Yahoo Finance Outrage over $8.50 sausage sizzle in cost-of-living crisis: 'Un-Australian'
A food stall at Vivid Sydney was charging people a 'crazy' amount for sausage, onion and bread and Aussies are not happy.
A Vivid street food vendor has been called out for the "stupidly" expensive sausage sizzle on offer during the three-week Sydney event. With Aussies battling a cost of living crisis, the Fire Kitchen menu item at this year's festival of light, music and ideas did not pass the pub test for many.
An angry passerby posted a photo of a food vendor charging $8.50 for sausage and onion in some bread. Considering Bunnings offers the same meal for just $3.50, it's no surprise the offering has copped the ire of many on social media.
"I don't care what the reason is, but when you can buy sausages for about $6kg, onions for $3kg, and a loaf of bread for $3 (retail, so cheaper buying wholesale bulk for an event like Vivid), $8.50 is disgusting," said the attendee.
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Others were similarly furious, with one even branding it "un-Australian".
"You know it's bad when the veg price is the same as the normal. I thought sausage sizzle at Bunnings was insane inflation till this," wrote another.
A third added: "We must all band together and collectively refuse to pay these prices. Send a message!"
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But others explained the cost of setting up a food stall at an event like Vivid Sydney would set the vendor back hundreds if not thousands of dollars.
"It's not just Vivid, it's all food carts and stalls, the prices have gone stupid at every event," wrote a user.
"It's a captive audience. I don't know what you expected. Also, the vendors get charged crazy fees by the event runners," said another.
Despite the expensive price tag, the photo snapper said the food stall had a huge line of people waiting to be served.
Vivid has justified the $8.50 sausage sizzle after widespread outrage. The Sydney light festival told Yahoo Finance the price, described as "un-Australian", was set as the Aussie staple was "cooked by a professional chef".
Other Vivid event called out for 'crazy' prices
There are 67 different events across 121 sessions at 14 venues and locations in Sydney for this year's Vivid festival.
Some installations are free and can be observed by walking through parts of the city. But others can attract fees that would be particularly hefty for families.
Nariman Dein was keen to buy tickets to Dark Spectrum: A New Journey at the Wynyard Tunnels but was quickly put off when she saw how much it would set her back.
She found it would cost $51 to buy a same-day adult ticket and $174 to buy tickets for a family of four. Adult tickets range from $35 to $46, kids tickets for ages 6 to 12 are between $24 to $35, while family tickets are $98 to $154.
Prices depend on whether you are going during peak or off-peak times and people can also be stung with a $5 surcharge if they purchase same-day tickets.
“You’re telling me in this economy if I had a child or two children I would have to pay that much money to only look at lights and then also pay for food and all of that stuff,” Dein explained to Yahoo Finance.
“Are you serious? Really?
“It’s crazy. Especially because I’ve been to similar light shows before and it’s usually $10 to $20 per person so I don’t see why they are charging so much."
A Destination NSW spokesperson said Vivid Sydney strived to offer a range of experiences, including free and ticketed events across the festival.
“From the 8km Vivid Light Walk featuring over 30 light installations and 3D projections, Vivid Music every night at Tumbalong Park to the ‘After the Fact’ panel event at Barangaroo House - these are all examples of free events that will take place across the festival,” the spokesperson told Yahoo Finance.
“For the foodies out there, there’s also the Vivid Sydney Fire Kitchen which is free entry for barbeque demonstrations and masterclasses ensuring accessibility for everyone across all four pillars of Vivid Sydney.”
How to avoid being stung at Vivid
Financial advice site Finder said there are a few ways to ensure you're not overwhelmed by crowds and high prices at Vivid Sydney this year.
Visit early on Mondays and Tuesdays: As they're working days they tend to be the quietest and there's a greater chance you'll have that installation all to yourself.
Avoid the weekends, including Friday night: They're the peak days and are often swamped with the after-work crowds, families and visitors.
Bring your own food: While the call of neon-lit specials is high, the price tag is also. Budget-savvy Vivid visitors can bring their own food to the festival.
Catch the free events: The light installations aren't the only freebies going around. There are stacks of ideas and music events strewn throughout the city that are free to attend. Tumbalong Park in particular is hosting Vivid nights throughout the show.
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