Tuesday, January 28, 2025 (1:12 pm)

After more than 20 years of service at OC Fair & Event Center (OCFEC), top executive Michele Richards has announced that she will retire this spring prior to the 2025 OC Fair.

She was appointed as CEO by the Board of Directors in December 2019 and led the state agency through several key projects, including shepherding the organization through the pandemic, helping lead the Board of Directors through two multi-year strategic plans, introducing a master site plan for the property, delivering five of the most successful fairs in the organization’s history, and expanding OCFEC’s free public programs through Centennial Farm, Heroes Hall, Imaginology and now The Ranch Community Center.

Richards was instrumental in the OC Fair’s adoption of a new business model, unique to the industry, that places customer satisfaction and long-term financial stability above the race for ever-increasing attendance numbers. She believes it is important to reduce crowding at the Fair, to be a good neighbor to those living nearby, to responsibly manage the organization’s resources and ensure that safety remains a top priority.

Richards will be relocating to Georgia to take on a larger role in the care of family members.

“It has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lead this organization, to serve the community and to bring so much happiness through the OC Fair, Centennial Farm, Heroes Hall and the many events and festivals that take place all year long,” said Richards. “It will be so hard to say goodbye to my friends, colleagues and partners who have been so important to me, but I know that OCFEC will be in great hands with solid plans and the financial stability to successfully move forward. It is now time to focus on my family and I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to do so.”

Now leading an organization of over 250 year-round full- and part-time employees and more than 1,500 seasonal workers that help put on the highly successful annual OC Fair, Richards previously served as the organization’s Vice President of Business Development for more than seven years, leading the marketing, communications, sponsorship, creative services, events and exhibits and education departments. She was also an organizational development consultant to OCFEC for 11 years before joining the staff.

Of her many accomplishments, Richards is most proud of building what she calls “the best team in the fair industry” which she credits with going above and beyond to serve the community and create new experiences. “I’ve been so blessed to be able to lead smart and creative people, harness their ideas into reality and celebrate with them as we bring joy to so many in the community through our entertainment, educational and community support programs.”

Many changes to the OC Fairgrounds property are currently in the works following years of planning and public input including a new Master Site Plan that will make way for more educational opportunities and public access to animals and agriculture, helping to fulfill OCFEC’s mission, “Creating equitable community access to agriculture, entertainment, cultural and educational experiences.”

Another recent development is the implementation of a new vision for The Ranch Community Center. The 7.5-acre area of the fairgrounds is now operating under a new plan that provides access to horses and free or low-cost equine experiences while also setting aside space for private boarding and training. This new model opens the facility for greater public access and educational programs along with the continued boarding opportunities.

“Michele Richards has left an unforgettable mark on OC Fair & Event Center. Her leadership during challenging times, especially steering us through the global pandemic, exemplified the true essence of resilience and innovation,” said Board Chair Nick Kovacevich . “Under her guidance, OCFEC has not only weathered storms but has emerged stronger, with a business model focused on sustainability, community satisfaction and safety. As Michele steps away to dedicate her time to her family, she leaves behind an organization that is not just surviving but thriving, poised to seize new opportunities with enthusiasm. Her vision, dedication and heartfelt service have been the bedrock of our success. On behalf of the Board, our staff and the community we’ve served together, we express our profound gratitude to Michele.”

The Board has initiated a comprehensive search process to identify potential candidates for the CEO position.

Friday, January 10, 2025 (2:24 pm)

OC Fair & Event Center has not yet been activated as a large-animal evacuation site, but stands ready to assist as soon as notification is given by the California Office of Emergency Services. Coordinated efforts are important to keep animals and people safe during these devastating fires.

