If you're a fan of the TLC network, you may have noticed a local family featured recently on "Outrageous Kid Parties." In April, Janine and Jake Cornell of Cary hosted a sixth birthday party for their daughter, Sadie, at Green Acres farm in Cary. Sadie is the youngest of the Cornells' four daughters.

The Sadie's Country Carnival episode aired Aug. 17 on TLC. Viewers nationwide got a gander of the four-hour event, which included 350 guests, a five-foot-tall Ferris wheel cake (that spun!), dunking booth, Velcro wall, bounce house, live band, clowns, face painting, SUV limo and tons of food prepared by Backyard Bistro.

"Sadie had never had a party for her birthday so we wanted to have a big party with her friends and their families. Then my other daughters wanted to bring their friends and one thing led to another," says Janine Cornell, adding she'd do it again in a minute. "Big smiles on children's faces of all ages, so much excitement, a community pulling together to make it happen, riding a horse for the first time...priceless."

Well. Not literally.

After all, the birthday party was featured on television because of its price tag - more than $30,000.

Cornell said she got some flak from viewers and bloggers, but the party was so much fun and included so many friends and family, it was worth it.

"I think viewers who do not know us could not understand why we would have such an over-the-top party and perceived Sadie as a brat," says Cornell. "But we got positive feedback from friends and family, which are the people who matter most to us."

The price tag didn't faze party planner Valerie Curran. An N.C. State graduate, Curran moved to Philadelphia where she cheered for the Eagles and then worked in event planning for several years. Curran says big-dollar bashes are becoming more and more popular in the Triangle. So much so that she's made it her business, founding a performance company, Elevate, that provides dancers and talent for events.

"We're a little behind from New York and Philly, but parties are definitely growing," she says. "Everybody's wanting the interactive entertainment and the performances."

Sadie arrived to her shindig on horseback, and then she and some of her pals took to the stage for a special dance routine, after which country singer Cameron Marion performed. The one thing that didn't make an appearance was the Ferris wheel Sadie wanted.

"Three days before the party, the Ferris wheel was struck by lightning," Curran says. "That added a little drama (on the show). That was the one thing that Sadie, from beginning to end, really wanted, but we told her before we headed over that it was not going to work out."

I wasn't sure about this Ferris wheel business. I questioned Curran about it. An actual life-sized Ferris wheel? You can rent a real one? Yes, you can. The missing wheel was, or would have been, a bona fide, State-Fair-sized Ferris wheel. Cost: $8,000. In case you were wondering.

I had questions and was more than a little worried for the Cornell family. For example, weren't the other sisters jealous of Sadie's party? And what if they wanted outrageous parties too?

"During the planning time, Sadie was getting a lot of attention, so of course they felt left out and had some jealous feelings," says Cornell. "It helped that they were able to invite all their friends, and as they got more involved, they became more supportive. Sadie's sisters have not requested an outrageous party yet."

Also, how do you follow up that kind of birthday party? What will Sadie's seventh birthday party be like?

"I don't think we can ever top the country carnival," says Janine. "I believe it was the most outrageous party and a once-in-a-lifetime event. Sadie understands that her seventh birthday will be a small and quiet celebration."