The 2024 OC Fair in Costa Mesa, running July 19 through Aug. 18, offers something for everyone.
Hanker after some traditional summer cuisine—corn on the cob, hot dogs, turkey legs, ice cream cones, lemonade? You’re definitely in good hands at the OC Fair.
Crave exhilarating roller coasters, breathtaking Ferris wheels, laugh-outloud bumper cars and—the family favorite—undulating slides that feel like ski jumps? They’re all there.
Coo over adorable piglets, cows, lambs, and goats at the Centennial Farm. Then cheer on those pigs as they clear hurdles in a race.
Win your date a huge stuffed unicorn tossing beanbags in a carnival game. Watch comedic wizards and hypnotists work their magic.
Get educated with all sorts of demonstrations—to name a few, cow milking, beekeeping, and cooking.
Poke around booths selling colorful handicrafts. Or take a break from the heat in the huge market filled with useful and unusual products—from cosmetics to kitchenware to flipflops to mattresses to aloha shirts.
Check out the winners of competitions that include cake decorating, floral arrangement, table setting, woodworking and horticulture.
At the sports arena, marvel over the amazing feats of rodeo riders and monster truck drivers.
And, of course, the Pacific Amphitheatre boasts headliners during the fair and beyond, into September. Among this year’s lineup are Sublime, Stray Cats, Trevor Noah, John Fogerty and Bonnie Raitt.
Oh, and about that yummy fair fare. This year welcomes the debut of “$5 Taste of Fair Food” every day until 4 p.m. Try out sample- sized goodies such as funnel cake, tri-tip, cinnamon rolls, tacos, gelato, and cotton candy.
The OC Fair opens its gates from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and 11 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays.
General admission is $13 on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and $15 on weekends. Entry is $9 every day for seniors 60 and over and kids aged 6 to 12. Children 5 and younger are free.
There’s limited daily attendance, so advance ticket purchase is required.
Parking costs $15 per car. For more info, go to ocfair.com