Tuesday, August 26, 2025 (4:00 pm)

The 2025 OC fair by the numbers

COSTA MESA (Aug. 26, 2025) – The 2025 OC Fair is a wrap and there were a whole lot of summer memories for fairgoers who were invited to “Find Their Happy,” the theme of this year’s Fair which ran from July 18 through Aug. 17.

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

Preliminary figures show that 1,162,872 fairgoers came out to enjoy summer’s most-anticipated event and there were eight sold-out days. In 2024, OC Fair attendance was 1,137,555 and there were eight sold-out days.

15,089 competition entries vied for blue-ribbons across all categories. In culinary, visual arts and hobbies/handcrafts, there were 7,108 entries and in floral and produce categories there were 6,042 entries. In livestock, 1,939 competed in the show ring.

$311,202 was the total revenue for the 165 animals sold at the Junior Livestock auction. These funds go directly to the FFA and 4-H youth who raised the animals. This year saw a record-setting number of entry numbers for goats, rabbits and cavies.

4 new carnival rides were at the Fair: Aviator, Sound Storm, Frog Hop and The Royal Wheel.

198,204 servings of $5 Taste of the Fair offerings were dished up. Top stands for $5 Tastes were JP’s Old West Cinnamon Rolls, Gino’s Pizza, Brander Funnel Cake & Ice Cream, Hot Dog On A Stick and Cathy’s Cookies.

50,000 ears of corn were shucked by County Fair Corn Stars.

30,000 pounds of strawberries, 8,000 pounds of chocolate and more than 1,000 gallons of Dubai pistachio cream were used to make Chocolate Strawberry Cups at Sweeties.

1 semi truck of Crunchy Flamin’ Hot Cheetos was used to top fries, pickles, corn dogs and more at Biggy’s. More than 2,000 pounds of fresh garlic was chopped for the garlic fries there and a 55-gallon drum of Mike’s Hot Honey was drizzled on turkey legs, corn dogs and pickles.

138,000 fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies were made from scratch at Mom’s Bakeshoppe.

8,900 pounds of Ten Pound Buns were served up at this year’s OC Fair.

4,450 pounds of popcorn seed was used at Snax Shack.

6,000 orders of Meatballs & Mozzarella on a Stick were sold at Chicken Charlie’s along with 10,000 Dr. Pepper pickle drinks and 4,000 Bean & Cheese Cones.

41,644 glasses of wine, more than 7,000 bottles, were served by 208 OC Wine Society volunteers working 1,486 hours in the Wine Courtyard.

10,000 bottles of chocolate milk were sold to benefit Centennial Farm’s agriculture education programs.

15 piglets were born from two litters during the Fair. Also at Centennial Farm, 49 volunteers put in more than 1,200 hours. And 100 sunflowers were in perfect bloom.

28,994 gallons of water were dispensed to fairgoers at six hydration stations located throughout the fairgrounds.

231,952 plastic bottles were diverted from landfills; laid end-to-end, the bottles would span 29.44 miles.

20,504 visitors to Heroes Hall during the Fair also had the chance to see the Echoes of Conflict: Remembering Vietnam exhibit and to decorate 1,563 postcards for the troops.

12,550 prizes were given away at the Orange County Sand and Sea (Sand & Sea) Scavenger Hunt and at sandbox games. 135,000 beads were used at the Sand & Sea bracelet-making activity.

345 local bands performed on the community stages during the Fair and six groups performed at the We Are OC! cultural day on Aug. 17.

19 concerts and shows were sold out; 6 in The Hangar, 10 in Action Sports Arena and so far there have been three sold-out shows in Pacific Amphitheatre. There was one new event, Mowterized Mayhem. There were a total of 72 shows booked during the 2025 OC Fair season.

3 concerts are still to be performed under the stars in Pacific Amphitheatre:
Aug. 30 – ZZ Top / Foghat
Sept. 11 – The Isley Brothers / The Commodores
Sept. 12 – Young the Giant / Wilderado
Tickets are on sale at pacamp.com.