• Friday, July 26, 2019 (6:06 pm)

    Here are the 2019 OC Fair Concessionaires Cup winners for best food and drinks

    The results are in for our Concessionaires Cup competition, which awards the best of this year’s OC Fair food.

    Here are the category winners:

    • Best-of-the-Best and Best New Flavor Winner: The Smokestack from Tater Twister’s
    • Best Fried Food Winner: Puffy Taco de Carnitas/Asada from Papi’s Puffy Taco
    • Best On-a-Stick/Bun Winner: Big Daddy Cheetos & Cheese Corn Dog from Biggy’s
    • Best Specialty Food Winner: Shrimp Cocktail from Pepe’s Mariscos
    • Owner’s Favorite Winner: Maui Chicken from Pineapple Express 
    • Best Dessert Winner: Cinnamon Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting, Bacon and Maple Syrup from D&D Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls
    • Best Beverage Winner: Dole Soft Serve Slush Float from RCS Nitro Treats

  • (12:36 pm)

    The song ‘Taps’ and a historical connection to Heroes Hall

    Mitchell Butterfield introduces the playing of “Taps,” played at 6 p.m. each night of the OC Fair at Heroes Hall. (Inset photo) Daniel Butterfield, largely credited with composing “Taps.” Main photo by Mike Goulding, inset photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.

    When “Taps” gets played at 6 p.m. nightly at Heroes Hall during the 2019 OC Fair, there’s one man standing there who has an especially direct attachment to the song.

    Mitchell Butterfield, who works at Heroes Hall during the Fair, is related to Daniel Butterfield, the Medal of Honor-winning Civil War Army general largely credited with composing the song. 

    Daniel Butterfield, along with bugler Oliver Willcox Norton, wrote “Taps” as a new way to establish the military call for the end of the day. It wasn’t until after the Civil War that it became the official end-of-day call.

    Nowadays, it’s most associated with being played at military funerals.

    Mitchell Butterfield salutes the flag as “Taps” plays at Heroes Hall. The song is played at 6 p.m. each night of the OC Fair at Heroes Hall. Photo by Mike Goulding

    Mitchell Butterfield’s fellow workers at Heroes Hall had no idea about the connection.

    “When we had the first kid who played ‘Taps,’ I went up and told him, ‘You know, my great great grandfather wrote that song,’ Butterfield said. “And (Heroes Hall Supervisor Carol Singleton) heard that and said, ‘Really?’ And then it just went from there.”

    Taps has been played at Heroes Hall for the OC Fair since the military museum opened in 2017.

    Mitchell Butterfield, 72, from Orange, is also an Army veteran, while his father was a Marine who was stationed at El Toro, lived in Tustin and later moved to Orange.

    While Butterfield is proud of the historical connection — “I feel proud that he had something to do with it. I tell it to anyone who wants to listen” – he’s also reluctant to mention it when he introduces the playing of “Taps” at Heroes Hall.

    Centennial Farm volunteer Richard Grogan, a bugler who plays “Taps” at Heroes Hall. Photo by Carol Singleton

    “When I do the announcement, I don’t mention the family part of it,” he said. “It’s not relevant. It’s about the vets. It’s about the servicemen.”

    During a recent night at Heroes Hall, “Taps” was played for the first time with the correct musical instrument: a bugle.

    And the bugler playing it? Another OC Fair connection: Richard Grogan, a Centennial Farm volunteer as an oxen teamster.


  • Wednesday, July 24, 2019 (6:06 pm)

    Barnyard Fashion Parade features animals and kids cutely dressed up

    Every year, the OC Fair hosts a Barnyard Fashion Parade in which breeding animal exhibitors dress up and and parade their barnyard animals around the Livestock Show ring for fashion review and judging. 

    This year’s event was on Wednesday, July 24 and the photos speak for themselves!

    Photos by Mike Goulding


  • Sunday, July 21, 2019 (10:15 am)

    Check out our new farm lounges

    One of the new features of the 2019 OC Fair is the agricultural-themed lounges set up throughout the fairgrounds.

    The lounges represent four California commodities — avocados, strawberries, oranges and beef — and tie in with the Fair’s agricultural theme, “Acres of Fun.”

    These photos show more details of The Avocado Pit. Grab some shade and enjoy! 🥑🥑🥑

     

  • Friday, July 19, 2019 (9:25 pm)

    Tupua is here and bringing some fun to Heritage Stage!

    Have you seen our new Polynesian dance troupe, Tupua? Here’s just some of what you’ll see during their daily shows.

    Tupua performs at 5:15 p.m., 7:15 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. every day at Heritage Stage in Plaza Pacifica.

    The group will have a special performance for kids on Aug. 1. Come check them out and dance along! 🏝


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