Sandman, AirFEST did not deny Navy or Marine recruiters, they were contacted very early on. Also, you call Wisconsin Aviation Academy "feel good aviation academy", please come out and let us give you a tour and put faces to the names of the many, many students both rich & poor who have went through, received their private pilot license and continued on to an Aviation college, doing something they never would have dreamed of doing prior to the academy. It is a career builder, not a "feel-good" academy. We'd be happy to give you the tour.

Setinmyways, AirFEST did not set the prices at the concessions stands, the concessionaire did. As with any type of sporting event, concert, or professional act, prices are always up more that you could buy them at a retail outlet.

Prices to AirFEST were left the same as last year as the recession in our area has not lifted at all. We also offered Free parking for those who purchased online. Each year we try to improve in areas that were a problem the year before. We put a lot of time, energy, blood, sweat & tears into this show and we try to make it fair to all. Our apologies if someone didn't like it, thought it was too expensive, had trouble parking, waited too long, or was disappointed the balloon glow didn't happen (too windy, must be 5 knots or less).

We appreciate & Thank all the many volunteers who sacrificed their holiday weekend to spend it with us in 90 degree temps, never getting out of the sun and working tirelessly! Bless you.

a little word of advice from this "old guy" to "justaguy":

A person once told me, and i believe its very true...Everytime you leave the house you are either making money or spending money.

Again in the grand scheme of things $3 for a bottle of water should be NBD. You can't take your money with you when you die, so might as well enjoy it along the way, that is why even though i shouldn't go to restaurants as often as i do, i do, because i would rather be in debt longer, but enjoy life along the way, then to be a tightwad about spending a cent, and miss out on opportunities along the way.

Hopefully someday "justaguy" you will be able to live a truly freeing life, like i do, and not sweat spending $3 on a water or anything else.

Cheers!

The solution is to have one or two of the buffet joints set up in the hangers. Put big screens up on the walls showing past air shows and the peasants will be happy.

It was the best $3 water on a hot day you'll ever enjoy!! I saw a kid not finish the water and toss it in the trash and Gma said nothing!!
THAT I have more of a problem with.

macdaddy: When people feel the need to change someone's name it shows how childish they are and you pass that test with flying colors. You talk a big talk on the blog and that shows your immaturity, you pass that test as well. Grow up and get a life, if I don't like the prices charged that's my business ... being able to afford a $3 bottle of water and being stupid enought to think that's ok to pay aren't the same ... I think i know where you fall in that case .. again, grow up stop being somebody's fool.

For once Macdaddy makes some sense.
I never did see the reason to pay ticket prices for pro games, not when I
can watch school kids play a good game. Pro sports are more like a wealthy circus performance. Only problem is some would pay $100's to watch a game, while their kids need a decent meal.
It all depends on you priorities, in these times of "needy and greedy".

I think the air show is great! But I agree on the prices of water and food. Water should never be more then a buck, why? Because it`s still shocking that anyone pays for it anywhere! lol.. With the food- they would sell so MUCH MORE if it was cheaper. Maybe the air show needs to sell the vendor spots much cheaper. This show is great for the area, however what seems to be forgotten is half if not more of this area are out of jobs. Thumbs up to the show- thumbs down to the ridiculous price for concessions!!

I have never went and have never had no desire to go. My daughters family wanted to go (2 adults, 3 kids), yeah, right!!! Admission, feeding them, drinks, that is stupidity if you ask me. I live on the southside and so does my daughter, could just sit outside and watch and had all the food and drink we wanted. This is why people around here are not going to pay those prices very often, NO ONE HAS THE MONEY!!! Wait til the fair opens, i'll also bet there is low attendance. If me and grandpa could have paid, we would have. 2 years ago, took one grandchild to the House on the Rock and didn't spend half of this even with gas, spent the whole day and ate out twice!!! JMO

Macdaddy- Idon't mind the overpriced if the food was GOOD!

seriously "justaguy" have you ever been to another sporting event???

you can't take liquids into airports anymore, let alone stadiums!

If they raised the ticket prices to $40 and let you bring in your water, would you complain less?

GROW up and maybe someda you can be "justaMAN", who can afford a $3 water. Its really not that big of a deal. Again, compared to Disney, Kalahari, Great America and many other places i have been that is DIRT CHEAP. And those are all family-orientated places i just named.

