Thursday, April 24, 2025 (9:00 am)
What’s happening at OC Fairgrounds in May
Hoag OC Marathon Running Festival, May 2-4
The 21st Hoag OC Marathon Running Festival returns to the seaside streets of Orange County, California and will showcase three days of events, including the Kids Run the OC Empowered by Hoag, the U.S. Bank OC 5K at sunset on Saturday and Sunday’s half and full marathons. The race is a perfect destination event for runners, with the beaches, theme parks and near-perfect weather.
When: Friday – Sunday, May 2 – 4
Schedule:
Friday, May 2, 3 – 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 3, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, May 4, 5:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – All-fairgrounds
More Info: Visit OC Marathon
Discovery Day at the Farm, May 7
Discovery Days at Centennial Farm are open to the public and are perfect for parent groups, homeschool groups and more. Groups may participate in the following activities:
Self-guided tours
Radish seed planting
Chick education
Oxen demonstration
Crops education
When: Wednesday, May 7, 9 a.m.–noon
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Centennial Farm
How much: Free admission and parking.
More info: Visit Discovery Day
Gem Faire, May 9-11
Shop for the perfect Mother’s Day gifts for every budget. Fine jewelry, precious and semi-precious gemstones, millions of beads, crystals, gold and silver, pearls, minerals, fossils and much more at manufacturer’s prices. Jewelry repair, cleaning and ring sizing while you shop.
When: Friday – Sunday, May 9-11
Schedule:
Friday, noon – 6 p.m.
Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Wholesaler preview: Friday, 10 a.m. – noon
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Costa Mesa building, Santa Ana Pavilion, Main Mall
How much: General admission is $7. Children 11 and younger are free. Parking is $12.
More info: Visit Gem Faire
Sow and Grow! Transplanting Seedlings into Your Garden, May 10
Knowing how to transplant seedlings into a garden successfully is essential to their survival and growth. Join local gardener Kylie Gilliam in a hands-on class designed for anyone who has started seeds at home or purchased young plants from a nursery. Gilliam will guide participants through essential steps like preparing garden soil, properly removing seedlings from their containers and transplanting them with minimal stress. You’ll also learn how to recognize transplant shock, when to harden off your seedlings and how to care for them post-planting for a thriving garden.
Whether you’re growing in raised beds, traditional garden plots or large containers, this class will boost your confidence in making the transition from seedling to full-grown crop!
When: Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; RSVP online by May 2.
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Centennial Farm Silo Building
How much: $30 fee covers all materials, including a small container box, soil and seeds.
Parking is free.
More info: Sign up at Centennial Farm Garden Classes
Costa Mesa Speedway, May 10
Harley Night Blowout / Speedway / Sidecars
Get ready for an adrenaline-packed night of speedway races! Watch as fearless racers rev up their fuel-burning motorcycles and push the limits at lightning speed. Expect unpredictable moments as riders take daring, high-lean turns at full throttle, right in front of your eyes—it’s a race night you won’t forget!
When: Saturday, May 10
Schedule:
Gates open at 6 p.m.
Baja Bar & Grill happy hour 6–7 p.m.
First race starts at 7:30 p.m.
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Action Sports Arena
How much: General admission is $30, children 10 and younger are free. Parking is $12.
More info: Visit Costa Mesa Speedway
Heroes Hall Speaker Series – Breaking Their Silence: Filmmakers Capture Stories of Japanese American Vietnam Veterans, May 10
Don Bannai and George Wada launched the Japanese American Vietnam Era Archives in 2022 in an effort to collect the oral histories of Japanese American Vietnam veterans, whose numbers were quickly dwindling. Many of these veterans were descendants of the brave soldiers who served in World War II in the Military Intelligence Service and the 100th Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team, highly decorated units. Over the past few decades, the focus had been on World War II veterans with little attention paid to Vietnam veterans, whose return from war was largely met with hostility and contempt. Bannai and Wada began the project knowing that members of their generation who had served and survived the Vietnam War also had stories that needed to be captured. Thus far, they have recorded more than 100 sessions, with dozens posted to the Library of Congress website.