Here is a list of emergency services from LA County Animal Care:

Emergency Animal Shelter Information

Los Angeles County Fires: Due to the ongoing Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire in Los Angeles County, the following shelters are available for animals affected by the evacuation orders. Please note capacity details and staffing information:

Large Animals

Lancaster Animal Care Center 5210 W Ave I, Lancaster, CA 93536

Antelope Valley Fair 2551 W Avenue H, Lancaster, CA 93536

Industry Hills Expo 16200 Temple Ave, City of Industry, CA 91744

Capacity for 200 horses; not staffed by DACC

Pomona Fairplex 1101 W McKinley Ave, Pomona, CA 91768

Receiving horses only

Small Animals

Baldwin Park Animal Care Center 4275 Elton St, Baldwin Park, CA 91706

Carson Animal Care Center 216 W Victoria St, Gardena, CA 90248

Downey Animal Care Center 11258 Garfield Ave, Downey, CA 90242

Lancaster Animal Care Center 5210 W Ave I, Lancaster, CA 93536

Palmdale Animal Care Center 38550 Sierra Hwy, Palmdale, CA 93550

Need assistance evacuating? Call (562) 940-6898.

Monday, October 7, 2024 (2:48 pm)

Thank you to OC Pride for honoring OC Fair & Event Center with the Ally of the Year award during last weekend’s pride celebration at the Fairgrounds. We are proud to support and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.

Monday, September 16, 2024 (2:44 pm)

Over the past week, OC Fair & Event Center (OCFEC) sheltered 107 animal evacuees from wildfires across Southern California. Our facility welcomed 94 horses, four goats, four chickens, three ducks and two geese, offering them a safe haven during these challenging times.

“Thank you to everyone for your help with this vital evacuation. Once again, OCFEC is there for the community,” said Michele Richards, OC Fair CEO.

We’re incredibly grateful to be able to support the equestrian and farming communities in this time of need, working closely with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department to coordinate efforts. The swift action and collaboration ensured these animals had a secure place to stay.

As always, OC Fair & Event Center remains dedicated to serving our community – standing ready to offer our resources when needed.

Wednesday, September 11, 2024 (10:52 am)

OC Fair & Event Center is now sheltering 93 horses that have been evacuated from danger zones as fires rage across Southern California.

The displaced horses are in stables at the OC Fairgrounds’ equestrian center and space is still available for more large animals that need to move to safety.

The fairgrounds’ staff is working with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department to coordinate evacuation efforts and to support the equestrian community and others with large animals that must be relocated. Temporary stalls have been constructed to house additional animals on the property and horse owners have complete access to care for their animals.

For more information on evacuations, please check Resources During a Disaster | Orange County California – Sheriff’s Department (ocsheriff.gov)

“We continue to be a resource for the community as these emergencies progress and will do all that we can to make sure animals have safe shelter as long as needed ,” said Michele Richards, OC Fair CEO. “The OC Fair & Event Center is here to serve and we have the resources to help.”

The OC Fair staff is working to support the needs of the evacuated horses and their owners. At this time, volunteer efforts are not needed at the Fairgrounds.

Tuesday, September 10, 2024 (2:01 pm)

COSTA MESA (Sept. 10, 2024) – As wildfires burn across Southern California, horses are being housed safely at OC Fair & Event Center as large animals are evacuated from danger zones.

Some 23 displaced horses are currently in stables at the OC Fairgrounds’ equestrian center and it is anticipated that more will be coming to the facility today; potentially some horses from outside the county.

The fairgrounds’ staff is working with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department to coordinate evacuation efforts and a total of 85 stalls are available to support the equestrian community and others with large animals that must be relocated. Temporary stalls can also be constructed to house more animals on the property if the need arises.

For more information on evacuations, please check Resources During a Disaster | Orange County California – Sheriff’s Department (ocsheriff.gov)

“This is what we do – we support the community during times of crisis. We have the space and the expertise here to help animals that must be moved to safety during these fires,” said Michele Richards, OC Fair CEO. “Having just wrapped up the 2024 OC Fair, the public knows we are here in times of celebration, but we are also here in times of need. Right now it is imperative that we provide a large-animal evacuation center where displaced horses and their owners from all over Southern California can find a safe escape from the wildfires.”

