As a prime venue for holiday shenanigans, the gates of Addis Abeba Exhibition Centre near Mesqel Square seemed rather quiet last Tuesday evening.

Leaving the renovated stares behind, the booming sounds coming from giant speakers turn the mood completely. Decorated trees right to the ticket counter flicker lights rejoicing in the festivity. Gullible bank clerks struggle to persuade entrants to create savings accounts, while real estate salespersons have their eyes out on prospective home buyers.

Visitors like Rozina Tekele and her sister try to capture the memory of taking selfies on their smartphones, walking slowly into the hall. Rozina has attended holiday bazaars countless times before; what made this special was sharing the moment with her elder sister.

She came to the city's centre from Bole Arabsa, on the outskirts of the capital, looking for kitchen gadgets and clothes for her two children at a lower price. A 39-year-old housewife did not plan to purchase the first item she saw on her way in with plenty of options to weigh from.

She asked the vendor the price for an onion-cutting machine only to be left astounded by the doubled price of what she had planned. The negotiation between the two ended without an agreement as 3,000 Br was way above her budget. She helplessly stood in the booth full of kitchen utensils and small machines with her black purse.

The vendor Samuel Gebretsadik has participated in the bazaars for the past six holidays. Contrary to what Rosina says, he claims that he did not experience complaints about the pricing. According to Samuel, the onion-cutting machine imported from China is his top seller, close to 300 Br less than the outside market. A similar spike in the coffee machine landed its price at 3,000 Br, double from the same period last year.

The bazaar showcases vendors carrying furniture, cosmetics, and household commodities. Organized by Dream Come True (DCT) Entertainment Plc, it has a 50 Br entrance fee, a much lower rate than previous ones. This is the first-holiday engagement for the entertainment company with three years of experience.

Close to 350 vendors leased from nine to 40sqm booths to exhibit their products and services. The rental fees vary with site and visibility, ranging from 4,500 Br to 4,900 Br for a square metre. Samuel had bagged his booth with 124,000 Br, an upward difference of 34,000 Br from the prior holiday four months ago.

The Exhibition Centre & Market Development Enterprise, a public enterprise under the Addis Abeba City Administration, awarded DCT Entertainment to host the bazaar at the centre for 35 million Br three months ago.

Mekonen Abraham, a 60-year-old visitor, wants to buy a jacket, trousers and furniture for the holiday. He came with a bag, ready to buy at least one or two items from his shopping list only to find out that it is not the case.

"I bought a jacket at a price half lower than this last year," he said in a defeated tone.

Sharing the same sentiment, Kidist Alelign does not believe the prices are offered at discounts compared to the market outside. A mother of two, Kidist spent 6,000 Br to buy clothes for her children and sweatpants for herself. Even though kitchen accessories grab her attention, the prices exceed what she has in her pockets.