You know how you think you’re going to have a nice, easy day out with the kids, maybe grab some strawberry shortcake, laugh about the funny carnival rides, and spend a few hours basking in the sunshine? That’s what we were thinking when we decided to head over to the Plant City Strawberry Festival on a Tuesday. Spoiler alert: The sun wasn’t the only thing making me sweat.

Now, I love a good fair as much as the next mom. The food, the crowds, the lights, and the sounds. But what really caught me off guard at the Strawberry Festival was the price. Oh, my word. $8 for a soda. A SODA. I mean, I love a good strawberry festival as much as the next person, but I can’t help but wonder if this soda comes with a side of magic. Unfortunately, it didn’t.

Anyway, before I could even wrap my mind around the soda, we were lured into the carnival area by the bright colors and the deafening sounds of children’s laughter (and a few screams). Of course, we had to try a few rides, right? But, of course, the rides weren’t exactly what I remembered from my younger days. The first one we spotted was this fake helicopter ride—oh, and the seats? Well, let’s just say that they didn’t exactly scream “luxury.” The kids were hyped up, thinking they were about to take off for a thrilling adventure, and then… I hopped in with them.

So, there I am, squeezed into this “helicopter” with my niece Tammy and nephew Bobby, praying that the whole thing didn’t fall apart mid-ride. Seriously, the ride looked like it was held together by duct tape and some prayers. But hey, we were there for the experience, right? If you can ignore the very real possibility that this thing might not be safe, it was kind of a blast. Tammy and Bobby loved it, even if the only thing flying was my imagination.

And the balloons. Oh, the balloons. Have you ever handed your kid $15 for a balloon? If you haven’t, just know this: It feels like you’re giving away your child’s college fund for something that will be deflated by bedtime. But try explaining that to a 6-year-old who wants the biggest balloon in the entire place. What are you supposed to do, right?

The whole experience was… fun, yes. But not without its quirks. The rides—oh boy, let’s just say some were looking a little worse for wear. Some seats were broken, and there were fewer rides available than I’d hoped for. So naturally, we stood in line for what felt like an eternity. At one point, I found myself daydreaming about just walking back to the car and grabbing a nice, affordable lunch—like, I don’t know, a home-cooked meal in my own kitchen.

But then Bobby grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the next ride, and I was reminded why we’re here. It wasn’t about the broken seats, the overpriced snacks, or even the questionable safety of the rides. It was about making memories with the kids. So, we rode the rides, ate too much cotton candy (even though we totally regretted it 20 minutes later), and laughed. And for a minute, I forgot about the prices and the lines.

Maybe next time we’ll bring our own snacks and plan on avoiding the soda stand. But at the end of the day, I wouldn’t trade those moments of joy with Jenny, Sam, Tammy, and Bobby for anything—except, maybe, a little more affordable pricing.