The so-called non-profit Houston iFest is about 1 thing - making money. Unless money is no object for you, you will be SHOCKED at the outrageous prices.
The first step in their scam is to charge an entry fee of $15. The next step is to cloud your personal financial accountability by converting your money into "Coupons". Notice the rosy connotation of the word "coupons". They use a sneaky conversion rate in an attempt to confuse actual value. They give you 9 coupons for $10, making each coupon worth $1.10. Or you can buy individual coupons for $1.50. I got 18 coupons ($20), thinking this should get me a couple things. Here are some of the prices i remember:
BBQ Sandwich - 9 coupons = $9.90
1 Burrito - 8 coupons = $8.80
1 Corn Dog - 5 coupons = $5.50
1 Beer 5-7 coupons = $5.50 - $7.70
Most things were 8 coupons, that's $8.80 - almost $10 for just one thing. Imagine taking your family of 6, buying tickets and wanted to get them each a snack & drink that would cost about $150.150 dollar for some sh*tty carnival food?!?!?!
The theme for 2009 was Irish heritage - the first thing you see when you to the Irish section is a Taco stand. It was pathetic. The only thing Irish about most of the fair was the giant piles of green money, and the greedy little leprechauns laughing as they hauled them all the way to the bank.
I will never go the International Festival again, and I am going to request a copy of their financial report to find out where all this money is going. They boast that it all goes back to the fair, but I suspect most of it gets funneled out under the auspices of "operating costs".
Of course, you don't have to spend a dime if you don't go. It's the deception and pretending to be charitable that makes this rip-off so bad.
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