Category Archives: OC Fair
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Wednesday, August 11, 2021 (12:35 pm)
OC Fair admission sold out Aug. 11, 13, 14 and 15
OC Fair admission is sold out for Aug. 11 and the final weekend of the Fair, Aug. 13, 14 and 15. Advance ticket purchase is required as there is limited daily capacity. No tickets will be sold at entry gates.
On days when OC Fair admission is sold out, there may still be concert tickets available for Pacific Amphitheatre or The Hangar which include same-day Fair entry. There is a limited supply of show tickets and they are sold on a first come, first served basis.
Buy concert tickets or purchase Fair admission for a future date.
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Friday, August 6, 2021 (10:54 am)
OC Fair admission sold out Aug. 6-8
OC Fair admission sold out for Friday, Aug. 6, Saturday, Aug. 7, and Sunday, Aug. 8. Advance ticket purchase is required as there is limited daily capacity. No tickets will be sold at entry gates.
On days when OC Fair admission is sold out, there may still be concert tickets available for Pacific Amphitheatre or The Hangar which include same-day Fair entry. There is a limited supply of show tickets and they are sold on a first come, first served basis.
Buy concert tickets or purchase Fair admission for a future date.
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Thursday, August 5, 2021 (9:17 am)
There is lots for kids of all ages to do at the 2021 OC Fair where it’s Time for Fun!
COSTA MESA (Aug. 5, 2021) – The OC Fair always brings the fun and we know that families count on making summer memories when they visit. Here are some tips for a great trip to the fair:Explorium adventure: Located this year in OC Promenade, the Explorium area for kids has been transformed into a fun and informative national parks-themed adventure. Fairgoers can walk the reimagined trails and forest of California’s National Parks.Kids of every age can play, learn and immerse themselves in camping and forestry life. There are fun ways that teach about camping and hiking safety and all the wonderful species that live in the California National Parks. Daily crafts, contests and games are at the Rangers Station Theatre. Tip: There is even more fun for kids in the nearby California Fresh exhibit.Read & Ride: Of course the kids will want to go on rides, and what better way to motivate them beforehand than with the Read & Ride program. Kids ages 5-11 can earn three free carnival rides by reading two books and writing (or drawing) a short summary. Use the form at ocfair.com/readandride and turn it in to the RCS guest services booth in the main carnival area. And families can snap photos of the kids with those giant stuffed animals!Painted faces: There are two face painting booths where fairgoers can be transformed into superheroes, favorite animals or flower-festooned fairies. Also look for henna and festival glitter booths for more temporary body art.Animals you can touch or watch: The Great American Petting Farm is the place to be if the kids are obsessed with animals. Located next to Green Gate, this petting zoo is full of animals that are far from shy – in fact, they’ll follow you around all day if you let them! Don’t forget to stop by Centennial Farm as well, OC Fair’s year-round working farm that features goats, cows, bunnies and brand-new piglets that were recently born!Animals you can cheer on: One of the Fair’s most popular attractions is the All-Alaskan Pig Races, located this year in the Plaza Pacifica area. The races are a hoot for all ages, and take place daily. Plus, the Oasis Camel Dairy exhibit will be in the livestock area for the final two weeks of the fair and families can watch the babies and learn all about these exotic creatures.Entertainment: Magician Frank Thurston puts on kid-friendly shows daily in OC Promenade and there are local performers of all ages on community stages during the day. Roving entertainers include the Dragon Knights Stilt Show, The Clown Patrol and Red Light Brass Band, delighting guests as they move throughout the fair. The OC Fair’s own costumed characters, The Foodies Oliva Orange and Strawberry Jan (she’s new) are at the giant OC Fair letters daily for picture opportunities.Food and treats: $3 Taste of the Fair Food is offered on Thursdays until 4 p.m., giving fairgoers a chance to try select samples of food from every vendor for just $3 each – and these are the perfect size for the kids as well! It’s a great way to try the