Monday, May 22, 2017 (4:41 pm)

A little olive oil goes a long way to enhance food. In California, and specifically Orange County, a bit of olive oil drizzled over a bed of bright green lettuce and fresh, juicy tomatoes with a side of perfectly ripe avocado makes the kind of meal summers are made of.

So with that freshness in mind, the 2017 OC Fair held its inaugural California Olive Oil Competition, and winners will be featured this summer during the Fair. The competition focused on the Fair’s theme of “Farm Fresh Fun” and was open to all California olive oil producers.

Fairgoers will be able to enjoy complimentary tastings of these decadent olive oils, as well as learn a few tricks of the trade at food pairing demos hosted by the olive oil makers. The award-winning products will be available for sale in the OC Promenade.

The olive oils were divided into two divisions for the competition: extra virgin olive oils (EVOO) and flavored olive oils, which could either be co-milled or infused. Gold, Silver and Best of Show medals were awarded.

The four-member OC Fair Olive Oil Tasting Panel tasted 33 olive oils.

Nancy Ash, of Strictly Olive Oil, served as head judge and adviser. As a professional olive oil consultant, she has been a frequent judge at various fairs including the California State Fair, the Big Fresno Fair San Joaquin Valley Olive Oil Competition and the Los Angeles County Fair.

This year’s competition was coordinated by OC Fair & Event Center’s team of Evy Young, agriculture education supervisor; Barbara Gregerson, garden and floral program coordinator; and Pamela Wnuck, culinary arts supervisor.

Meet the OC Fair Olive Oil Tasting Panel

Thom Curry – proprietor, Temecula Olive Oil Company; member, California Olive Oil Council Tasting Panel; professional olive oil taster; sommelier and wine tasting judge
Lawrence Jacobs – conventional and specialty grocery buyer, Oliver’s Markets; member, California Olive Oil Council Tasting Panel
Arden Kremer – organic and biodynamic grape grower in Sonoma County; member, California Olive Oil Council Tasting Panel
Kathryn Tomajan – Oleologist; miller; educator; olive grower; expert taster and trained sensory panel member; and member, California Olive Oil Council Tasting Panel

The OC Fair Olive Oil Tasting Panel received intensive training from members of the California Olive Oil Council pursuant to the guidelines of the International Olive Council.

ANNOUNCING THE WINNERS OF THE 2017 OC FAIR CALIFORNIA OLIVE OIL COMPETITION

Extra Virgin Olive Oils division winners

Best of Show – Lodi Olive Oil’s Ascolano

Silver Medals – Tyler Florence Test Kitchen (Blend), Fandango (Blend), Calivirgin Premium (Arbequina), ENZO Ranch 11 (Arbosana), ENZO Ranch 20 (Arbosana) Fandango (Arbequina), San Miguel Olive Farm Pristine (Italian blend), Macala (Blend), ENZO Ranch 11 (Koroneiki) and ENZO Ranch 20 (Koroneiki)

Gold Medals – Lodi Olive Oil (Ascolano), San Miguel Olive Farm Nectar (Italian Blend), ENZO Ranch 11 (Arbequina) and ENZO Ranch 20 (Arbequina)

Flavored Olive Oils division winners

Best of Show – Calivirgin’s Hot Virgin Jalapeno

Silver Medals – ENZO (Clementine), Calivirgin (Rosemary), Calivirgin (Basil) and ENZO (Basil) and Calivirgin (Garlic)

Gold Medals – Calivirgin (Blood Orange), Calivirgin (Hot Virgin Jalapeño), Calivirgin (Jalapeño-Garlic), Calivirgin (Lemon), Calivirgin (Habañero) and ENZO (Fresno Chili)

Monday, May 15, 2017 (4:38 pm)

The OC Fair has announced its first venture into the esports world, iBUYPOWER GameFest and Tournament, featuring virtual reality demos, a live gaming tournament and much more.

Stop by and channel your inner gamer, experience the stunning world of virtual reality, or enjoy our variety of carnival-style activities for chances to win sponsored prizes.

GameFest will take place on the last weekend of the 2017 OC Fair, August 12 and 13, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in The Hangar and Club OC in the Plaza Pacifica. Entrance is included with your OC Fair admission, which is $14 for adults and $7 for youth (6-12) and seniors (60+).

In the evenings, level up for more PC gaming fun as iBUYPOWER and the OC Fair also host the inaugural GameFest Tournament Series from 8:30 to 10 p.m. in The Hangar. Admission to the tournament includes access to the all-day expo and demos, early access to the Hangar beginning at 7:30 p.m. for the live tournament, a GameFest swag bag and up-close viewing of the tournament on the big screen. Admission for the tournament is $17.50 for standing general admission and $25 for reserved seating; tickets include admission to the OC Fair.

iBUYPOWER GameFest at the OC Fair
August 12 and 13, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Tickets included in Fair admission – $14 for adults, $7 for youth (6-12) and seniors (60+)

iBUYPOWER GameFest at the OC Fair and Tournament Series
August 12 and 13, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Tickets are $17.50 general admission, $25 reserved seating (tickets include admission to the OC Fair)

Monday, May 8, 2017 (3:44 pm)

Imaginology rocked STEAM activities

Almost 36,000 people attended Imaginology, the free three-day celebration of imagination and learning, at OC Fair & Event Center last weekend.

