Carnival ride and game tickets ….
Carnival ride and game tickets can also be bought online now and are $1.25 each. Tickets required for each ride range from two to 14 tickets and games require between two and eight tickets each. For more information on this year’s rides and games, visit ocfair.com.
What’s happening at the Fair?
There is lots of fun planned for every day with activities ranging from getting up close and personal with animals in the petting zoo to checking out exhibits, shopping and enjoying local groups performing on community stages.
Things To Do
• Fairgoers can meet the newest “Foodie” Sunny Lemon. This costumed character joins the ranks of the Foodies including Strawberry Jan, who joined the team last year. The Foodies are out at various times during the day and are happy to take photos with fairgoers.
• OC Fair competitions allow local residents to showcase their talents and guests can marvel at the blue-ribbon winners in categories like photography, fine art, woodworking, floral arrangements, table-setting, cake decorating and growing flowers, vegetables and fruit. Some entries are still open, visit ocfair.com for more information.
• For kids and families, Explorium returns to OC Promenade this year with special activities designed to help little ones learn about fun on the farm. The Magic of Frank Thurston will entertain there each day.
• At Centennial Farm, fairgoers can learn from OC Beekeepers, UCCE OC Master Gardeners, California Rare Fruit Growers and more. There are also milking demonstrations and produce and floral exhibits along with the farm’s resident animals and crops.
• The Action Sports Arena is back this year, starting with the OC Brew Hee Haw craft beer festival July 14-16 and then demolition derbies, monster trucks and speedway races will move in.
Things to See
• Hypnotist Mark Yuzuik and the Polynesian dance ensemble Tupua will perform nightly in Plaza Pacifica.
• More evening music will be coming from the shows in The Hangar, and fairgoers can enjoy the party in the Main Mall.
• Roving entertainers Dragon Knights Stilt Walkers, the Clown Patrol and Red Light Brass Band will be joined by a new group, Ellas, an all-female mariachi band that will be at the Fair only for a limited run.
• All-Alaskan Racing Pigs will be back in their track in Plaza Pacifica – fairgoers can cheer on their favorites as the little porkers cavort around the course.
• In the livestock area, there are more animals to teach and entertain. Displays include sheep, goats, llamas and urban livestock.
Things to Eat and Drink
The popular Taste of the Fair is back with sample-size food options for $4 on Thursdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
The fair’s creative concessionaires are cooking up some typically outrageous fair food so guests will not be disappointed with the offerings every day.
• Fairgoers will enjoy their annual favorites, including classic funnel cakes, serious BBQ, deep-fried treats, cinnamon rolls, family-sized pizza, exotic floats, ice cream and everything on a stick. There are many options to share.
• The Courtyard, a fan favorite, will be serving award-winning OC Fair wines and a variety of others in a shady spot. There are also michelada stands, beer booths and frozen cocktails on offer.
Things to Hear
• Pacific Amphitheatre is home to amazing shows under the stars. Performances include comedians Trevor Noah and Jim Gaffigan, concerts by Counting Crows, CNCO, Boy George & Culture Club, Maxwell, Cole Swindell and Jackson Browne.
• In The Hangar, tribute bands LA Sound Machine, Twisted Gypsy, No Duh and Queen Nation join Mariachi sol de Mexico over the course of the Fair.
• Local entertainers take to community stages throughout the day and feature acoustic music, rock performances, country music, dance groups and more. This is great free family fun!
Tickets are available now for all shows at ticketmaster.com.
