Category Archives: Uncategorized

Tuesday, January 31, 2023 (11:46 am)

COSTA MESA – The OC Fair & Event Center Board of Directors has approved the first phase of a master site plan that will improve the fairgrounds and position it for the future.

Phase 1 includes the expansion of the OC Fair & Event Center administration building at an estimated cost of $25 million. This will add 15,659 feet of space and will make room for employees who will be displaced by future master site plan projects.

In addition to work space, there will be meeting rooms, archive and storage areas, restrooms and additional security measures in the expanded building. The project is scheduled to begin this year and to be completed by the end of 2024.

Future master site plan projects include a new Century Barn at Centennial Farm, an agriculture education center, expanded exhibit buildings, new public restroom facilities, Pacific Amphitheatre facility improvements, Action Sports Arena upgrades and an agriplex that will provide a place for livestock shows and educational space.

“I am proud of the work that the staff and Board have put into this plan and I know it is a great path forward for OC Fair & Event Center,” said OC Fair & Event Center CEO Michele Richards. “We are on solid financial ground and the master site plan projects will bring the property new opportunities to serve the community, generate family fun and fulfill our mission.”

Work on the eight-phase master site plan is expected to continue through 2032 and the Board will review and approve each project in sequence. The estimated total cost of all master site plan phases is $229 million.

The Board approved the first phase of the master site plan at its Jan. 26 meeting by unanimous vote.

View the master site plan PowerPoint presentation here, under Facility reports.

Tuesday, January 24, 2023 (4:32 pm)

First Award and Best Animal Photo Winner - Animals With or Without People - Mega Fair

Second Award Winner - Food & Beverage - Mega Fair

First Award Winner - Exhibits, Competitive or Educational - Mega Fair

First Award Winner - People at the Fair - Mega Fair

First Award & Award of Excellence Winner - Entertainment & Grounds Acts - Mega Fair

First Award Winner - Community Outreach/Emergency Response Venues - Mega Fair

Second Award Winner - Carnival - Mega Fair

Friday, December 23, 2022 (10:09 am)

The New Year is off to a fun and festive start at OC Fair & Event Center – come join us!

Centennial Farm Garden Class: Pruning Fruit Trees -The Basics, Jan. 14

Learn the best time to prune stone-fruit trees, citrus trees and avocado trees in Southern California. Isabel Barkman will cover the basics of pruning and why the pruning season here is different than the rest of the country and will also prepare attendees for the hands-on fruit pruning workshop in January.

When: Saturday, January 14, 2023, 10 a.m.-noon; RSVP online by Jan. 11, 2023.

Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Centennial Farm

How much: $6 fee covers materials and any handouts. There will be NO refunds for cancellations made within 48 hours of a class. For cancellations made prior, only class fee will be refunded (not booking fees). Free parking.

More info: Sign up at ocfair.com/gardenclasses

JAMZ Palms & Pyramids, Jan. 14

Come. Play. Perform. Inspire. This JAMZ-packed cheer and dance event has tons of awards up for grabs. Get your bid to The Pinnacle! JAMZ Palms & Pyramids sets up dance and cheer athletes to go all out and qualify for nationals.

When: Saturday, Jan. 14, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.Where: OC Fair & Event Center – The Hangar, Anaheim Building and OC PromenadeHow much: $20 general admission, $10 kids admission (Ages 6-15), free for children 5 and younger. Parking is $12.

More info: Visit jamz.com/palms-and-pyramids

Jurassic Quest, Jan. 14-16

Jurassic Quest is the world’s largest, most popular dino event with unique and exciting experiences for the whole family. Observe our herd of life-size animatronic dinosaurs including Apatosaurus, Spinosaurus, T-Rex and an incredible 50-foot long Megalodon. Interact with our trainers, baby dinos and watch a live raptor show. Explore our dinosaur rides, giant fossil dig, inflatables, fossil science exhibit, “Triceratots” soft play area and more.

When: Jan. 14-16; Saturday, Jan. 14, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 15, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Monday, Jan. 16, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Costa Mesa Building, Huntington Beach Building and Santa Ana Pavilion

How much: $22 general admission for all ages, free for children 2 and younger, $19 seniors (65+).Parking is $12.

