Thursday, August 27, 2020 (4:10 pm)

A new program to provide local families and individuals receiving CalFresh benefits with additional healthy produce is starting Sept. 3 at the Costa Mesa Certified Farmers Market at OC Fair & Event Center.

The Market Match program provides nutrition incentives to help low-income residents stretch their CalFresh shopping dollars to afford more healthy, locally grown, fresh fruits and vegetables. As a direct result, the program also supports small- and mid-sized local farms and boosts the local economy.

Thanks to a grant from the Gus Schumacher Incentive Program, those receiving CalFresh EBT (electronic benefits transfer) can use their cards to get more healthy food from the the Costa Mesa Certified Farmers Market held at OC Fair & Event Center.

Participants can swipe their card at at the Market Manager’s Booth to receive up to an additional $20 in Market Match incentives per visit through the use of tokens/scrip.

Matching funds can be spent on eligible CalFresh items such as fresh fruits and vegetables. CalFresh Market Match signs will be posted at the farmers market to help program participants navigate the offerings.

The Costa Mesa Certified Farmers Market takes place each Thursday at OC Fair & Event Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the Pacific Amphitheatre box office in Lot D.

The Centennial Farm Foundation was organized in 1991 to support educational programs at the farm and to solicit and disburse funds to operate Centennial Farm and other agriculturally and youth-related education programs and exhibits of OC Fair & Event Center. For more information, visit https://ocfair.com/community-programs/centennial-farm/centennial-farm-foundation/

For more information on the Orange County Farm Bureau, visit https://www.ocfarmbureau.org/

(11:48 am)

OC Fair fans won’t have to miss out on their food fix this year after all. Starting Aug. 28, the Fair Food Drive-Thru will offer summer treats from four food vendors bringing a taste of the OC Fair to go.

Guests longing for their favorite delightful indulgences can head to the fairgrounds in Costa Mesa and choose from special menus from one or all of the following:

Cathy’s Cookies
Dippin’ Dots
Hawaiian Chicken Bowl
Hot Dog on a Stick
Juicy’s Funnel Cakes

Menu items include turkey legs, teriyaki chicken bowls, hot dog and cheese dog on a stick, and chocolate chip cookies. See a map and full menu at ocfair.com/drivethru.

Guests will enter through Gate 1 off Fair Drive, and will be directed toward the order lane or passing lane. Guests will be required to stay in their vehicle and wear a mask while ordering from the vendor. Credit card payment is preferred. No walkups will be allowed and no parking will be available.

Fair Food Drive-Thru, starting Aug. 28
Fridays & Saturdays, noon-8 p.m.
Sundays, noon-6 p.m.

Wednesday, August 19, 2020 (10:07 am)

The Orange County Health Care Agency will begin conducting drive-through COVID-19 testing at OC Fair & Event Center starting Aug. 26, two days later than originally planned. Testing is by appointment only and will take place Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. in parking lots E and F. Guests will enter and exit through Gate 4.

Setup began on Wednesday, Aug. 19. Testing is being conducted in collaboration with 360 Clinic and is scheduled to continue through Oct. 23.

“OC Fair & Event Center is proud to provide use of the fairgrounds to assist the County in providing this valuable testing to Orange County residents,” said OC Fair & Event Center CEO Michele Richards. “It’s part of our emergency service to the community.”

For information on testing, visit 360clinic.md. For information on COVID-19 in Orange County, visit covid19info.ocgov.com or contact the Orange County Health Care Agency.

Sunday, July 26, 2020 (11:00 am)

Our friend Pam, the culinary arts supervisor, has another recipe for us today: garden pesto! We thought this would be a good, easy recipe for a yummy Sunday dinner.

What you need: basil, parmesan cheese, pine nuts, olive oil, sea salt, garlic 

For a delicious and easy banana dessert recipe from Pam, go to ocfair.com/oc-fair/virtual/videos-galleries/ and click on Food & Drink.

Saturday, July 25, 2020 (7:30 pm)

County fairs work hard to educate the public about agriculture, and that includes showing livestock. But the OC Fair has many other types of animals too – from birds to oxen and everything in between! Here are just a few of the types of animals found at the OC Fair over the past few years.

Rabbit at Centennial Farm

Medicinal sign, herbs growing at Centennial Farm

Sheep at Centennial Farm

Goat

Goat

Mother and piglets/

Cow

Goat

Rabbits

Pigs

Sheep

Goats

Cattle

Goats

Goats

Chickens

Chickens

Pigs

Peafowl

Goats

Goats

Goats

Cattle

Cattle

Pigs