Friday, August 4, 2023 (6:05 pm)
How to do the 2023 OC Fair like a pro
COSTA MESA (Aug. 4, 2023) – Many Fair fans return every year to enjoy summer fun and make memories with friends and family. We’ve got tips for those long-time Fairgoers as well as first-timers so anyone can do the Fair like a pro!
Top tip – don’t miss out! The OC Fair closes on Aug. 13 and days do sell out. Get tickets now at ocfair.com/tickets.
Planning ahead
Tickets to the 2023 OC Fair must be purchased in advance online for specific days.
There are four new water bottle filling stations with cold water so be sure to bring your refillable bottles and stay hydrated.
Bring sandwich bags to store your leftover Fair food. There are many great shareable options, but even the mightiest of stomachs can get full, so don’t let good food go to waste.
Wear comfortable, closed-toe shoes (or you could be subject to spills, animal droppings or having to wear funny plastic covers available at certain rides for protecting your little piggies).
Wear sunscreen – and don’t forget to reapply. We also recommend wearing a hat or something to shade yourself from the sun. Also, dress in loose, lightweight and light-colored clothing.
Bring some quarters! Your feet will love Footsie Wootsies, the colorful foot massage chairs located throughout the Fairgrounds.
Follow us on social media. We post sold-out updates, clips from live performances and more! We’re on Facebook (@ocfair), Instagram (@oc_fair), Twitter (@ocfair) and TikTok (@oc_fair).
Getting here
Map to 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa, but then follow the directional signs, not the lines of cars. Signs will tell you which gates are open, which should help you get to your parking spot as fast as possible.
If you have tickets to a Fair performance, remember to arrive early so you don’t miss a minute of the show if parking gets a little crowded.
In case you get separated, take a picture of your children and what they are wearing. Just in case, pick a landmark to meet up. There is a Lost Child area on the Fairgrounds – it’s with Security and First Aid, all located to the right of The Hangar building.
Looking for deals? Plan to be here by the time we open at 11 a.m. We’ve got unlimited ride wristbands available on Wednesdays and Thursdays ($49 each, one per person/day, purchase/redeem by 5 p.m., use from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.). PLUS on Thursdays we have our $4 Taste of Fair Food promotion, which features sample-size bites from our food vendors for just $4 each.
At the Fair
Grab a Food Guide and printed map from one of the Info Booths. On the back of the map, there’s a list of things to do and see every day.
In August, celebrate Chicano Heritage Month at the Fair! Guests can craft tissue flowers and showcase them on a display wall with quotes of what it means to be Chicano/a. Additionally, there will be painting demonstrations taking place in the Visual Arts building, culinary demonstrations in the OC Promenade and traditional dress displays in the Home Arts building throughout the month.
You can fill your day without spending money beyond admission. Hungry? Bring your own sealed snacks and water/juices (please no cans or hard-sided coolers). Bored? We’ve got tons of entertainment, exhibits and shows that are free with Fair admission.
Don’t miss our mascots! Did you know the OC Fair Foodies, our costumed characters, have a schedule? And thanks to their human handlers, they stick with it. Catch Olivia, Arturo the Churro, Cornelius, Strawberry Jan and Sunny at the OC Fair letters at noon, 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and in front of The Hangar at 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Feel like dancing? La Cantina is the best spot to let your hair down as the music is nonstop with modern mixes to cumbias and more. Bonus, on Sundays, a live mariachi band will be onsite from 3-6 p.m. to really get the party started. If country music is more your vibe, the Western Saloon on Livestock Lane is serving stiff drinks and country crooners that will have you moving till the cows come home. Looking for something a little more mainstream? The entertainment at Baja Bar & Grill delivers a medley of music styles that will surely get your group boogieing.
RCS, our carnival provider, is offering a special deal for children ages 5-11. First, read three books, then, go to ocfair.com/readandride to fill out the form. You’ll receive a QR code valid for two free rides in Kidland Carnival.
Extend your memories and take the Fair home with you! There are a number of vendors who sell take and bake items such as pizza, cookie dough, bread and more. Better at eating than baking? Buy a bucket of cookies or bring empty food containers and fill them with your favorite Fair foods. On Centennial Farm, you can purchase farm fresh produce to use in your favorite recipes, create a commemorative penny or grab flower seed packets from the Save Our Water booth to plant in your garden. For more traditional memories, visit a selfie spot and snap pictures with your family and friends or cram into a photo booth and make memories while making funny faces.
· A limited number of tickets are available each day – some days are selling out
· Advance online ticket sales only – no transaction fees
· Tickets are good only for the date purchased; please choose dates carefully – no refunds
· Same-day Fair admission is included with tickets to concerts during the Fair
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 $12, $24 for buses and limos, credit card only. Carnival tickets are also on sale now so Fairgoers can skip the ticket booths, and tickets for concerts in The Hangar and Pacific Amphitheatre can be found at ocfair.com/entertainment.
The 2023 OC Fair mobile app is now available with information on daily activities as well as a map, news & information and tickets. Search for “ocfair 2023” in your app store.
The Fair will open each day at 11 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. except on Fridays and Saturdays, when it closes at midnight.