More info: Get tickets at tickets.jurassicquest.com/costamesaca2023/events

Centennial Farm Garden Class: Rose Care, Jan. 21

Interested in growing roses or taking care of the ones you already have? Learn about how to properly care for them in this class taught by a Master Gardener. The purpose of the University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program is to extend research-based, scientifically accurate information to the public about home horticulture and pest management. Master Gardeners perform volunteer services sharing the information they have learned to the public. For information about the Master Gardener program, visit https://mgorange.ucanr.edu/

When: Saturday, January 21, 2023, 10 a.m.-noon; RSVP online by Jan. 18, 2023.Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Centennial FarmHow much: $6 fee covers materials and any handouts. There will be no refunds for cancellations made within 48 hours of a class. For cancellations made prior, only class fee will be refunded (not booking fees). Free parking.

More info: Sign up at ocfair.com/gardenclasses

OC Fair Board of Directors Meeting, Jan. 26

When: Thursday, January 26, 9:30 a.m.

Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Administration Building or virtually on Zoom

More info: Visit ocfair.com/public-information/public-meetings/

UVSA Tet Festival, Jan. 27-29

The Tết Festival (Hội Tết Sinh Viên) of Southern California is recognized as the largest Vietnamese Lunar New Year Festival in the area. The aim of Tết Festival is to create an avenue for everyone to have a better understanding of the Vietnamese culture in many ways: vibrant arrays of traditional food, traditional performance and entertainment, and cultural exhibitions.

When: Friday, Jan. 27, 4 p.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 28, 11 a.m.- 10 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 29, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Valid only on Saturday, Jan. 28 from 11 a.m. – 12pm. Free entrance for visitors who wear traditional outfits (no religious outfits), military and scout uniforms, no costumes.

Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Lot I

How much: $8 general admission tickets available online; free for children 2 and younger. Parking is $12.

More info: Visit tetfestival.org

SoCal World Guitar Show, Jan. 28-29

This is an international buy-sell-trade event for guitars, amplifiers and other musical gear. Vendors and buyers from across the country and around the world come to buy, sell and trade with each other and public attendees. Event attendees may bring all the musical gear they can carry to sell, trade or have appraised.

When: Saturday, Jan. 28, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 29, 10 a.m-4 p.m.

Where: OC Fair & Event Center – The Hangar

How much: $20 general admission; free for children 11 and younger. Parking is $12.

More info: Visit amigoguitarshows.com/socalwinter/

Ongoing at OC Fair & Event Center

Farmers Market every Thursday

Shop local at this OC Farm Bureau-certified farmers market featuring produce, fresh flowers, fish, hummus, honey, hot sauce and more. Some vendors also sell hot food for lunch such as tamales and tacos/burritos.

Hours: Thursdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Where on the fairgrounds: Outdoors in Lot D

How much: Free admission and parking; let parking attendant know you are going to the Farmers Market.

More info: Visit ocfarmbureau.org

Centennial Farm open daily

Visit our three-acre working farm, which features seasonal crops, farm animals and knowledgeable staff.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (see calendar for closures)

Where on the fairgrounds: Centennial Farm is on the south side of our property

How much: Free admission and parking

More info: Visit ocfair.com/centennialfarm

Heroes Hall Museum open Wed.-Sun.

Visit our museum to view the latest exhibits and learn about local veterans.

Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (see calendar for closures)

Where on the fairgrounds: Heroes Hall is next to Centennial Farm

How much: Free admission and parking

More info: Visit ocfair.com/heroeshall

Exhibit: ‘Armed Only With A Camera’ through Sept. 2023

The World War II Photography of Stanley Troutman is now on display at Heroes Hall. Troutman served his country by photographing the war in the South Pacific Theater including the devastated cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (see calendar for closures)

Where on the fairgrounds: Heroes Hall is next to Centennial Farm

How much: Free admission and parking

More info: Visit ocfair.com/heroeshall

Looking ahead to February

SoCal Swordfight, Feb. 17-19

SoCal Swordfight is the largest historical European martial arts event in the United States attracting competitors, attendees and instructors from around the world. The event features 15 tournaments across multiple weapon sets and divisions, more than 80 hours of classes and lectures on the use of a variety of historical and modern weapons and self-defense techniques, first aid/CPR/AED and Active Shooter Response Certification, antique weapons and much more.

