Matthews Alive Festival!

I have very vivid memories of Paul Bunyan Days and St. Mary's Fair growing up in Michigan.  We went to those carnivals every.single.year, and I LOVED them!  I don't feel like there are nearly as many carnivals down here as there were up north... either that or the ones they do have seem a little shady around here.   Other than going once last year to Carowinds (an amusement park like Cedar Point for those of you still in Michigan!), my kids have never went to a carnival-type atmosphere.  I heard about the Matthews Alive Festival this year and decided to try it out.  The kids had a blast and would have stayed all day long if we would have let them, but man did carnivals get expensive!!  $1 per ticket and most rides took 2-4 tickets a piece!  Sheesh!!  I remember my parents probably paid $10 a day for us to ride all day, unlimited with armbands.  They sure do have the prices jacked these days!