Monday, November 28, 2022 (2:14 pm)

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Thank you in advance for your feedback to help OC Fair & Event Center improve!

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(2:13 pm)

The results are in for the International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE) 2022 Achievement Awards and OC Fair & Event Center is the recipient of several. IAFE represents fairs and expositions worldwide, so to even place is an honor.

The 2022 OC Fair was recognized in several categories with two first-place awards, five second-place honors and one third-place award.

First place went to the 2022 OC Fair Food Guide, Heroes Hall Speakers Series and 2022 Fair Poster.

Second place went to the OC Fair’s Mermaid exhibit photo, mini donkey competition, California Fresh exhibit and fairy garden photo.

Third place went to OC Fair & Event Center’s poppy seed packets.

The awards were presented during the 2022 Virtual Awards Show on both Zoom and Facebook Live.

IAFE, based in Springfield, Mo., is a voluntary, nonprofit corporation, serving state, provincial, regional, and county agricultural fairs, shows, exhibitions and expositions. Its associate members include state and provincial associations of fairs, non-agricultural expositions and festivals, associations, corporations and individuals engaged in providing products and services to its members, all of whom are interested in the improvement of fairs, shows, expositions and allied fields.

Thursday, November 3, 2022 (11:45 am)

A Serenity Walk will be the latest addition to Heroes Hall at OC Fair & Event Center. Groundbreaking for the project will take place at the venue’s Veterans Day Celebration on Nov. 12.

Designed to both honor veterans and to provide a place of rest and contemplation for the community, the Serenity Walk will feature a winding pathway, benches and lighting. New landscaping will be featured, including special plantings honoring Purple Heart recipients.

The OC Fair Board of Directors approved the project in May and it is also being supported by the Heroes Hall Veterans Foundation through a donation of $100,000 to help fund the estimated $500,000 cost.

In addition to being a place of respite, the Serenity Walk will help alleviate some ongoing drainage issues, provide the opportunity to repair and replace fencing and will spruce up a formerly unused area, creating an inviting space for all. Additional Walk of Honor monuments and new pillars are also included in the project designed to complement Heroes Hall.

Thursday, October 27, 2022 (2:36 pm)

COSTA MESA – The OC Fair & Event Center Board of Directors has named Newton Pham as Chair and Nick Kovacevich as Vice Chair.

Pham, who previously served as Vice Chair, replaces Doug La Belle as Chair. The board voted in new leadership at its Oct. 27 meeting.

Pham is an executive vice president and head of leveraged finance at California Bank and Trust, the California division of Zions Bancorporation. Prior, he was the principal financial analyst in charge of corporate development at Mitsubishi Materials U.S.A. from 2012 to 2014, senior analyst at McGladrey Capital Markets LLC from 2007 to 2012 and equity research associate at Smith Barney, Citigroup Global Markets from 2004 to 2007. Pham is a graduate of San Diego State University. He lives in Fountain Valley and has served on the Board since 2016.

Kovacevich is the CEO of Greenlane Holdings, Inc., a leading provider of ancillary cannabis products and accessories. He is an entrepreneur who co-founded several successful businesses including KushCo Holdings, which merged with Greenlane in 2021, and BigRentz, an Irvine-based technology company. Kovacevich is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University where he captained the men’s NCAA II basketball team. He is a resident of Newport Beach and was appointed to the Board in 2020.

Exiting Chair La Belle will continue to serve on the Board of Directors.

Board officers typically serve one-year terms and are nominated for office by a committee of fellow Board members. Board members are appointed by the Governor of California and may serve more than one term.

Tuesday, October 25, 2022 (2:21 pm)

OC Fair & Event Center was awarded four top honors from the International Festival & Events Association at its annual Pinnacle Awards competition in September.

A gold award recognized the organization’s e-newsletter as the best in show. Silver awards honored OCFEC’s TV promotion and outdoor billboard and a bronze award was given for best promotional poster.

Each year IAFE recognizes the top organizations internationally in the festival and events world.