s money this weekend.