Category Archives: Competitions

Tuesday, August 26, 2025 (4:00 pm)

COSTA MESA (Aug. 26, 2025) – The 2025 OC Fair is a wrap and there were a whole lot of summer memories for fairgoers who were invited to “Find Their Happy,” the theme of this year’s Fair which ran from July 18 through Aug. 17.

Here’s a look at this year’s Fair by the numbers:

Preliminary figures show that 1,162,872 fairgoers came out to enjoy summer’s most-anticipated event and there were eight sold-out days. In 2024, OC Fair attendance was 1,137,555 and there were eight sold-out days.

15,089 competition entries vied for blue-ribbons across all categories. In culinary, visual arts and hobbies/handcrafts, there were 7,108 entries and in floral and produce categories there were 6,042 entries. In livestock, 1,939 competed in the show ring.

$311,202 was the total revenue for the 165 animals sold at the Junior Livestock auction. These funds go directly to the FFA and 4-H youth who raised the animals. This year saw a record-setting number of entry numbers for goats, rabbits and cavies.

4 new carnival rides were at the Fair: Aviator, Sound Storm, Frog Hop and The Royal Wheel.

198,204 servings of $5 Taste of the Fair offerings were dished up. Top stands for $5 Tastes were JP’s Old West Cinnamon Rolls, Gino’s Pizza, Brander Funnel Cake & Ice Cream, Hot Dog On A Stick and Cathy’s Cookies.

50,000 ears of corn were shucked by County Fair Corn Stars.

30,000 pounds of strawberries, 8,000 pounds of chocolate and more than 1,000 gallons of Dubai pistachio cream were used to make Chocolate Strawberry Cups at Sweeties.

1 semi truck of Crunchy Flamin’ Hot Cheetos was used to top fries, pickles, corn dogs and more at Biggy’s. More than 2,000 pounds of fresh garlic was chopped for the garlic fries there and a 55-gallon drum of Mike’s Hot Honey was drizzled on turkey legs, corn dogs and pickles.

138,000 fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies were made from scratch at Mom’s Bakeshoppe.

8,900 pounds of Ten Pound Buns were served up at this year’s OC Fair.

4,450 pounds of popcorn seed was used at Snax Shack.

6,000 orders of Meatballs & Mozzarella on a Stick were sold at Chicken Charlie’s along with 10,000 Dr. Pepper pickle drinks and 4,000 Bean & Cheese Cones.

41,644 glasses of wine, more than 7,000 bottles, were served by 208 OC Wine Society volunteers working 1,486 hours in the Wine Courtyard.

10,000 bottles of chocolate milk were sold to benefit Centennial Farm’s agriculture education programs.

15 piglets were born from two litters during the Fair. Also at Centennial Farm, 49 volunteers put in more than 1,200 hours. And 100 sunflowers were in perfect bloom.

28,994 gallons of water were dispensed to fairgoers at six hydration stations located throughout the fairgrounds.

231,952 plastic bottles were diverted from landfills; laid end-to-end, the bottles would span 29.44 miles.

20,504 visitors to Heroes Hall during the Fair also had the chance to see the Echoes of Conflict: Remembering Vietnam exhibit and to decorate 1,563 postcards for the troops.

12,550 prizes were given away at the Orange County Sand and Sea (Sand & Sea) Scavenger Hunt and at sandbox games. 135,000 beads were used at the Sand & Sea bracelet-making activity.

345 local bands performed on the community stages during the Fair and six groups performed at the We Are OC! cultural day on Aug. 17.

19 concerts and shows were sold out; 6 in The Hangar, 10 in Action Sports Arena and so far there have been three sold-out shows in Pacific Amphitheatre. There was one new event, Mowterized Mayhem. There were a total of 72 shows booked during the 2025 OC Fair season.

3 concerts are still to be performed under the stars in Pacific Amphitheatre:
Aug. 30 – ZZ Top / Foghat
Sept. 11 – The Isley Brothers / The Commodores
Sept. 12 – Young the Giant / Wilderado
Tickets are on sale at pacamp.com.

