OC Fair is Back
The first Ferris wheel is going up, the exhibits are under construction, and the animals are getting ready to welcome guests back to the 2021 OC Fair.
This year’s fair will run July 16-Aug. 15, Wednesdays through Sundays, with limited attendance. The theme is “Time for Fun!”
Tickets must be purchased in advance with no fees on ocfair.com.
Fairgoers should make sure to get tickets for special days and group adventures now, since limited-daily-capacity days could sell out.
Returning favorites include the All-Alaskan Racing Pigs, Dragon Knights roving performers, La Grande Wheel XL, concerts under the stars in Pacific Amphitheatre, the Wine Courtyard, blue ribbons awarded in OC Fair competitions, animal displays, midway games with giant prizes, and the Clown Patrol, VeeKay, Tadpole and Katie.
Staff and partners are hard at work preparing for the excitement that the OC Fair has been delivering since 1890.
Shopping vendors are stocking their wares and concessionaires are concocting intriguing food for fairgoers. There are sure to be lots of things on sticks, deep-fried and wrapped in bacon.
Key things to know:
• A limited number of tickets are available each day
• Advance online ticket sales only—no transaction fees
• Tickets are good only for the date purchased
• Choose dates carefully—no refunds
• Same-day fair admission is included with tickets to concerts during the Fair
• OC Fair is not currently planning to increase capacity
• Ticket prices will not increase • Sales are no longer restricted to California residents
• Masks are required indoors for unvaccinated guests Tickets are $12 weekday general admission (Wednesday, Thursday) and $14 weekend general admission (Friday, Saturday, Sunday). Admission for seniors (60+) and youth (ages 6-12) is $7 every day and children 5 and younger are free.
The 2021 OC Fair mobile app is coming soon and will have information on daily activities as well as a map, news and information and tickets.
The fair will open each day at 10 a.m. and close at 11 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays and midnight on weekends.
General parking is still $10, $20 for buses and limos; credit card only.
The free shuttle from Experian and OCTA’s OC Fair Express bus service will not be available this year.
Carnival tickets are also on sale now, so fairgoers can skip the ticket booths.
Carnival tickets are also available on the RCS Fun app.
It will be a different OC Fair for guests to explore.
With a limited capacity of about 45,000 fairgoers each day, the event is designed to give visitors more elbow room and will have a reduced number of attractions.
The OC Fair follows state and county health directives. Masks are required for unvaccinated guests inside OC Fair buildings.
Music and comedy under the stars return with the Toyota Summer Concert Series at Pacific Amphitheatre, as well as tribute bands and more at The Hangar during the 2021 OC Fair. Pacific Amphitheatre’s season begins July 29 and will continue after the fair.
The Hangar’s season will run throughout the fair.
The OC Fair & Event Center is a 150-acre event venue in Costa Mesa.
The site hosts over 150 events attracting 4.3 million visitors annually, and is home to the Orange County Fair, Centennial Farm, Costa Mesa Speedway and Pacific Amphitheatre.