The OC Fair staff is working to support the needs of the evacuated horses and their owners. At this time, volunteer efforts are not needed at the Fairgrounds.

Monday, August 26, 2024 (3:43 pm)

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) selects “The Centennial Farm Story of California Specialty Crops” grant proposal to receive a 2024 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) Farm Bill award. 

The funding will allow OC Fair & Event Center to address the ongoing critical need to connect the region’s youth to locally grown specialty crops, while educating them about how these crops get to their plates. Through storytelling and first-hand, experiential learning, youth will be encouraged to engage with agriculture as an industry, as a field of study and as it impacts many facets of their lives.

Learn more about the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, visit https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/Specialty_Crop_Competitiveness_Grants/.

Wednesday, August 21, 2024 (4:49 pm)

COSTA MESA (Aug. 21,2024) – The 2024 OC Fair is in the rearview mirror and Southern California is looking back on so many iconic summer memories. Fairgoers celebrated for 23 days, from July 19 through Aug. 18, and they brought home blue ribbons, stuffed prizes and experiences they will always remember.

During the run of the Fair, more than 1.13 million guests passed through the gates and there were 12 days that exceeded 50,000 in attendance, nine of those were total sell-outs. (These preliminary numbers are subject to change.) The theme was “Always a Good Time” and attendees agreed with that sentiment, scoring the Fair an overall 4.20 (out of 5) for total enjoyment, according to our on-site survey. In 2023, the OC Fair welcomed 1,048,181 Fairgoers.

“Each summer, it is a privilege and a delight for our staff and partners to put on the annual OC Fair for the community and this was an exceptional year,” said OC Fair CEO Michele Richards. “The entertainment was stellar, the competitions were top-notch, the $5 Taste of the Fair was a hit and by staying with our limited daily attendance model, we again minimized the impact on our neighbors and provided a great experience for fairgoers. We want to thank all who visited and supported the 2024 OC Fair. You helped provide the funding for our community give-back programs including Centennial Farm, Heroes Hall and Imaginology.”

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

16,259 competition entries vied for prizes in all categories and this year there was a record for the auction price of the grand champion steer – $14,000. In total, 170 animals were sold at auction and sales were $270,593. Also, more than $38,275 in prize money was paid out to competitors in culinary arts, fine arts and the hobbies & handcrafts contests.

130,000 fairgoers enjoyed shows in Pacific Amphitheatre, 32,000 people rocked out in The Hangar and 30,000 attended the spine-tingling shows in Action Sports Arena. The new OC Fair Radio station helped some 7,000 fans get information and discounts for this year’s entertainment.

16,280 guests visited Heroes Hall to learn about the stories of our veterans and more than 2,370 postcards were created to honor our active-duty military and veterans.

16,005 gallons of free chilled water were distributed at four refill stations. That’s the equivalent of 128,040 water bottles saved and they would equal about 16 miles if placed end-to-end – approximately the distance from Costa Mesa to Lake Forest.

70 tons of organic waste was diverted from landfills along with 30,000 pounds of cardboard, 9,000 gallons of cooking grease and another 70 tons of animal bedding.

17 piglets were born at Centennial Farm during the Fair along with one little peachick.

80,000 beads were used by visiting crafters to create Sand and Sea-themed bracelets at the make-and-take tables in the OC Promenade.

750 pounds of melons and 150 pounds of turnips were carved into incredible designs for fairgoers’ enjoyment by Chef Ray Dewy.

1 million dollar winner at the California Lottery booth at the OC Fair!

And then there was the food!

6,000 pounds of corn dog batter, enough to fry 2.5 miles of foot-long dogs on a stick, was cooked up at Big Daddy Corn Dogs.

1 ton of fresh-chopped garlic and 1,200 pounds of grated Parmesan cheese made up garlic fries at Biggy’s.

1 orchard of lemons for lemonade, 6 tons of sugar for cotton candy and sweet treats and 2,000 gallons of whip cream were used at RCS concessions in the midway.