When: Saturday, May 10, 2-3:30 p.m.
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Heroes Hall Museum & Education Center
How much: Free admission and parking.
More info: RSVP here, or call 714-708-1613.
32nd Annual Wild & Crazy Taco Night, May 14
Get ready for a fiesta like no other! Join Share Ourselves for their 32nd Annual Wild & Crazy Taco Night, where the tacos are wild, the fun is endless and the cause is meaningful. This is your opportunity to give back by supporting Share Ourselves’ mission of providing accessible health and social services to those in need. Enjoy live entertainment, all-you-can eat tacos and drinks, and a vibrant community spirit.
When: Wednesday, May 14, 5:30-7:30 p.m.; VIP Admission at 4:30 p.m.
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Plaza Pacifica
How much: Early bird general admission is $100 and $200 for VIP. Admission increases after May 5.
More info: Visit Share Ourselves
The Ranch Discovery Day, May 14
Join us for the inaugural Ranch Discovery Day at The Ranch Community Center on the OC Fairgrounds.
Experience an educational adventure all about horses! The Ranch will come alive with horses, livestock and interactive demonstrations, creating a memorable day for visitors of all ages!
What to expect:
Meet horses, chickens and rabbits
Explore horse care and grooming
Learn about horses in the military
Discover the world of bees
Stick horse rodeo activity for kids
Watch horse demonstrations
Check out our horse boarding areas including box stalls, arenas and other amenities
When: Wednesday, May 14, 9 a.m.–noon
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – The Ranch Community Center
905 Arlington Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Enter through Gate 8 off Arlington Drive.
How much: Free admission and parking.
More info: RSVP at The Ranch Discovery Day
Discovery Day at the Farm, May 15
Discovery Days at Centennial Farm are open to the public and are perfect for parent groups, homeschool groups and more. Groups may participate in the following activities:
Self-guided tours
Radish seed planting
Chick education
Oxen demonstration
Crops education
When: Thursday, May 15, 9 a.m.–noon
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Centennial Farm
How much: Free admission and parking.
More info: Visit Discovery Day
Make It, Take It – Food Preservation with UCCE Master Food Preservers, May 17
This class will provide you with up-to-date process recommendations, teach you how to process your food safely and explain the reasons behind the process. You’ll also learn about the essential equipment required for food preservation and effective storage practices.
When: Saturday, May 17, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.; RSVP online by May 9.
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Centennial Farm Silo Building
How much: $45 class fee covers ingredients, handouts and two 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 closed-toe shoes are required. Parking is free.
More info: Sign up at Centennial Farm Garden Classes
Costa Mesa Speedway, May 17
Knobby Night Invitational / Speedway / Juniors
Get ready for an adrenaline-packed night of speedway races! Watch as fearless racers rev up their fuel-burning motorcycles and push the limits at lightning speed. Expect unpredictable moments as riders take daring, high-lean turns at full throttle, right in front of your eyes—it’s a race night you won’t forget!
When: Saturday, May 17
Schedule:
Gates open at 6 p.m.
Baja Bar & Grill happy hour 6–7 p.m.
First race starts at 7:30 p.m.
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Action Sports Arena
How much: General admission is $30, children 10 and younger are free. Parking is $12.
More info: Visit Costa Mesa Speedway
Sand Sports Super SWAP, May 17
One day. Thousands of shoppers. Great deals around every corner. The Sand Sports Super SWAP is an off-road enthusiast’s one-stop shop for swapping their sand toys and equipment.
When: Saturday, May 17, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Lot I
How much: General admission is $5 through May 16; $10 starting May 17. Free admission for children 12 and under. Parking is $12.
More info: Visit Sand Sport Super SWAP
Discovery Day at the Farm, May 19
Discovery Days at Centennial Farm are open to the public and are perfect for parent groups, homeschool groups and more. Groups may participate in the following activities:
Self-guided tours
Radish seed planting
Chick education
Oxen demonstration
Crops education
When: Monday, May 19, 9 a.m.–noon
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Centennial Farm
How much: Free admission and parking.
