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).