Sunday, August 10, 2025 (3:35 pm)

COSTA MESA (Aug. 10, 2025) – The 2025 OC Fair is heading into its final days and there are plenty of exciting things to do in the last week – don’t miss out!

Attractions include plenty of animals, culinary treats, comedy hypnotist, Mark Yuzuik, entertainment, carnival fun and exhibits found only at the OC Fair.

The theme this year is “Find Your Happy” and the final day is Sunday, Aug. 17. Advance ticket purchase is required, buy online now at ocfair.com/tickets – days are selling out!

10 top tips to enjoy the final days of OC Fair fun:

• Don’t stop the music: Concerts at Pacific Amphitheatre during the final week include T-Pain, Carly Pearce, Blues Traveler and Grupo Marca Registrada. All Fair-time shows include free same-day Fair admission. Post-Fair shows include Los Angeles Azules, ZZ Top/Foghat, The Isley Brothers/Commodores and Young The Giant.
• Last chance to dance: Fair After Dark offers swing dancing on Friday, a DJ set on Saturday and Latin dance on Sunday – all free at Plaza Pacifica Stage.
• Last chance for Fair romance: Get that final sunset kiss on one of three Ferris wheels or the Sky Ride and grab a photo booth pic to capture the memories.
• Final $5 Taste of Fair: Check out the special offerings from concessionaires that give Fairgoers smaller-size portions for $5 every day until 4 p.m.: ocfair.com/oc-fair/things-to-do/food/
• Unlimited ride carnival wristbands: The one-day wristbands can be used Wednesday and Thursday, must be purchased or redeemed by 5 p.m. and include unlimited rides and two free games; guests can ride and play from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. 
• Chicano Heritage Month: In celebration of Chicano Heritage Month, the OC Fair offers special exhibits and activities. Featured artists, cooking demonstrations, mariachi music, a zoot suit fashion show and hands-on crafts.
• Take the Fair home with you: Hit the shopping buildings and get the only-at-the OC-Fair deals, grab take-and-bake options like cookie dough, cinnamon rolls and Ten Pound Buns.
• What about wine? The final OC Fair weekend will feature wine seminars at The Courtyard with tastings including OC Fair Gold Medal-winning wines and food pairings.
• REWIND: A VHS Revival: Free with Fair admission, this featured exhibit offers visitors the chance to see large-scale, hand-painted iconic movie posters. Check out the Moulin Rouge-themed bar or hit MoonGoat Coffee.
• We Are OC! A Cultural Celebration: On the final day of the Fair, celebrate the vibrant cultures of Orange County with community performances, youth poetry readings, and music from 11 a.m.- to 5 p.m. in Plaza Pacifica.

   

  Key things to know

  • A limited number of tickets are available each day – days are selling out.
  • Advance online ticket sales at ocfair.com/tickets.
  • Same-day Fair admission is included with tickets to shows and concerts during the Fair. Visit ocfair.com/entertainment.
  • Tickets are $13 weekday general admission (Wednesday, Thursday) and $15 weekend general admission (Friday, Saturday, Sunday). Admission for seniors (60+) and youth (ages 6-12) is $9 every day and children 5 and younger are free. General parking is $15.
  • Tickets for concerts in The Hangar and Pacific Amphitheatre can be found at ocfair.com/entertainment.
  • The Fair opens each day at 11 a.m. and closes at 11 p.m. except on Fridays and Saturdays, when it closes at midnight.

Tuesday, July 1, 2025 (2:30 pm)

COSTA MESA (July 1, 2025) – OC Fair fans have been waiting all year for the return of summer’s best party – and it starts July 18! Here are some awesome things that are free with Fair admission that will help you Find Your Happy.

For a full OC Fair schedule, visit ocfair.com. Advance tickets are required – no fees. The Fair runs July 18 – Aug. 17.