More info: Visit Discovery Day
OC Fair Board of Directors Meeting, May 22
When: Thursday, May 22, 9:30 a.m.
Where: Costa Mesa City Hall Community Room or virtually on Zoom
More info: Visit Public Meetings
Heroes Hall Speaker Series – Beyond the Battlefield: Navigating the Journey of Veterans with PTSD, May 31
Please join us for a special speaker series presentation focusing on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among military veterans. The event will start with the viewing of the documentary film “The Volunteer,” followed by a panel discussion on PTSD.
Nick Berardino, Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam; Tom Clark, Vietnam veteran and Distinguished Flying Cross recipient; and Tim Higle, veteran and director of the South County Veterans Center, will engage in a panel discussion about PTSD and its impact on veterans and their families. They will also address the alarming increase in suicide among veterans, particularly those who served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
When: Saturday, May 31, 2-4 p.m.
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Heroes Hall Museum & Education Center
How much: Free admission and parking.
More info: RSVP here, or call 714-708-1613.
Repticon, May 31 – June 1
This show features everything that you’ve come to love most about Repticon’s two days of fun and excitement! See live animals from around the world, purchase pets and pet products direct from the experts at amazing prices you won’t find anywhere else and learn more about reptiles and exotic animals. Repticon Costa Mesa is one reptile and exotic animal expo that you can’t afford to miss!
When: Saturday & Sunday, May 31 – June 1
Schedule:
Saturday, May 31, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sunday, June 1, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Huntington Beach Building
How much: General admission $15, children $7. Adult super tickets are $20, $12 after 1 p.m. on Saturday. Parking is $12.
More info: Visit Repticon Reptile Show
Ongoing at OC Fair & Event Center
Centennial Farm
Centennial Farm is home to fruit and vegetable gardens, livestock and the Millennium Barn. Two youth educational tour programs are offered – Discovery Days and Jr. Farmer Tours – as well as year-round daily hours so the public can visit the farm.
When: Monday – Friday, 1–4 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Excluding holidays and all-grounds events; see calendar for closures.
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Centennial Farm
How much: Free admission and parking.
More info: Visit Centennial Farm
Centennial Farm Pig Cam
Want to keep tabs on our pigs all year long? Watch the Centennial Farm pigs LIVE on our official Pig Cam and see what these adorable rascals are up to!
More info: Visit Centennial Farm Pig Cam
Farmers Market and Goodwill donations
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 dumplings, burritos and more.
OC Farm Bureau is excited to partner with Goodwill of Orange County. Drop donations off at the designated donation truck before or after shopping local produce!
When: Thursdays, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Lot D
How much: Free admission and parking.
More info: Visit OC Farm Bureau
Heroes Hall
Heroes Hall is a free, permanent, year-round museum and education center with exhibitions, performances and educational programs that celebrate the legacy of Orange County veterans and others who have served our nation. The two-story exhibition space will rotate themes semi-annually with each focusing on an aspect of the personal stories and experiences of veterans.
The current exhibit, “Echoes of Conflict: Remembering Vietnam,” offers a powerful and immersive journey through one of modern history’s most complex and divisive conflicts. Through a rich collection of artifacts, personal stories, historical facts and poignant memorabilia, visitors will gain a deeper understanding of the war’s profound impact on the soldiers who fought and the broader global context. On display through Dec. 21.
When: Wednesday – Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Excluding holidays and all-grounds events; see calendar for closures.
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Heroes Hall Museum & Education Center
How much: Free admission and parking.
More info: Visit Heroes Hall
Coming Up in June
Discovery Day at the Farm, June 2
Discovery Days at Centennial Farm are open to the public and are perfect for parent groups, homeschool groups and more. Groups may participate in the following activities:
Self-guided tours
Radish seed planting
Chick education
Oxen demonstration
Crops education
When: Monday, June 2, 9 a.m.–noon
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Centennial Farm
How much: Free admission and parking.
