How much will it cost me to be at Inverness Highland Games?
Entry for this Saturday's Inverness Highland Games could cost a family double the price they paid for last year's event.
A "flat charge" of £10 entry for anyone aged over five was agreed by Highland Council's events and festivals working group.
Last year tickets were priced at: Adult (16+) general admission £10; Concession (under-16, senior 65+ and accessibility tickets) general admission £5; High Life Highland member adult (16+) £7; and High Life Highland member concession (under-16, senior 65+ and accessibility tickets) £3.
It means a family of four, including two children aged over five, will be charged £40 for entry to the Bught Park site on Saturday.
Last year, the fee would have been a maximum of £30, but could have been £20 if all of them were High Life Highland members.
The event is paid for using the Inverness Common Good Fund.
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Minutes from the events and festivals working group meeting stated: "Discussion took place on ticket price structure with consideration being given to providing family or group discounts. On balance, having considered issues such as discrimination against one-parent families when offering family tickets for two adults plus children, and the complexities that would arise from offering cheaper child, or other discounted tickets, it was felt by all that a flat charge of £10 for everyone over the age of five was preferable."
A concerned city resident, who did not want to be named, asked: "Are the Highland Games priced for the 'common good' or the select few?
"No entry concessions is a big issue. They have forgotten why events are put on in the first place. Charging £40 for a family of four is going to hit folk hard, add food, merchandise, even an entry fee to the fun run [£8 per person] and your day out soon adds up.
"It's really poor in terms of equalities and disbars any hard-pressed families."
A Highland Council spokesperson said: “We are very aware of the challenges facing the whole community during the cost-of-living crisis, whilst, at the same time, needing to address increased costs of hosting the Inverness Highland Games.
“Consequently, it was decided to not increase the general admission price this year and hold it at £10 as per 2022, in an effort to be as fair as possible, applying a set price for all over-5s.
“We hope that the enhanced attractions, with a packed schedule of activities at this year’s Inverness Highland Games, will offer superb value for money for a whole day of entertainment for everyone.”
