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What's new at the OC Fair this year? Bacon cotton candy, bacon-wrapped burritos

A hand is holding up a stick of pink cotton candy that is sprinkled with bacon bits.
Bacon-flavored cotton candy is wrapped about pork belly chunks in this decadent new fair offering.
(
OC Fair
)

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The OC Fair is going all in on bacon this year.

Some of the new fair food debuting this year includes a bacon-wrapped carnitas burrito, bacon-flavored cotton candy on a pork belly stick and a bacon cheddar donut.

If all of that is too oinky for you, there are some mozzarella meatballs on a stick, cactus tacos, tres leches cinnamon rolls and Dubai chocolate brownies and Dubai chocolate strawberry cups. And there are all the favorites, too, like funnel cake, turkey legs, roasted corn ... you get the idea.

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And if you got filled up just reading all of that, don't worry.

There's plenty of lighter fare too. Like vegan pastries, veggies-and-avocado tacos and … even fresh salads.

Pro tip: Take advantage of the $5 tasting menu offerings. Each day, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., vendors will be offering select tastes of their menus for a wallet-friendly $5. We're told that many of these tastes are quite shareable, which will allow you to do some sampling before you decide what your main course will be.

The OC Fair runs July 18 through Aug. 17 at the Costa Mesa fairgrounds. The theme this year is "Find Your Happy." In addition to deep-fried confections, there will be dozens of rides — with names like OMG and Raptor and Sky Flyer — as well as shopping, a petting zoo, pig races, lawn mower races, a 5K race, concerts and more.

A close-up photo of an amusement park ride — a neon green car is racing along a roller coaster track. Half the people are laughing and smiling and the other half looks like they are screaming for it all to end.
The OC Fair is known for its food — but also its rides.
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Michael Goulding
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OC Fair
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One tip — you have to buy tickets in advance (which helps cap attendance and keep lines moving.) Tickets start at $9 for kids aged 6 to 12 and go up from there. You can find all the info at OCFair.com.

The fair attracts more than 1 million visitors a year and many days sell out, so plan accordingly if you have your heart set on a particular day.

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