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Racing pigs and deep fried avocados — yep, it's OC Fair time
The OC Fair opens in Costa Mesa this week, running through Aug. 18.
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Courtesy of OC Fair & Event Center
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The O.C. Fair begins today offering ferris wheel rides, copious amounts of deep fried and sugary foods, carnival games and in true California fashion, fried avocados.
The theme of this year’s fair at the Orange County Fairgrounds is "Always a Good Time," chosen to reflect nostalgia, cherishing good memories and creating new ones each summer. So let's get into what you can expect.
What’s new at the fair
There will be two new carnival rides this year. Climb aboard Heidi where riders will spin while climbing a dizzying 42 feet before experiencing a drop. Overdrive is an automobile themed rollercoaster with its stomach-churning twists and turns.
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Prefer something slower? The Enchanted Castle, a walkthrough immersive experience, might be more your cup of tea.
Calories don’t count in the summer right? Every year brings a host of unusual foods to try and this year is no exception.
How about a Dr. Pepper Pickle Soda at Chicken Charlies? Don’t knock it till you try it, the vinegar of the pickles cuts through the sweetness of the soda to jolt those taste buds. Or Bacon Churro Fries at Bacon Nation, a first timer at the fair? It’s all your favorite fair foods in one dish - churros, fro-yo, crispy bacon bits.
@chickencharlies Come try our new item #OCfair2024 #pickledrpepper #drpepper #pickles @foodbeast @OC Fair
♬ original sound - Chicken Charlie’s
Los Angeles institution Pink’s will debut the Cali Dog this year. The humble hot dog gets an upgrade with tangy sour cream, guacamole and a spicy hit of Hot Cheetos.
And for the first time at the fair, visitors can learn about Orange County’s coastline at the Sand and Sea exhibit, where you can interact with underwater creatures in a touch tank and through a virtual reality experience.
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For a bit of nostalgia, photographs of previous O.C. Fairs taken by photographers Michael Goulding and Miguel Vasconcellos will be on display in the Visual Arts Gallery.
Old favorites return
What’s a fair without a pig? The All-Alaskan Racing Pigs are back , with races happening at different times Wednesday through Sunday. For the schedule, go here.
The popular $5 Taste of Fair menu also returns daily until 4 p.m. You can sample some of the fair’s best food offerings without breaking the bank. Top on my list of things to try: the Flamin’ Hot Pickle Pizza and Fried Avocados.
Rock on at the Fair
This year’s edition will feature 83 concerts across three stages. Belt out the legendary Celebration with 1970s pop icons Kool & the Gang or slow dance with your beloved to Richard Marx. For more information on who is performing and when, click here.
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If music is not your thing, maybe monster trucks or a demo derby are. Tickets to these action sports events will include access to the entire fair. For more information, click here.
Fair at your fingertips
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- Visitors must purchase tickets beforehand, with a maximum of 50,000 tickets sold each day.
- Entry fees start at $9 for seniors and kids aged between six and 12, going up to $15 for general admission tickets on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Children 5 and under are always free. You can buy tickets for specific dates or the Every Day Passport which offers access on all fair days. To buy tickets, click here.
- Carnival ride tickets need to be bought separately with discounts offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays. To buy ride tickets, click here.
- Diaper bags, strollers, bottled water (store sealed or empty bottles), wagons and factory sealed foods are permitted.
- Cans, glass bottles, hard coolers, selfie sticks, professional photography equipment, tripods, drones and weapons of any sort are not allowed.
- Only service animals are allowed in.
Getting there
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- The OC Fair Express bus service will start July 20. The bus will run from locations in Anaheim, Fullerton, Huntington Beach and Laguna Hills on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to midnight till the Fair concludes in August. Round trips will cost $4. Those 18 and under can ride for free.
- Parking starts at $15 for cars and motorcycles. The OC Fairgrounds is located at 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa.
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