86,000 Ten Pound Buns were served up along with 145,000 Hot Dogs on a Stick, 20,000 ICEEs, 3,000 samples of Red Beard’s Hot Sauce and 6,000 dill pickles from Timbo’s.

111,000, fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies were made from scratch at Mom’s Bakeshoppe, where they averaged about 5,000 cookies a day.

17,370 chicken drumsticks, 9,450 deep-fried Oreos and 2,000 Hot Honey Funnel Cake Sandwiches sold at Chicken Charlie’s stands throughout the Fairgrounds.

3,219 vanilla cones were served at Sweets by Cardinali, outpacing the second-place Fair favorite, the swirl cone, with 2,273 dished up.

3,850 pounds of popcorn seeds and 2,825 pounds of sugar became bags of kettle corn at The Snax Shack.

2,455 $5 Tastes of the Fair were sold at Bacon Nation, 1,228 at Spud Ranch, 2,338 at The Ranch and 1,845 were served at The Hook.

And the fun isn’t over yet! Concerts at Pacific Amphitheatre continue through Sept. 14:

Big Time Rush / Crash Adams on Aug. 30
Counting Crows / Toad The Wet Sprocket on Aug. 31
Steel Pulse / The Green / Sammy J on Sept. 1
John Fogerty / Hearty Har on Sept. 3
Bonnie Raitt / James Hunter on Sept. 14
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Pacific Amphitheatre
How much: Ticket prices vary per show, section and seat. 
More info: Visit Pacific Amphitheatre

(Click here to view a PDF version of the Press Release)

Friday, April 26, 2024 (4:22 pm)

COSTA MESA (April 26, 2024) – On April 25, the OC Fair & Event Center Board of Directors proudly proclaimed April as Arab-American History Month. This special declaration was received by Nahla Kayali.

Nahla Kayali is a Palestinian refugee from Syria who founded the nonprofit organization Access California Services (AccessCal) in 1998. Each year, AccessCal serves approximately 12,000 underserved and vulnerable individuals, including immigrants and refugees.

The proclamation was presented by Director Dimetria Jackson and Director Natalie Rubalcava-Garcia, representing both the OC Fair Board of Directors and the 32nd District Agricultural Association.

(1:10 pm)

COSTA MESA (April 26, 2024) – At yesterday’s OC Fair & Event Center (OCFEC) Board of Directors meeting, CEO Michele Richards expanded on the new vision for the current equestrian center at the fairgrounds. Rebranded as The Ranch Community Equine Center, the facility will focus on community programming for all while maintaining the current boarding and training activities. 

The Ranch Community Equine Center will effectively become an extension of the organization’s agriculture education programs in support of its mission, similar to the free public programming offered at Centennial Farm.

The Board has been working to continue the organization’s emphasis on education and to expand opportunities for the public to interact with, learn about and enjoy hands-on experiences with horses. The vision also includes providing equine-assisted therapy for veterans and others, conducting educational tours for students and community groups, hosting horse shows free to the public and developing hands-on equine exhibits.

“I’m very encouraged to see this new vision continue to move forward,” said Board Chair Nick Kovacevich. “It’s great to offer access to a broader group of public constituents who otherwise would never have the chance to experience these wonderful animals.”

At last month’s meeting, the Board voted to increase rental rates for current boarders to cover OCFEC’s costs for operating the boarding and training activities at the center. The Board also agreed that staff should continue to look for ways to reduce costs and pass along those savings in the form of rental reductions. Richards announced today that basic stall rental rates will be cut by $151 per month from the rates presented at the March Board meeting. Effective June 15 rental increases will be phased in three steps, resulting in the final increase on January 1, 2025, to $979 per month for a standard 12’x12’ stall.

“Now that we’ve provided a more optimistic outlook regarding rates at the equestrian center for boarders and trainers, I’m glad that staff can now focus on building on the bold public vision for The Ranch Community Equine Center,” said Richards.