Again, if you don't have the money, then don't leave home. Nobody was forcing you to go.

Frogger, the wagons were provided for free to the airshow because they did not want to spend money on buses, the group running them decided not to do it this year. It was funny how that group was bad-mouthed on the radio by the new show director.
The food and water stands are run by the airshow, prices are set by the airshow. Non-profit clubs staff the booths for a small percentage of sales.
most of the help is all volunteer, as in free. kudo's to them
Tickets are expensive, but the show is nice. I went to it a couple of times, just not that into it for the cost. Always reasons attendance isn't what hoped for, maybe they need to look inward for answers, most were given in this forum.

Tightwad and being over charged are two way diff. things. They wouldn't let us in with our bottled water, we either had to drink it up or toss it before we could enter, who's talking tight? it was over 90 degrees and I had a 9 yr old kid with me and they told us to get rid of our water? Sorry pal but that doesn't sound very professional to me. I'm begining to think maybe you were behind one of those water stands. Someone like you won't tell me not to go to an advent if I don't like the prices, I feel sorry for the people who can't go bcuz the cost is what they pay for a week of food to feed their kids. You have me wondering, do you know "thejoker" by chance? Get off your high horse.

i think they could charge more and that would be alright. YOU need to get in line with what prices are when you go to a special event.

Heck you want to talk about a racket, complain about UW Badger prices, they charge how much for tickets, concessions are even higher ($6 for a brat, $4 waters, $3 for candy, etc) and the people playing the sports aren't even paid a dime. At least you have to consider the costs to bring in these professionals.

Again, as i said before, if you don't want to pay, then DON'T GO. No one is forcing people to go or take their whole family. If you ask me this is incredibly cheap compared to going to a waterpark with the family the Zoo in Milwaukee or many other places.

Too many people are tightwads in Janesville and it is killing the entire local economy one business at a time.

macdaddy: Spending big boy money and spending over charged money are way two diff. things, if you want to be stupid and get took I guess that's up to you. I have no problem spending big boy money but not dumb money, I think it's you who needs to grow up fool, JMO. As I said when I went to the show it was good and I enjoyed it with my son but to let the stands sell way over charged prices for food and water that's a whole diff. story ... so wise up.

I took my son a few years back, show was good but went broke on the food and water costs. It's a shame they let them charge so much and wasn't allowed to bring your own water to the show.

"Hundreds and hundreds of thousands of taxpayers' federal tax dollars worth of personnel, fuel, parts and maintenance/repairs thrown away on entertainment (not to mention the air pollution generated over the three-day event)"

I would rather see my tax payer dollars spent to see our air force pilots who defend (and have defended) our freedom than see BILLIONS wasted on companies like GM and Bank of Amercia who have no shame on distributing millions as bonus money.

$6 for a brat (in WI)?! No free water hydration stations...in 90-degree hot sun weather?! Same old whoosh-whoosh, boom-boom (regardless of what "team" is headlining)?! Hundreds and hundreds of thousands of taxpayers' federal tax dollars worth of personnel, fuel, parts and maintenance/repairs thrown away on entertainment (not to mention the air pollution generated over the three-day event)--while soldiers die in the the Middle East and Asia and we bleed oil in the Gulf of Mexico, destroying that once beautiful and fertile area?! And all to fund some feel-good local aviation academy? SHAME ON US!

have any of you been to a sporting event outside of Rock County??

Beer prices and concessions prices are WAY higher at both Miller Park & Lambeau. If you are going to an event, expect to pay, otherwise go to a local park and watch for free with your own beverage.

Regardless, quit complaining. 40,000 people is less than 50,000, but i doubt the price of food kept 10,000 people from going. There were other determining factors, like ITS A HOLIDAY and some people vacation other places than Janesville! (hard to imagine people considering this place a vacation destination)

Grow up and spend big boy money, if you want to do big boy things!

How about a good job or a thank you to the people that went out of thier way to make it happen.

As a family we have attended many air show across the country, AirFest has a long way to go to be considered on a par with most of them. Although their ticket and concession prices are right up there with the most expensive shows. The acts they contract are very good but they have few static displays to go along with them and little else to offer.
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This year they even denied the Navy and Marine recruiters they opportunity to set up displays. Rather ironic considering the Thunderbirds are considered one of the military's be recruiting tools
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It's really too bad, a show like this can draw a lot of folks from outside of the area and really give the local economy a boost.