More info: Visit Discovery Day
Heroes Hall Speaker Series – Lessons From the Sky: A Helicopter Pilot’s Story of Service and Sacrifice in Vietnam, June 7
Join us for a special speaker series presentation by Bill Ring, Vietnam veteran and recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart. Ring will share his stories and lessons learned as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968, including during the siege of the Marine base at Khe Sanh during the Tet Offensive. Ring flew more than 520 combat missions in Vietnam, earning a Purple Heart, a Distinguished Flying Cross and the Presidential Unit Citation. He earned his Distinguished Flying Cross for fearlessly maneuvering his CH-46 transport helicopter into a battle zone to rescue five Marines who were under intense enemy fire. After delivering the men to safety, he returned to the scene to extract the remaining troops.
When: Saturday, June 7, 2-3:30 p.m.
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Heroes Hall Museum & Education Center
How much: Free admission and parking.
More info: RSVP here, or call 714-708-1613.
Costa Mesa Speedway, June 14
Harley Night #2 / Speedway / Sidecars
Get ready for an adrenaline-packed night of speedway races! Watch as fearless racers rev up their fuel-burning motorcycles and push the limits at lightning speed. Expect unpredictable moments as riders take daring, high-lean turns at full throttle, right in front of your eyes—it’s a race night you won’t forget!
When: Saturday, June 14
Schedule:
Gates open at 6 p.m.
Baja Bar & Grill happy hour 6–7 p.m.
First race starts at 7:30 p.m.
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Action Sports Arena
How much: General admission is $30, children 10 and younger are free. Parking is $12.
More info: Visit Costa Mesa Speedway
Heroes Hall Speaker Series – Profiles in Courage: A Specialized Foreign Service Officer Shares Memories of Brave Californians who Served in Vietnam, June 14
Please join us for a special speaker series presentation by Frank Scotton, who worked behind the scenes in the jungles of Vietnam for the U.S. Information Service.
Scotton was assigned to Vietnam in 1962 as a specialized foreign service officer. He worked cooperatively with the CIA in 1964 and was on loan to the 5th Special Forces Group from 1964 to 1966. His job was to travel to places in Vietnam where others seldom went to verify, gather and disseminate information for the U.S. government. Along his journey, he met individuals from the highest ranks in government to the poorest hamlets in the country. In this presentation, he will share the stories of some brave Californians with whom he served. After the war, Scotton went on to serve in Malaysia, Burma, Thailand, Turkey, China and Fort Bragg. He has written a book about his experiences titled, “Uphill Battle: Reflections on Viet Nam Counterinsurgency.”
When: Saturday, June 14, 2-3:30 p.m.
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Heroes Hall Museum & Education Center
How much: Free admission and parking.
More info: RSVP here, or call 714-708-1613.
Fight Club OC, June 19
The most fun you can have on a Thursday night in Orange County! Boxing and MMA fights are presented by Roy Englebrecht Promotions.
When: Thursday, June 19
Schedule:
Baja Bar & Grill happy hour, 5:30–6:30 p.m.
Hangar doors open at 6 p.m.
First fight starts at 7 p.m.
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – The Hangar
How much: General admission varies. Parking is $12.
More info: Visit Fight Club OC
Costa Mesa Speedway, June 21
Speedway
Get ready for an adrenaline-packed night of speedway races! Watch as fearless racers rev up their fuel-burning motorcycles and push the limits at lightning speed. Expect unpredictable moments as riders take daring, high-lean turns at full throttle, right in front of your eyes—it’s a race night you won’t forget!
When: Saturday, June 21
Schedule:
Gates open at 6 p.m.
Baja Bar & Grill happy hour 6–7 p.m.
First race starts at 7:30 p.m.
Where: OC Fair & Event Center – Action Sports Arena
How much: General admission is $30, children 10 and younger are free. Parking is $12.
More info: Visit Costa Mesa Speedway
OC Fair Board of Directors Meeting, June 26
When: Thursday, June 26, 9:30 a.m.
Where: Costa Mesa City Hall Community Room or virtually on Zoom
More info: Visit Public Meetings