When: Friday 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Costa Mesa Building and Santa Ana Pavilion

How much:$20 – Single-Day Spectator Pass

$40 – Full-Weekend Spectator Pass

$150 – Full-Event Registration and Access to Classes

Additional cost for: Tournament participation, certification courses and celebrity courses. Free for children 12 and younger

Parking is $12.

More info: Visit socalswordfight.com/

Gem Faire, Feb 24-26

Fine jewelry, precious and semi-precious gemstones, millions of beads, crystals, gold and silver, minerals and much more at manufacturer’s prices. Nearly 200 exhibitors from around the world. Jewelry repair, cleaning & ring sizing while you shop.

When: Friday, Feb. 24, noon-6 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 25, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, Feb 26. 4, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (No admittance after 4 p.m. Sunday)

Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Costa Mesa Building and Santa Ana Pavilion

How much: $7 general admission; free for kids age 11 and younger. Parking is $12.

More information: Visit gemfaire.com or email info@gemfaire.com

Make it and Take it – Gifts from the Kitchen, Feb. 25

This class will bring you up to date on the latest canning recommendations, teach you how to process your food safely and explain the reasons behind it. You will learn what equipment is needed and proper storage methods. A simple recipe will be taught and prepared in class for participants to take home.

When: Saturday, February 25, 2023, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; RSVP online by Feb. 23, 2023.

Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Centennial Farm

How much: $35 class fee covers ingredients, handouts and two half-pint canning jars with lids and rings. Knives will be provided, but you may bring your own if preferred. Aprons are highly recommended. Tied-back hair and close-toed shoes are required. There will be no refunds for cancellations made within 48 hours of a class. For cancellations made prior, only class fee will be refunded, not booking fees. Free parking.

More info: Sign up at ocfair.com/gardenclasses

46th Annual OC Home & Garden Show, Feb. 25-26

Featuring home improvement products and services; garden supplies and displays with new water saving garden products, hourly DIY workshops and prizes.

When: Saturday, Feb. 25, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday, Feb. 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Los Alamitos Building, Anaheim Building

How much: Admission is free, parking is $12.

More info: Visit www.thebesthomeshow.com

Thursday, December 15, 2022 (4:02 pm)

COSTA MESA (Dec. 15, 2022) – Today the OC Fair announced that “Happy Together” will be the theme of the 2023 event that will run July14-Aug. 13, highlighting community inclusion.

Advance ticket purchase will again be required with limited capacity for summer’s best party, which will be open Wednesday through Sunday.

Admission tickets will go on sale online in early 2023 and will be restricted to 45,000 admissions available per day. This is the third year the Fair has imposed a limited-capacity model and days are again expected to sell out.

A new offering, the OC Fair Every Day Passport, will also be on sale in early 2023 and will allow guests to visit the Fair any day of its 23-day run without advance tickets required. The price will be $60 for all and sales will be limited to 10,000 passports.

“There is no better way to celebrate summer than to be ‘Happy Together’ at the OC Fair,” said Michele Richards, OC Fair CEO. “We’ve been working all year to once again bring the community together for all the special fun and goodness the OC Fair offers – food, rides, animals, entertainment, shopping, exhibits and more. We can’t wait for opening day on July 14!”

Ticket prices will slightly increase this year with general admission prices going up by $1 for the first time since 2014 to $13 general admission on weekdays (Wednesday, Thursday) and $15 on weekends (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). Weekend admission prices were raised by $2 in 2017. Tickets for seniors 60+ and kids 6-13 are $9 all days, a $2 increase, also the first since 2014. OC Fair will again absorb the online admission ticket transaction fees since advance purchase is required. Admission tickets will not be available for sale at OC Fair entry gates. Parking will be $12, a $2 increase year-round.

New hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

Tickets are now available for purchase for the first OC Fair concerts announced for Pacific Amphitheatre and The Hangar. Live music performances include Dwight Yoakam and Asleep at the Wheel, Bee Gees Gold with ABBA LA and Queen Nation.

Returning OC Fair favorites include magician Frank Thurston, Brew Hee Haw craft beer festival, monster trucks, demolition derbies, All-Alaskan pig races and, of course, zany fair food.