ENTERTAINMENT

• NEW! OC Fair After Dark at Plaza Pacifica is the place to find dancing and music Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights – swing dancing, DJ sets and Latin music set the beat
• Roving entertainment including the OC Fair Foodies costumed characters, Megan the Bubbleologist, Red Light Brass Band and strolling pianos – throughout the Fairgrounds
• Community entertainment featuring local music groups, dance troupes and more – daily on three stages; evenings in Promenade/Culinary
• Live music in a more intimate setting – nightly in Baja Bar & Grill
• Latin music and dancing – nightly in La Cantina
• The Hangar and Action Sports Arena – performances accessible via standing room with Fair admission (or via paid ticket for reserved seating)
• Comedy hypnotist Mark Yuzuik returns with a week of entertainment in Action Sports Arena
• Performance of Taps – 6 p.m. nightly at Heroes Hall

ANIMALS

• Aquatic touch tank – Explorium/Sand and Sea
• All-Alaskan Racing Pigs – daily in Plaza Pacifica
• Animal judging and displays – daily in Livestock
• Great American Petting Farm – daily near Yellow Gate
• OC Fair’s resident animal educators including pigs, goats, cattle, chickens, rabbits, peacocks and sheep – daily at Centennial Farm. Look for the baby animals!
• Pro tip: Look up on the berm area surrounding Pacific Amphitheatre to see our animal landscapers at work

DEMONSTRATIONS

• Llama show – adult and youth competitions in livestock (rotating)
• Milking – daily in Millennium Barn
• Food preservation, chef’s tips and more – daily in OC Promenade/Culinary
• Chef Ray creates amazing sculptures out of produce – daily in Promenade/Culinary
• Crafts and handmade goods – daily in Home Arts & Collections Gallery plus Cane’s Craft Corner with hands-on fun for everyone
• Pro tip: Hands-on scroll saw demonstrations in woodworking

EXHIBITS

• FEATURED EXHIBIT – REWIND: A VHS Revival: This exhibit showcases hand-painted large scale reproductions of album covers and movie posters, live-painting demonstrations and more that bring the VHS era to life
• Produce and floral competitions – daily at Centennial Farm
• Woodworking, quilting, table setting, baking and more – daily in Home Arts & Collections Gallery and OC Promenade/Culinary
• Fine arts and visual arts competitions and displays in addition to featured artists – daily in Visual Arts Gallery

KID STUFF

• Explorium kids’ Orange County Sand and Sea learning and play area – daily in OC Promenade. Pro tip: Beach games at noon
• Food-related contests for kids – daily in OC Promenade
• Photos with OC Fair Foodies – daily throughout the Fairgrounds
• Color postcards for troops and veterans – daily at Heroes Hall
• Kids’ carnival area
• Fair favorite magician Frank Thurston – Daily on the Promenade/Culinary stage

For more ideas on what to do and see at the OC Fair, visit ocfair.com/oc-fair/things-to-do/

Things to know before you go

• Advance ticket purchase is required – days will sell out – get tickets at ocfair.com for the days you want to attend. No fees on admission tickets.
• The Fair will be open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and 11 a.m. to midnight weekends (Friday and Saturday) July 18 – Aug. 17.
• General admission is $13 on weekdays (Wednesday, Thursday) and $15 general admission on weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). Tickets for seniors 60+ and kids 6-12 are always $9.
• Parking is $15 for cars and motorcycles and $30 for buses and limos.
• Performances in Pacific Amphitheatre, The Hangar and Action Sports Arena during Fair-time include same-day Fair admission – it’s an all-day pass to enjoy the Fair. Admission for post-Fair shows include Fair admission any Wednesday or Thursday through Aug. 17. Tickets are on sale now. For more information visit ocfair.com.
• Unlimited ride carnival wristbands are back this year for $49. The one-day wristbands can be used Wednesdays and Thursdays, must be purchased or redeemed by 5 p.m. and include unlimited rides and two free games; guests can ride and play from 11 a.m. till 8 p.m. Prices increase after July 17.

More information is at ocfair.com/thefair.

Got questions? Check out our FAQs.

Photos and video for media, as well as OC Fair’s media access request form, are available on the Media Center.

Thursday, May 2, 2024 (3:19 pm)

Calling all artists, growers and creators! OC Fair’s competition entry deadlines are quickly approaching.

