Thursday, February 12, 2026 (9:31 am)

OC Fair & Event Center wins 22 industry awards from Western Fairs Association

COSTA MESA (Feb. 12, 2026) – OC Fair & Event Center (OCFEC) earned 22 Achievement Awards from Western Fairs Association, including 21 first-place honors.

The annual program recognizes innovation and excellence among fairs and festivals in the Western U.S.

Eleven of the first-place awards were in photography categories including entertainment, carnival, first responders, exhibits, animals and people at the fair. Other top honors were for community outreach for OC Fair’s We Are OC! A Cultural Celebration, agricultural programming, volunteerism and sponsorship. Marketing and creative wins went to logo and program design as well as TV and radio ads.

OC Fair Radio also brought home a top award and OCFEC was honored for large-animal evacuation and for the new Ranch Discovery Days at The Ranch Community Center. OCFEC received one second-place design award.

“I am incredibly proud of the team here at OC Fair & Event Center and I am elated to see this industry recognition shine a spotlight on the work we do all through the year to provide wonderful experiences and service for the community,” said OCFEC CEO James Canfield.

Western Fairs Association sponsors annual awards programs to recognize excellence in the areas of competitive exhibits, communications and agriculture and to share successful ideas and programs with other fairs throughout the organization. More than 150 fairs throughout the Western U.S. and Canada are eligible to participate in this prestigious awards program.

The awards for 2025 achievements were announced following the organization’s annual conference last month in Reno.

OC Fair is the top fair in California and number nine in North American based on attendance. The 136th annual Fair will run this year from July 17 through Aug. 16.