The Junior Livestock Auction will be back in person on July 22 and the traditional OC Fair competitions will begin accepting entries in February.

Also on display during the Fair at Heroes Hall will be Armed Only with a Camera: World War II Photography of Stanley Troutman. 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 OC Fair is looking for local people to participate in the annual 2023 event. Community entertainment (unpaid) applications will be accepted beginning Jan. 9 at https://ocfair.com/oc-fair/be-a-part-of-the-fair/community-entertainment/ Applications for vendors and concessionaires are now open at https://ocfair.com/oc-fair/be-a-part-of-the-fair/vendors/ Sponsorship and marketing information is available at https://ocfair.com/oc-fair/sponsors/

The 2022 OC Fair had attendance of 1,055,173 with 11 sold-out days. The Fair returned to an in-person event in 2021 after going virtual in 2020.

Monday, November 28, 2022 (2:14 pm)

Community input is important to us. If you have a few minutes to spare, please take this survey about a potential OC Fair season pass.

Thank you in advance for your feedback to help OC Fair & Event Center improve!

Take the survey now!

Tuesday, October 25, 2022 (2:21 pm)

OC Fair & Event Center was awarded four top honors from the International Festival & Events Association at its annual Pinnacle Awards competition in September.

A gold award recognized the organization’s e-newsletter as the best in show. Silver awards honored OCFEC’s TV promotion and outdoor billboard and a bronze award was given for best promotional poster.

Each year IAFE recognizes the top organizations internationally in the festival and events world.

Thursday, August 18, 2022 (10:09 am)

COSTA MESA – The 2022 OC Fair is a wrap and there were a whole lot of summer memories for fairgoers who wanted to “Feel the Sunshine,” the theme of this year’s Fair which ran from July 15 through Aug. 14.

Advance tickets were required again this year so daily capacity could be limited to provide a better experience for our guests, neighbors and partners. There was no increase in ticket prices again this year.

“The annual OC Fair is very special and important to the community. It gives us such pleasure to present it every year. It’s a thrill for our team to plan and produce an event that resonates with our guests throughout Southern California and beyond,” said Michele Richards, OC Fair CEO. “It’s always sad to see the annual OC Fair end each year, but rest assured our team is already working on next year’s Fair. We can’t wait to welcome back all our guests again in 2023,” said Richards.

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

Preliminary figures show that 1,055,173 fairgoers came out to enjoy summer’s most-anticipated event and there were 11 sold-out days. In 2021, OC Fair attendance was 1,055,770 and there were 16 sold-out days.

10,000 competition entries from 3,068 exhibitors vied for blue-ribbons. In Home Arts, there were 399 entries, 1,292 entries in Culinary, Visual Arts had 3,754 entries and there were 4,426 entries in Horticulture. Entries were up 20 percent over 2021.

2.5 million carnival rides were enjoyed by fairgoers and their favorites were La Grande Wheel XL, Skyride and Rave Wave. The top games were Bottle Up, Big Water Race and Bank A Ball. The most-requested midway prizes were Squishmallows and Ramen Noodle stuffies.

7,990 kids took advantage of the Read and Ride program by reading books and earning carnival rides.

70,600 fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies were made from scratch at Mom’s Bakeshoppe.

16,682 hot dogs were sold by Pink’s, along with 13,754 orders of fries and 1,272 veggie dogs.

5 top food items from Biggy’s were pizza, fried Oreos, Dole Soft Serve, corn dogs and funnel cakes.

8,800 pounds of Ten Pound Buns were served up at this year’s OC Fair.

20,000 deep-fried Oreos, 2,000 Kool-Aid chicken sandwiches, 9,000 Canadian lobster tails, 5,000 bacon-wrapped pickles and 3,000 fried avocados were served up at the Chicken Charlie’s stands throughout the fairgrounds.

One new OC Fair Foodie costumed character was introduced this year, Sunny Lemon, who posed for photos daily and paraded through the fairgrounds with the OC Fair Foodie crew.

20 piglets, five goats and four peachicks were born at Centennial Farm.

13,958 phone calls during the Fair were answered by the Guest Experience team.