The festival focused on STEAM activities: science, technology, engineering, arts and math. The family-friendly event featured hundreds of hands-on workshops, shows and exhibits for youth from preschool through high school.

As an added bonus at this year’s Imaginology, one of Centennial Farm’s ewes gave birth to two lambs during the event – a real-life lesson in biology. 

The farm also hosted milking demonstrations, blacksmithing, planting activities and more science in action.

There was live entertainment, food and many make-and-take projects for kids to bring home. Attendees could participate in aerial fitness classes, pet pythons, see horse vaulting demonstrations, enter robotics competitions and play chess with kid-sized game pieces.

 “Families, classes and kids of all ages had an amazing time,” said OC Fair & Event Center’s VP of Business Development Michele Richards. “The fun was really all about learning about STEAM subjects and exposing everyone to the possibilities of careers for these budding engineers, artists and rocket scientists. We want to show them that their dreams can come true.”

Imaginology also hosts student competitions in categories including crafts, fiber arts, fine arts, photography, poetry, video, science and engineering. This year, more than 3,000 students entered the contests and their entries were displayed at Imaginology. A full list of winners will be published soon on ocfair.com/steam.

This is the 38^th year that OC Fair & Event Center has hosted a community event aimed at providing fun, hands-on learning experiences for students of all ages.  The long-running Youth Expo was rebranded as Imaginology in 2014 and the focus was shifted to STEAM.

The free event is underwritten by OC Fair & Event Center and sponsors and also offers 4H and FFA students the opportunity to sharpen their skills with early competitions and get ready to show their animals at the 2017 OC Fair, July 14-Aug. 13.

For more information, visit ocfair.com/steam.

Wednesday, May 11, 2016 (6:45 pm)

Every year during the OC Fair, we host a nightly show in Main Mall and at The Hangar.

This year, that show can include photos of YOU!

During the 2018 OC Fair, our Main Mall show will highlight our theme, “Free Your Inner Farmer.” To be included, share photos of you, friends and family freeing your inner farmer by doing things like working in the garden, planting crops, cooking your harvest, working with farm animals, or even just mowing the front lawn! 

Here’s how to submit:

Facebook: Tag OC Fair and use #freeyourinnerfarmer

Instagram: Tag @oc_fair and use #freeyourinnerfarmer

Twitter: Mention @ocfair and use #freeyourinnerfarmer

Snapchat: Send a snap to @ocfair

Sharing through social media requires us to be able to see the photo, so make sure your privacy settings are set to public. 

OR, submit online: Go to wetransfer.com and upload your photo. From wetransfer.com, email to freeyourinnerfarmer@ocfair.com, and make sure to include your name, the city in which you live, and a description of your image. Please do not directly email your image to the address mentioned as we cannot guarantee receipt through our spam filter. 

The fine print: Photos and videos shared with us should be highest resolution possible. By  submitting a photo via any of the instructions above, you are giving OC Fair & Event Center permission to use the image in the nightly show and in any related marketing efforts. Submitting a photo does not guarantee inclusion in the nightly show. 

Friday, May 5, 2017 (3:45 pm)

Imaginology judge is a community arts leader

Trinh Mai is not just a judge for Imaginology, she’s also an arts advocate, educator and community leader.

Through Cal State Fullerton’s Grand Central Art Center (GCAC) program, which helps bring art to low-income communities, Mai works with Heninger Village Senior Apartments in Santa Ana to help facilitate workshops that focus on sharing residents’ stories through visual arts.

The goal of the workshops is to help residents to not just create art, but to help heal them as well. 

“My aim has been to help them get involved outside of their environment, since the elders are often isolated,” Mai said.

Since starting in February 2016, Mai has been able to get her students’ work displayed at the Bowers Museum, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Grand Central Art Center and, most recently, Coastline Gallery in Newport Beach. 

Through Community Engagement, a nonprofit that is funding Mai’s residency, GCAC also provides artists-in-residents with housing, studio space and support.

Mai was also a featured artist in The Artist Odyssey’s award winning documentary Honoring Life: The Work of Trinh Mai. The film went on to be the Audience Choice Award winner for Best Short Film at the 2016 Viet Film Festival in Orange.

With the help of Mai’s influence, some of the “Villagers” have started taking life drawing lessons at Q Salon in Santa Ana. Even some of their family members have taken inspiration from Mai.

Parker Cupa, 8, is the son of one of the villagers, and he had a painting on display at Imaginology.

“It’s amazing how they’ve been growing and are now so excited about getting involved in the art scene,” Mai said.

Imaginology is an annual educational and entertainment event focusing on activities related to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math held at OC Fair & Event Center.

Visit ocfair.com/steam for more information.