Breaking down the cost for KDays, Taste of Edmonton

It's festival season and the costs can add up, driving people away, but organizers are offering options for people looking to get the best bang for their buck.

Stepping foot outside can run you a few dollars these days, and that’s no exception in the festival city.

Events like KDays and Taste of Edmonton are in full swing. While getting through the doors can be expensive, organizers are increasingly offering budget-conscious options.

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“You expect it now, pretty much anywhere you go everything’s pretty expensive,” said one festivalgoer earlier this week. “Yeah, you’re kind of prepared to spend the big bucks when you come to places like this.”

To drive to KDays, parking is $20. If you choose to not drive, general admission for an adult is still $18.

That’s just to get in, though. The food, games and rides are a different choose-your-own-adventure story.

Between admission, parking, games and food, our CTV News Edmonton’s Jeremy Thompson went out and spent $150.

That being said, the fair offered 5,000 free admissions on opening day. There have also been special “value” days where a city leisure pass, library or transit card acts as admission.

KDays also partners with local restaurants, which Explore Edmonton media relations manager Ziyah Karmali said allows patrons to purchase a product they need or want and receive complimentary KDays admission in return.

“We’ve really put a focus on accessibility this year … we’ve really put a strong focus on making sure that everybody gets in, and that cost isn’t a barrier this year,” Karmali said.

Once inside, most of the carnival games are $10 per play. Then there are the ticket packs to get onto the rides.

While there are cheaper options, many of the big rides cost 15 tickets – so the best bang for your buck, said one festivalgoer, is the all-day pass that comes with a $73 wrist band.

She managed to get multi-day passes at Costco for cheap.

“I think people know that when they come to the fair, they kind of have a budget, just like when you’re going to a hockey game or when you’re going to a football game … you kind of have allocated fun there,” Karmali said.

To keep rides, vendors and artists fairly paid, Karmali said big attractions like these do have to keep generating revenue.

Food is also a major attraction at both KDays and Taste of Edmonton, of course, and the bill can get steep quickly.

“It’s expensive, but everything is expensive,” said another festivalgoer who had spent $130 on food at KDays.

There are, of course, ways to economize if you’re not looking to spend a day, well, spending.

Nightly concerts and fireworks shows come with admission to KDays, and there are exhibits that offer free events and activities within the Expo Centre.

Admission to Taste of Edmonton is free, but you pay for food and drinks once inside. The cost then depends on how much you want to try – and there are a lot of options as Churchill Square is home to more than 50 restaurants, a kids area, beer and spirits garden and a craft market until Sunday.

There are more than 200 items on the menu this year.

Items from vendors range from two tickets to five - and while one ticket is only $2, bulk buying up to 40 tickets might be the most economic move for the avid foodie, as it costs about $70 to do so.

While the tickets can rack up quickly, the performing artists taking the stage are free to attend.

One attendee said the cost is understandable to him when thinking about the need to support companies and artists.

“It’s a little bit high, but that’s to be expected for a sort of festival like this. The food’s really good, so I’d say it’s worth it,” he said.

Both Taste of Edmonton and KDays run until Sunday.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Jeremy Thompson and Marek Tkach