For the 2024 OC Fair, everyone is invited to showcase their talents by participating in more than 20 competitions in the visual arts, culinary, home arts and hobbies, wine, horticulture and livestock categories.

Competitions this year include:

Visual Arts
Fine Arts
Photography
Collections
Fiber Arts
Jewelry Arts
Woodworking
Container Plants
Cut Flowers
Floral Arrangements
Fruits & Vegetables
Pressed Botanicals
Bars & Brownies
Cookies
Honey
Pies & Cheesecakes
Preserved Food & Liqueur
Sugar Arts & Confections
Yeast & Quick Breads
Commercial Wine
Home Wine
Breeding Livestock Shows
Market Livestock Shows

There are also designated divisions and separate competitions for youth.

Deadlines for entries vary based on category. Competition Guides are available at ocfair.com/competitions. The guides detail rules, regulations, important dates and more. Some competitions are free to enter.

The first 2024 deadline for commercial wines, is slated to close May 17. Table settings, a fan favorite, has exceeded entries and is now closed.

Results for the 2023 OC Fair Competitions are available at ocfair.com/oc-fair/competitions-contests/results/.

ABOUT THE 2024 OC FAIR

“Always a Good Time” is the theme of this year’s OC Fair, which takes place July 19-Aug. 18. Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

Again this year, the Fair will limit daily attendance and require that tickets be purchased online in advance for specific days – no fees. The Every Day Passport provides admission any day or every day of the Fair for $60 with no restrictions. Quantities are limited.

Tickets are on sale now for the 2024 OC Fair, the carnival and performances in Pacific Amphitheatre, The Hangar and Action Sports Arena.

For more information, visit ocfair.com. 

Wednesday, February 28, 2024 (9:30 am)

Tickets for the annual OC Fair are going on sale March 1 at ocfair.com, with advance purchase required. The Every Day Passport will also be available offering fairgoers access any day with no restrictions.

The 2024 Fair will run July 19-Aug. 18, open Wednesday through Sunday with controlled capacity. This year’s theme is “Always a Good Time!”

General admission ticket prices are $13 weekdays (Wednesday, Thursday) and $15 on weekends (Friday, Saturday, Sunday). Admission for seniors (60+) and youth (ages 6-12) is $9 every day and children 5 and younger are free. The OC Fair will cover the online admission ticket fees. General parking is $15. Daily admission is restricted; this is the fourth year the Fair will use a limited-capacity model and days are again expected to sell out.

The Every Day Passport gives fairgoers access every day – and any day – of the Fair with no reservations or restrictions for one price of $60 and sales will be limited to 10,000 passports.

Controlled capacity gives fairgoers more elbow room, shorter lines and eases parking issues while reducing the impact on neighboring communities.

The Fair will open each day at 11 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and midnight on Friday and Saturday. Fairgoers will need to download or print their admission tickets prior to arriving to help move the lines along through the touchless screening system. The 2024 OC Fair app is in development and will soon be available to help guests with their plans and purchases in advance. Carnival tickets will soon be available for online purchase at ocfair.com/oc-fair/.

Shows in Pacific Amphitheatre, The Hangar and Action Sports Arena are on sale now and more will be added soon. Concerts include CAKE, Bonnie Raitt, Walker Hayes and Rebelution. Tickets are available at etix.com.

A special feature exhibit, “The Art of Music,” will return, highlighting album covers and artwork extolling the intersection of two key American art forms. Also on display will be community fine art and photography entries, home arts, woodworking, agriculture competitions and more.

For all those hoping to bring home a blue ribbon, the Fair’s competition program and competition guides are available an ocfair.com/oc-fair/competitions-contests/. The Junior Livestock Auction will take place on July 27.

The OC Fair is looking for local people to participate in the annual 2024 event. Community entertainment (unpaid) applications are being accepted at ocfair.com/oc-fair/be-a-part-of-the-fair/community-entertainment/. Applications for vendors and concessionaires are now open at ocfair.com/oc-fair/be-a-part-of-the-fair/vendors//.Sponsorship and marketing information is available at ocfair.com/oc-fair/sponsors/.