foods without filling up on too much sugar. To just look at sugar, check out the sugar arts winners on display in the OC Promenade – the cakes are amazing.Arts & crafts: Stop by the tent in front of Heroes Hall so the kids can color postcards for veterans and troops while they learn all about the sacrifice our servicemen and servicewomen make every day. In the Visual Arts Building kids and adults can see all the blue ribbon-winning competition entries that include youth project divisions. It’s always fun to look at the woodworking, quilts and more in the home arts area. And this is the perfect spot to cool off during the day.Shop for fun: The Carnival of Products and Parade of Products have some toy booths and clay fun, plus plenty of family items for purchase. There are also great shopping options in Crafters Village where artisan and other shops sell everything from fossils to sun hats.Bonus! Here are 5 tips for parents and families:Photo ops: There are classic photo booths as well as several cutouts throughout the fairgrounds. There is a great concentration of these in the OC Promenade. Also check food vendors like Eddie’s Asian Inspired Cuisine and Australian Battered Potatoes for more cutouts.Baby changing station: Located to the left of The Hangar building and behind the west end of the Sky Ride.No lines in the mornings: This year the OC Fair is opening at 10 a.m. for two bonus hours of fun. Parking is a breeze, no lines for rides and games and there is plenty of elbow room.What to bring: Bring along your wagon, snacks, extra baggies for leftover Fair food and a soft-sided cooler to keep it all fresh. Factory-sealed water bottles are OK.Safety: Find a landmark and designate it as a meeting place if you plan on separating. Be aware that the Guest Services and Lost & Found offices are located to the right of The Hangar building. -
Wednesday, August 4, 2021 (1:17 pm)
OC Fair admission sold out for Wednesday, Aug. 4, and Saturday, Aug. 7
OC Fair admission tickets for Wednesday, Aug. 4, and Saturday, Aug. 7, are SOLD OUT. There are still a few tickets left to see In The End, The Premiere Linkin Park Experience, in The Hangar on Saturday. These tickets get you into the OC Fair AND a reserved seat at a great show.
Limited supply and first come, first served. Buy concert tickets or purchase Fair admission for a future date. -
Saturday, July 31, 2021 (3:53 pm)
OC Fair admission sold out for Saturday, July 31 and Sunday, Aug. 1
OC Fair admission tickets for Saturday, July 31, and Sunday, Aug. 1 are SOLD OUT. But there are still a few tickets left to see Flashback Heart Attack in The Hangar on Sunday. These tickets get you into the OC Fair AND a reserved seat at a great show.
Limited supply and first come, first served. Buy concert tickets or purchase Fair admission for a future date. -
Thursday, July 29, 2021 (1:47 pm)
OC Fair admission sold out for Saturday, July 31
OC Fair admission tickets for Saturday, July 31, 2021, are SOLD OUT. But there are still a few tickets left to see Pepper at the Pacific Amphitheatre or No Duh / Red Not Chili Peppers – Tributes to No Doubt and Red Hot Chili Peppers at The Hangar. These tickets get you into the OC Fair AND a reserved seat at a great show.
Limited supply and first come, first served. Buy concert tickets or purchase Fair admission for a future date. -
(9:57 am)
Rise and shine at the OC Fair – it’s open at 10 a.m. for two bonus hours of fun
The OC Fair opens this year at 10 a.m., two hours earlier than in the past, and there is so much to do.Coffee drinks, java bars, cinnamon rolls, breakfast burritos, smoothies and fancy bowls are waiting for fairgoers who answer the rooster call to rise and shine for an early start to a great day at the OC Fair.
It starts with parking – with no crowds in the morning, parking is a breeze. Drive right up and get ready for fun!
Begin a morning adventure with a visit to Centennial Farm. It’s breakfast time for our resident animal educators, so visitors can watch the farm babies and their friends wake up and feed. Piglets, baby goats, lambs, bunnies and chickens are ready to welcome fairgoers and it’s a terrific time to get an uncrowded view of the antics. Pro tip: This is the best time to get a view of our new piglets – they are popular!
More animals are starting their day in residence during the Fair at the Great American Petting Farm and exotic critters like llamas, wallabies, pygmy pigs and goats are ready to greet fairgoers as are the sheep and goats on display in the livestock area.