Anyone who believes that huge events like this will see a jump in attendance is fooling themselves with the current status of the local economy. When you look at all the factors....price of ticket, price of food/drink, etc. you are talking about a big chunk of change, especially for larger families. And not to be a debbie downer, but at some point seeing planes do tricks gets old. If you have gone two years in a row and money is tight, going to the 2010 Airfest is not a priority.

What me and my wife notice, they don't look or make you take your chair out of the bag. We would stuff water,soda,and what else we figure we would need. Six chairs alot of stuff and alot of savings also.

There were definately more people in the general VIP tent on Saturday this year. It was packed. Unfortunately, all but one or two of the tables were "reserved" by businesses for some reason, so regular folks had no place to eat their food. There weren't even enough chairs. $50/ticket and no place to sit at a table? No thanks.

Your right disneygirl, we were allowed to bring in a few bottles of water and security did a very lackluster job of checking bags. This was our first year so we did learn a few things:
1. you can bring in some water
2. no need to get there really early to get a good spot...most of the show is in the air so who cares if your not right up agaisnt the fence?
3. bring an umbrella to create some shade

I talked to one vendor who told me his spot (small) cost him 1500.00 +37% of sales per day. We spent $25.00 or so on 1 ice cream cone, 1 brat, and a diet soda. We brought water in for our daughter and did not get any trouble. However my backpack has about 20 openings and the bag checker took a look at it and sent me on my way. Little tip for next year! Went Friday night, no balloon glow not sure why it did not happen, too windy?
Glad to have such a show in Janesville. I always get goosebumps when the big boys fly.

I think people need to relax a bit. The prices for tickets are not too bad if you plan ahead and buy the tickets online. This was the first year we actually went to the airfest instead of parking and watching the show. We had a good time and it was worth it. I agree that food was a little pricey but its a fundraiser. I was disappointed that the web site did say no coolers were allowed but I did see a few there....how did they get them in? People should be allowed to bring in coolers.

I would have to agree on the food prices, good grief. 2 hot dogs for my dad and I was 8 bucks! and the water...they could sell water for a dollar a bottle and still make money. The price of the tickets was very reasonable for the show that was put on, but the food prices were an outrage.

I went one time a few years ago and after standing in the hot sun on an even hotter tarmac for several hours we all needed a lot of water. After paying the $4.00 for a tiny bottle of water for everyone I promised I would never go again. The prices for the food were outrageous as well. That's the reason I don't go to fairs either. Call me cheap if you want, but I don't like getting taken advantage of.

I quit going for good after paying like 8 bucks for a soda and a water. I understand making a profit but rip me off once shame on you, rip me off again shame on me. I'm done.

Yes the recession in Rock County is hurting everyone. Even the beer sales was way down this year as people where cutting back expenses. Beer prices where in line with the local bars. $3.00 for a 14oz cup. Was told that Saturdays sales where down by at least 7 barrels from last year. Never got to see the air show, was it any good? To busy selling beer.

Weird, I figured it would be huge with both teams there.

All was great except the turkey bacon wraps NASTY!!

Iceys were great stuff- VERY pricey though.

Realsw- I don't see how buying the ticket ahead for $12 is too much. That included parking!
The parking was great this year and a quick bus ride to the gate. Way better than the wagons.

I agree about the water.
$3 for a Dansia !(
The big icey was $8 with the neat cup and $4 refill but best icey ever when 90 out.
I would have taken 2 more icey refills if I knew the wrap was so gross.

Anybody else eat the wrap??

I have to agree, the cost of admission and the high price of food in drink have kept me away for years. We went to the teaser show Friday night which was $20 per car and that was the only way our family of 6 can afford it.

We no longer attend because we are not allowed to carry in water.
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When it's 90 degrees plus, and the sun is beating down, you NEED water...not sugar/caffeine/alcohol.
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Greed, greed, greed...it's about concession sales, not about the airshow.
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Anyone know how much it was for a little bottle of water this year?
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It was $4 the last time we went, and we told all our friends, and they told their friends, etc...

I think the cost is too high for admission for alot of people. It would be nice if allowed to just pay to park and view from the field. We were able to do this previous years but not this year. I understand they need to make money-maybe charge $10 per car to park and not go in. JMO