The 2019 OC Fair is coming soon.
The fair folks are getting ready to welcome more than 1 million people looking to binge on adrenaline on the midway, find the latest must-have in the products buildings, taste a food pairing that maybe never should have been conceived and otherwise enjoy the vast selection of entertainment available.
If you are planning to go, here is some stuff you need to know:
When and where is the 2019 OC Fair?
The 23-day OC Fair kicks off Friday, July 12 and continues through Aug. 11; it is closed Monday and Tuesdays.
Hours are noon to midnight weekdays (except Mondays and Tuesdays) and 11 a.m. to midnight on weekends.
The OC Fair & Event Center is at 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa; just off the 55 Freeway.
How much is admission?
General admission on weekdays is $12, and on weekends those ages 13 to 59 pay $14.
Ages 60 and older pay $7 any day, as do those 6 to 12. Ages 5 and younger are free.
Active and retired military with valid ID are free and they can buy up to six general admission tickets for half off.
Super pass costs $40 for general admission and $33 for kids and seniors and offers daily admission, up to 10 general admission tickets for $10 and other discounts.
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When and how can I get in for free?
Opening day, July 12, until 3 p.m. offers free admission and parking.
Thursdays are free for children 12 and younger all day.
Children who are 5 and younger are free every day.
Daily: Active and retired military with valid ID are free.
Wednesdays offer free admission until 3 p.m., and a free carnival ride per person, with valid donations. Here is each week’s charitable theme:
July 17: Donate school supplies valued at $5 or more (receipt required), which will be given to Share Our Selves.July 24: Donate five cans of food for the Second Harvest Food Back and OC Food Bank.July 31: Donate three new or gently used children’s books, which will go to THINK Together.Aug. 7: Donate five new or gently used clothing items. Will benefit Goodwill of Orange County.
Did you go to the San Diego County Fair? And keep your ticket? It will get you free admission to the OC Fair. And your OC Fair ticket will get your free admission to the Riverside County Fair from Feb. 14 to 23.
From Aug. 7 to 11: Free admission for active-duty and professional staff of police, sheriff, fire and emergency services departments with an agency ID.
What kind of discounts are available?
Fridays are Seniors Day and offer $5 admission to those 60 and older, as well as a free ride on the Ferris wheel or merry-go-round.
Weekends from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. is $7 general admission and carnival rides require half the usual number of tickets to ride … on Sundays a $35 unlimited ride wristband can be purchased by 1 p.m. and be used until 4 p.m.
Thursdays from noon to 4 p.m. you can sample select fair foods for $3 each.
Riding the OC Fair Express bus service to the fair gets you a coupon for $4 admission. See ocfairexpress.com or below for more information.
Children can read two books and complete an online book report here for three free carnival rides.
$35 unlimited ride wristbands are sold Wednesdays and Thursdays until 5 p.m. and can be used until 8 p.m. On Sundays, buy them by 1 p.m. and last rides are by 4 p.m.
$2 rides and $2 games are sold until 4 p.m. on Fridays.
What items are you allowed to take into the OC Fair?
Snacks and beverages in plastic containers or reusable bottles are allowed. You can also take in a soft-sided cooler. No cans, glass or outside alcohol are permitted. All belongings are subject to inspection before entering the fairgrounds.
There is no smoking allowed during the fair, either inside buildings or outside around the fairgrounds.
Selfie sticks and drones are not welcome, nor are weapons.
What are the parking options?
Parking is $10 at the fairgrounds.
There is free weekend parking off-site in the Experian parking structure, 475 Anton Blvd. off Bristol Street; shuttles run from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
What are some of the ways you can get to the fair?
You can catch the OC Fair Express on weekends. The bus ride will cost you $2 each way, $1.50 for seniors, and you get $4 admission to the fair with the ride coupon (same day).
The buses run 10 a.m. to midnight on Saturdays and Sundays; check here for times from your location. Locations are:
- Fullerton: Park-and-Ride, 3000 W. Orangethorpe Ave.
- Anaheim: ARTIC station, 2626 E. Katella Ave.
- Anaheim: Canyon station, 1039 N. PacifiCenter Drive
- Huntington Beach: Goldenwest Transportation Center, 7301 Center Ave.
- Irvine: Metrolink station, 15215 Barranca Parkway
- Laguna Hills: Transportation Center, 24282 Calle de los Caballeros
- Laguna Niguel: Metrolink station, 28200 Forbes Road
- Orange: Village at Orange, 1500 E. Village Way
- Santa Ana: Transportation Center, 1000 E. Santa Ana Blvd.
Taxi, Uber or Lyft zone is across Fairview Road in the Orange Coast College parking lot at Arlington Drive.
Who is performing?
Along with the roaming entertainers and five free stages throughout the fairgrounds that host popular bands and acts such as a hypnotist and acrobats, there are two large venues for catching a concert.
The Pacific Amphitheatre hosts concerts each night the fair is open as well as before and after – stretching into September. Tickets include free admission to the OC Fair.
Some highlights from the announced line-up include: Brandi Carlile and David Rosales on July 17; Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo and Melissa Etheridge on July 20; Smokey Robinson on July 27; Viva El Mariachi on Aug. 4, “Weird Al” Yankovic on Aug. 8; and Live, Bush and Our Lady Peace on Aug. 10.
Get the whole round-up of concerts here.
The Hangar is certainly the spot if you love a good cover band. But, its nightly line-up also includes the likes of Los Lobos on July 14 and Ozomatli on July 21, among others. Tickets come with same-day admission to the fair.
What are some of the competitions you can still enter?
Whether you think your pie is worthy of a blue ribbon or your touch for arranging flowers will speak to judges, there is still time to sign up for many of the OC Fair’s competitions.
There are deadlines scattered throughout July and even into August, check them all out here.
There is also a “photo shoot out” planned for July 28 when folks will have two hours to snap their best shots of the fair. Register for that contest here.
Or put paint brush to canvas – or watch the artists do it – during a one-day plein air contest on July 21. Sign up by July 12. Find out more about that competition here.
Just not feeling the creativity this year, you can instead join in the OC Fair 5k Fun Run on Aug. 4. Information: ocfair5k.com
What’s new this year?
Making its California debut, the Titan will be thrilling riders in the main carnival area of the OC Fair.
Daring riders strapped into one end of this pendulum ride will reach up to 55 mph as they swing through the air. At 17 stories, it’s the tallest travelling booster ride in the country.
Down on the ground, there will be a circus train and tea cups in the kiddies’ land.
In the culinary area there will be a cooking school, DIY workshops on making bath bombs and A GUACAMOLE BAR sponsored by O.C.’s own Northgate Market.
Plenty of other new features will be sprinkled throughout the fair, from crazy new foods to try like the Fruity Pebbles shrimp po’ boy, to lawnmower races in the Action Sports Arena.