Since morning dawns with no lines at entry gates, rides, games, food booths, shopping stalls and exhibits, it’s prime time to start your OC Fair excursion. Grab carnival tickets, hop on and off rides with no lines and play to win a giant stuffed prize in the uncrowded carnival midway and in the Kid Land carnival area for tots.
That also means you can get your morning coffee drink of choice without waiting. Maybe a mocha, iced latte, or concoction of your choosing with anything from whipped cream and chocolate drizzle to a cherry on top. Fairgoers can even grab a dragon fruit and granola bowl at Hawaiian Chicken Bowls stand. Right across the way is Terri’s Berries with fresh fruit, smoothies and more for a fresh and healthy start to the day.
The scent of cinnamon rolls baking is coming from at least two spots on the fairgrounds, Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls in Livestock Lane and JP’s Old West Cinnamon Rolls in the Carnival of Products. There are plenty of choices and fairgoers can bring their favorites home to make or bake with frozen rolls to pop in the oven from Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls or custom mixes from JP Old West Cinnamon Rolls. Pro tip: Pack an insulated bag to bring home fair treats.
If breakfast burritos are on your morning wish list, stop by Noel’s in the Main Mall and order up a savory meal, maybe to be enjoyed with some juicy augas frescas. If you prefer an early lunch, concessionaires are ready to serve up everything from giant turkey legs to mac-and-cheese burgers with no waiting.
Morning is also an excellent time for fairgoers to get their shopping fix with lots of room to roam and browse in Carnival of Products, Parade of Products, Festival of Products and Crafters Village, along with the shopping booths throughout the fairgrounds. Visitors look forward to finding their Fair favorites and custom-made products each year.
Guests can get up-close views of exhibits ranging from award-winning woodworking, sugar arts, table setting, quilting and produce and floral displays before others arrive. The arts exhibits are always popular with lots of fine art, photography and jewelry and there is unobstructed viewing early in the day.
Fairgoers can check the daily schedule on ocfair.com or on the 2021 OC Fair mobile app to plan ahead and make the most of their day at the Fair.
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Wednesday, July 28, 2021 (11:22 am)
Brantley Gilbert concert at OC Fair canceled
COSTA MESA (July 28, 2021) – Brantley Gilbert has announced that because of illness, he will be unable to perform at his concert scheduled for July 29 in Pacific Amphitheatre during the OC Fair’s Toyota Summer Concert Series.The country music performer issued the following statement: “Due to illness, Brantley Gilbert will no longer be performing at The Pacific Amphitheatre this Thursday, July 29. Please contact the venue for any ticketing questions. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to seeing you on the road soon!”Customers who purchased tickets for the OC Fair concert through Ticketmaster will be refunded automatically. Those who purchased show tickets at the OC Fair Box Office at the Pacific Amphitheatre should reach out to pacampinfo@ocfair.com to orchestrate a refund. -
(9:09 am)
California Fresh exhibit debuts at the 2021 OC Fair, celebrates specialty crops
The OC Fair is proud to present for the first time ever the California Fresh Exhibit: Celebrating the Bounty of Our Counties.This special exhibit, which debuted at this year’s fair, was created by OC Fair staff and is aimed at educating consumers and highlighting the state’s diverse specialty crops. The exhibit was developed as part of the California Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. At the end of the fair, the California Fresh exhibit will be on tour educating the public.
WHAT GUESTS CAN DO IN THE EXHIBIT
• Learn about everything from almonds and strawberries to ornamental plants.
• Play the County Bounty Treasure Hunt augmented reality (AR) game – Discover the state’s varied array of agriculture! Just look for the signs with the California Bear and use the QR code to get started or download the app (Apple or Google)
• Coloring sheet for kids – Dress the California Bear for a trip to the OC Fair! The special app also brings the bear to life and he shares information about the state’s many specialty crops.
• There are recipe cards located throughout the exhibit to help fairgoers discover delicious was to enjoy the bounty of specialty crops available.
• A special map in the center of the exhibit illustrates the diversity of the state’s specialty crops by showcasing each county’s key commodity crop.
