Timeline: A Brief History of the OC Fair


Here’s a brief history of the OC Fair, starting with its first corporation in 1889. The very first Orange County Fair was held in 1890.

1889 The Orange County Community Fair Corporation was formed shortly after the founding of the County of Orange.
1890 The first Fair is held in Santa Ana.
1894 The newly formed Orange County Fair Association, Inc. takes over organizing the Fair.
1907 The Fair becomes an annual event, extended to three days and branded “Carnival of Products.”
1911 The Fair is held in Anaheim and renamed the “Anaheim Carnival.”
1916-17 The newly organized Orange County Farm Bureau takes over organizing the Fair and moves it to Huntington Beach.
1920s Various chambers of commerce and other entities take turns sponsoring the Fair which was held in different cities including temporary fairgrounds on East Fruit Street in Santa Ana and near the then Orange County Hospital in Anaheim.
1925 The first OC Fair Board of Directors is elected. A rodeo and carnival are also offered for the first time during the Fair.
1930s The Fair is held in multiple locations from Santa Ana to Pomona as part of a tri-county fair concept.
1939 The first 4-H exhibits and competitions are held.
1942-47 Due to a Federal mandate during wartime, the Fair is not held.
1949 The State of California purchases land occupied by the Santa Ana Army Air Base and earmarks some of it for a new fairground to be managed by the newly formed 32nd District Agricultural Association. 
1949 The Fair is held on its new site, which is soon designated as the permanent fairgrounds.
1953 The City of Costa Mesa was incorporated and includes the Fair’s property.
1966 The grandstand arena is built.
1972 The Fair expands to 10 days.
1980 The onsite equestrian center opens.
1983 The first concerts in the newly built Pacific Amphitheatre feature Barry Manilow, The Beach Boys, Oingo Boingo and Marvin Gaye.
1984 The first Friends of the Fair Day is held for guests with special needs.
1987-92 The Fair expands to 11 days, then 12 and finally 17 days. 
1994 The first OC Fair cattle drive is held down Fairview Road featuring 125 riders and 250 head of cattle. Also the Pacific Amphitheatre is closed for the first time since its opening in 1983.
2001 The Fair introduced the Orange Crush Demolition Derby.
2003 The Fair expands to 21 days and celebrates the re-opening of the Pacific Amphitheatre.
2005 The Fair breaks the million-person mark for the first time welcoming 1,058,192 guests over 21 days.
2007 The Fair features two cattle drives, one on the sandy shores of Huntington Beach and another down the streets of Costa Mesa from Fairview Park to the fairgrounds.
2009 The Fair expands to 23 days. The self-produced interactive exhibit “Al’s Brain” leaves a big impact and Motorhome Madness Demolition Derby debuts. 
2010 The Hangar building debuts with its 50-foot-tall arched ceiling and aviation hangar-style design.
2012 The Fair turns the popular demolition derby pink for breast cancer awareness and the first all-female derby was called Damsels of Destruction Demolition Derby.
2013 The Pacific Amphitheatre saw its highest grossing season to date without lawn seating. The Fair also introduced the OC Fair Foodies, a collection of food-related costumed characters that roam the property delighting guests of all ages. Foodies included Olivia (orange), Cornelius (roasted corn), Arturo (churro), Carl (cotton candy), Spike (carrot), Mike (bacon-wrapped turkey leg), Dip (corn dog), Clemon (lemon), Scoop (ice cream cone) and Slim (slice of bacon).
2015 The newly built Plaza Pacifica offers direct access to the concert seating in Pacific Amphitheatre from inside the Fair.
2017 OCFEC opens its veterans museum, Heroes Hall, and Table of Dignity, an agricultural workers memorial.
2018 The current highest overall attendance record is earned with 1,470,636 fairgoers through the gates during the Fair’s 23-day run. This year also marked the highest daily attendance record reached on Saturday, July 28, with a total of 86,334 attendees at the Fair.
2019 A Vietnam-era A-4M Skyhawk aircraft is relocated from the Santa Ana Civic Center to Heroes Hall.
2020 The OC Fair is canceled for the first time since WWII due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A virtual fair took place on ocfair.com.
2021 The OC Fair requires advance ticket purchase with limited daily capacity for the first time. The Fair also sells out for the first time on July 17.
2021 A new OC Fair Foodie costumed character, Strawberry Jan, is introduced.
2022 OC Fair Board votes to adopt a new mission statement: “Creating equitable community access to agriculture, entertainment, cultural and educational experiences.”
2022 Sunny the lemon debuts as the newest OC Fair Foodie costumed character.
2023 The Serenity Walk at Heroes Hall opens with a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 20.
2024 OC Fair is held for the 75th year at OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa.
2024 Centennial Farm celebrates its 35th anniversary.