Also on display during the Fair at Heroes Hall will be a new exhibition, The Vietnam War through the Art and Photography of Ed Bowen. The SAAAB Story exhibit continues on the second floor educating visitors on the history of the Santa Ana Army Air Base. Admission is free with Fair entry.

The 2023 OC Fair had an attendance of 1,048,181 with 12 sold-out days. The Fair returned to an in-person event in 2021 after going virtual in 2020.

For more information, visit ocfair.com.

Photos and video for media are available here.

Tuesday, May 2, 2023 (9:59 am)

COSTA MESA – Calling all artists, growers and creators! OC Fair’s competition entry deadlines are quickly approaching.

For the 2023 OC Fair, everyone is invited to showcase their talents by participating in more than 20 competitions in the visual arts, culinary, home arts and hobbies, wine, horticulture and livestock categories.

Competitions this year include:

Visual Arts
Fine Arts
Photography
Woodworking

Home Arts & Hobbies
Collections
Fiber Arts
Hand Crafts
Jewelry Arts
Table Setting

Horticulture
Container Plants
Cut Flowers
Floral Arrangements
Fruits & Vegetables
Pressed Botanicals

Culinary
Bars & Brownies
Cookies
Honey
Pies & Cheesecakes
Preserved Food & Liqueur
Sugar Arts & Confections
Yeast & Quick Breads

Wine
Commercial Wine
Home Wine

Livestock
Breeding Livestock Shows
Market Livestock Shows

There are also designated divisions and separate competitions for youth.

Deadlines for entries vary based on category. Competition Guides are available at ocfair.com/competitions. The guides detail rules, regulations, important dates and more. Some competitions are free to enter.

The first 2023 deadline for commercial wines, is slated to close May 19. Table settings, a fan favorite, has exceeded entries and is now closed.

Results for the 2022 OC Fair Competitions are available at ocfair.com/oc-fair/competitions-contests/results/.

ABOUT THE 2023 OC FAIR

“Happy Together” is the theme of this year’s OC Fair, which takes place July 14-Aug. 13. Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

New this year, the OC Fair is offering an Every Day Passport which allows guests to enjoy the Fair any day or every day of the 2023 season – no reservations or restrictions. The Every Day Passport is on sale now for $60, while supplies last.

There is limited daily capacity at the OC Fair and advance admission ticket purchase is required – tickets are on sale now. Prices are $13 general admission on weekdays (Wednesday, Thursday) and $15 general admission on weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). Tickets for seniors 60+ and kids 6-12 are $9 all days. The OC Fair will absorb transaction fees. Parking is $12; $24 for buses and limos.

Tickets are on sale for performances in Pacific Amphitheatre, Action Sports Arena and The Hangar. Carnival tickets are also on sale with a $44 discounted ride wristband available for purchase until July 14. Guests can access unlimited rides and two free games from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wristbands must be redeemed by 5 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

For more information, visit ocfair.com. Photos and video for media are available here.

Thursday, June 16, 2022 (5:30 pm)

The OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition is the largest California-only wine competition and is in its 46th year. Only the best winemakers and winery principles were invited to be a part of the 17 panels of up to five judges who blindly tasted 2,516 wines June 4-5.

Fran Gitsham, the president of Orange County Wine Society and host of the event, was in charge of this massive production powered by 300 volunteers. “The flow” is how Gitsham referred to the system of how the wines were judged.

First, the bar-coded wines were poured in sequence by stewards, who delivered them carefully to each table. Once a judging table completed their tasting, they waved a green “pick up glasses” sign, signaling the stewards to retrieve the glasses and walk them to a side room to be cleaned for the next wines. At the same time, their judging forms were picked up and taken to the data validation and entry room. The data was then verified using computerized lists, and by the end of the day they had complete reports of the day’s judging. This was repeated until all wines had been judged.

Results for the 2022 Commercial Wine Competition are now available at winecompetition.com/results/2022. Plus, the wines will be available to purchase by the glass at the annual OC Fair in the Courtyard. 