44,611,100 social media impressions on OC Fair’s various profiles on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

231,736 cars were parked in general parking during this year’s event.

35 tons of organic waste was diverted from landfills, 55,000 pounds of trash was recycled and 7,500 gallons of cooking grease was repurposed by the OC Fair facilities team.

$242,967.76 was paid out to agriculture students through the Junior Livestock Auction and this year we saw the sale of 153 animals.

13,514 visitors to Heroes Hall during the Fair also had the chance to see a real Huey helicopter and to decorate 1,000 postcards for the troops.

12 concerts were sold out in The Hangar, 11 events were sold out in Action Sports Arena and so far there have been eight sold-out shows in Pacific Amphitheatre.

Concerts under the stars are continuing with these upcoming shows in Pacific Amphitheatre:
Aug. 18 – Boy George & Culture Club / Berlin
Aug. 19 – Cole Swindell / Honey County
Aug. 25 – Steve Miller Band
Aug. 28 – Ramon Ayala / Conjunto Primavera
Aug. 31 – Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo / Ann Wilson
Sept. 2 – Jackson Browne
Tickets are for sale on Ticketmaster.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank the community for supporting the OC Fair this year. We’re very proud to provide this great family event each year that means so much to so many,” said OC Fair Board Chair Doug La Belle.

Wednesday, April 20, 2022 (3:53 pm)

Monday, April 4, 2022 (10:08 am)

The OC Fair & Event Center Board of Directors is seeking public comments on a draft three-year strategic plan to determine the future direction of the state-owned property.

The Board is considering the following: New vision and mission statements and strategic direction for the annual OC Fair, year-round events program, educational assets/foundations, the equestrian center, community support and implementation steps.

The draft plan is posted on our website for public review and comment. Please submit your comments using the online form by April 26.

Friday, March 11, 2022 (11:24 am)

(COSTA MESA, CA) — Senator Dave Min (D-Irvine) announced the 37th Senate District’s Woman of the Year honoree, Michele Richards. An Orange County resident, Richards serves as General Manager and CEO of OC Fair & Event Center where she oversees one of the largest fairgrounds in California. The OC Fairgrounds hosts over 150 events a year, including entertainment at the world class Pacific Amphitheater, and attracts approximately 4.3 million guests annually. It is an economic driver for Costa Mesa that generates $300 million for the region.

“On behalf of the 1.1 million residents here in California’s 37th Senate District, I am honored to recognize Michele Richards as the 37th Senate District 2022 Woman of the Year,” Min said. “Michele Richards is not just the General Manager and CEO of the Orange County Fairgrounds – she is a pillar of the Orange County community.” Min continued, “Since the onset of the pandemic, Ms. Richards’ stewardship not only steered the Fair’s financial recovery but leveraged its shuttered facilities for COVID-19 response. From food distribution center to vaccine supersite, we are incredibly grateful for her leadership.”

“I’m beyond honored to be named by Senator Min as Woman of the Year,” Richards said. “There are many exceptional women leaders in our community and it is a great privilege to be counted among them. I am surrounded by an amazing team at OC Fair & Event Center. What we do is important to the community, and to be able to help so many people during the pandemic and bring back the OC Fair has meant so much to all of us. Thank you for this recognition.”

Ms. Richards’ full bio can be found below.

Michele Richards was named OC Fair & Event Center’s General Manager and CEO in December, 2019 where she has led the organization through the pandemic and eventual recovery. Michele took the helm at a critical time just before the pandemic shut down all public access and revenue-generating event business at OC Fair & Event Center, including the 2020 OC Fair. Working with the employees she credits as being the heart of the team, Michele led the organization back to financial stability with the reopening of public events and return of the 2021 OC Fair, the most successful in the fair’s history. During the shutdown, Michele worked with state, county and local government agencies and nonprofits to host emergency food distribution events and COVID testing, and used the OC Fair & Event Center as a vaccination Super POD to serve the community. Prior to being appointed CEO, she served as Vice President of Business Development for more than seven years. Most notably, she was responsible for guiding initiatives which significantly increased attendance at the annual OC Fair, launching new sales programs which generated additional year-round events revenue, leading a rebranding effort and advancing the organization’s youth STEAM event, Imaginology.