• Selfie spots – Find all the different and colorful areas to snap pics with your friends, and tag #ocfairfun to be featured!STAGE DEMONSTRATIONS
The exhibit will feature chef demonstrations and culinary experts sharing information on the benefits of these healthy and tasty crops grown in the state’s 58 counties, along with preparation tips.
Michael Marks will demonstrate on stage and introduce the culinary guests on stage. He will discuss the California crops and benefits of eating healthy.
MORE ABOUT SPECIALTY CROPS
Would you guess that Orange County is known for its variety of ornamental plants? California is called the Golden State for many reasons, one being the bountiful specialty crops produced here. These crops include fruit and tree nuts, vegetables, herbs and spices, floriculture and horticulture crops.
Specialty crops are grown and used for food, medicinal purposes and/or aesthetics or beautification in landscaping and more. These crops include the nutritionally delicious almonds and celery in school lunches, olives on your pizza, garlic and ginger that flavors your dinner, cut flowers in holiday centerpieces, trees in the park, and herbs in your medicine.
California produces more than 400 different commodities, many of which are specialty crops. They’re all around us! The goal of the exhibit is to educate consumers about the many benefits of these amazing crops, to promote healthy eating habits and to teach fairgoers about finding locally sourced produce and more.
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Sunday, July 25, 2021 (9:53 am)
Special guide to OC Fair fun for first-timers
There’s something for everyone at the OC Fair, which will run July 16 through Aug. 15, but if this is your very first time, here are some things you won’t want to miss.Don’t miss the fan favorite, the All-Alaskan Racing Pigs. These high-spirited snorters are sure to give you the perfect overload of cuteness and humor. Grab a photo with the winning pigs after the race! Other great animal spots include the Great American Petting Zoo and the Livestock Area.
Another regular must-see stop for first-timers is the Crafters Village. Here you’ll find unique items and handcrafted goods that will make a one-of-a-kind keepsake from your first time visiting the OC Fair. Need more shopping booths? Find them in Carnival of Products, Parade of Products and Festival of Products.
Anyone who hasn’t been to the OC Fair before has surely missed out on seeing our farm animals. Be sure to take time to visit Centennial Farm, which is a three-acre working farm that is open year-round and features the Millennium Barn, several types of farm animals and large crops. Plus, during the Fair, you can take a stop to visit milking demonstrations and dairy exhibits, see the fruit and vegetable competitions or take the kids for a a pony ride.
Be sure to catch a lift on the Sky Ride! Grab an amazing bird’s-eye view to pinpoint what adventure you’ll go to next. The Sky Ride takes riders from one side of the fairgrounds to the other, giving you some peace and relaxation time before you land. It’s also the perfect ride to enjoy with your loved one to relax and give your legs a rest after an entire day of fun. Need an even higher viewpoint? Try La Grande Wheel XL, the nation’s largest traveling observation wheel!
Want to make the most of your visit by watching a live concert inside the fair? Purchase tickets to any show at The Hangar and you will receive free same-day fair admission too! We’ve also got concerts under the stars at Pacific Amphitheatre starting on July 29. Performances happening at Pacific Amphitheatre during fair time also include same-day fair admission. For a full list of who’s playing, go to ocfair.com/entertainment.
For those looking for cute picture locations around the fair, look no further! We’ve got lots of sweet selfie spots. Especially created by the fair’s very own designer Leslie Trasport, you won’t find a space within the fair that isn’t flowing with color or that doesn’t include a cutout, backdrop or fantastic wings for your best pics. Step up your social media game and use the hashtag #ocfairfun so we can all see your favorite pictures from your very first trip to the fair.
Nothing says the fair like something fried followed up by something super sweet. Try one of the many yummy food concoctions at places like Chicken Charlie’s, Biggy’s or Bacon A Fair, and then head over to Cathy’s Cookies or Mom’s Bakeshoppe for some classic chocolate chip cookies, and top those off with some ice cream from one of the many ice cream stands (Can’t decide? Try Olde Tyme’s chocolate-dipped bars).