Thursday, February 17, 2022 (1:01 pm)

The OC Fair has begun accepting entries for the annual competitions, which are a long-standing tradition at the summer event – especially for the local fans.

For the 2022 OC Fair, guests are invited to show off their best talents by participating in more than 20 different competitions.

Competitions this year include:

There are also designated divisions and separate competitions for youth.

Deadlines for entries vary based on category. Competition Guides are available at ocfair.com/competitions for each competition. The guides detail rules, regulations, important dates and more. Some competitions are free to enter.

LAST YEAR
In 2021, the OC Fair condensed the number of competitions but still received more than 3,000 entries and issued about 1,400 awards. Results for the 2021 OC Fair Competitions are available at ocfair.com/oc-fair/competitions-contests/results/, including a city-by-city breakdown of how each O.C. resident fared.

TABLE SETTINGS DOCUMENTARY
The OC Fair was recently featured in a documentary about the highly competitive annual Table Settings Competition. SET! was filmed during the 2019 OC Fair and released in 2021 on Discovery+. The film follows the process of several participants in the Table Settings Competition, from registration and brainstorming to finding out whether or not they placed well. Find out more at setdocumentary.com.

YOUTH COMPETITIONS AT IMAGINOLOGY
Imaginology, OC Fair’s annual family event focused on education, is also accepting entries for two youth competitions: Mural Project and Cardboard Engineering. The deadline for the Imaginology competitions are March 30; Imaginology takes place April 9-10. For more information, visit ocfair.com/imaginology. 

ABOUT THE 2022 OC FAIR
“Feel the Sunshine” will be the theme of this year’s OC Fair, which take place July 15-Aug. 14. Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 11 a.m. to midnight Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Advance ticket purchase is required, and tickets are on sale now.

Monday, April 27, 2020 (9:52 am)

The OC Fair & Event Center Board of Directors voted unanimously today to cancel the 2020 OC Fair, one of the most anticipated and enduring summer celebrations in Southern California for 130 years. The Board considered ongoing guidance and updated information from State and County health care and government officials about the status of the coronavirus pandemic and the improbability that mass gatherings like the OC Fair could safely and responsibly take place this summer.

In addition to the regularly scheduled monthly meeting, the Board called a second April meeting specifically to review all options and discuss whether or not to move forward with the 2020 OC Fair. The action comes amid unprecedented community stay-at-home and social distancing orders and will protect guests, vendors and staff during the COVID-19 crisis.

“The decision to cancel the 2020 OC Fair was not taken lightly by the Board. As Governor-appointed representatives the Board has a responsibility to provide a safe experience to the community-at-large, the hundreds of people who depend on county fairs for their livelihood, fairgoers and OC Fair staff,” said Board Chair Sandra Cervantes. “While many of our guests have expressed extreme disappointment over the idea of the 2020 Fair being canceled, we strongly believe it is the right thing to do in this current situation. However, we will keep the spirit of the OC Fair alive with virtual fair concepts such as contests, competitions, entertainment and concessions to bring the fair experience to guests through ocfair.com and social media.”

The 23-day OC Fair welcomes more than 1.3 million fairgoers each year and has an estimated economic impact of $350 million annually. The Fair was canceled 1942-1947 during wartime, but otherwise has been a summer staple since 1890. Information on refunds for concert tickets and Super Passes that have already been purchased can be found at ocfair.com/refunds.

“We love the OC Fair as much as our guests do. And, while it’s disappointing that the Fair can’t take place this year, we fully support the Board’s decision,” said Michele Richards, OC Fair & Event Center CEO. “But please know OC Fair & Event Center will still be here to serve the community as we plan for the next OC Fair and the eventual return of our wonderful events.”

Tuesday, April 7, 2020 (12:40 pm)

We are sad to announce the cancellation of our Homebrew and Wine Competitions slated to be part of the 2020 OC Fair. These competitions are important to our program and we look forward to their return in 2021.

For further information about the Commercial Wine and Home Wine Competitions, see a note from OC Wine Society’s president Bill Redding.

At this time, we will continue to plan for the annual Fair and accept entries for other competitions.