Running through the OC Fair instead of having a deep fried Oreo? Yes, please! Most fun 5k ever... 5 stars!!!!! What makes the OC Fair 5k Fun Run true to its name is the 5k course with its fun detours along the way! Yes, you probably will not set a new PR for a 5k if you're doing the fun detours, but the run will definitely be not as fun without them. Although for some, running through the actual fair grounds may be fun enough! Kudos to the race organizers for making most of the course take place inside the OC fair grounds. For 2019, the fun detours involved shooting a basketball, breaking a plate, shooting a ping pong ball in cup, and going on the actual stage of the Pacific Amphitheater. So excited that my aim was just right, and I broke a plate! Not a just a 5k medal gets added to my medal collection, but also a pretty cool donut pineapple plush!!! The fun run takes place at 8 am on a Sunday, and since the fair is not yet open to the public, there's free parking for 5k runners. Race bib and t-shirt pickup is also available on race morning, which is a big plus! There was a water station available in the middle of the course, and bottled water, snacks, and fruit were given out at the finish line. It was my very first OC Fair 5k Fun Run, and I found it well organized with lots of friendly volunteers and staff. A major bonus of the fun run is being able to see the animals and plants in the Centennial Farm area after the race. Centennial Farm is directly adjacent to the finish line area. Although, I'm not too sure if there will be access available next year or in future years. The Centennial Farm staff were happily greeting runners in the area while OC Fair security officers were making announcements that the fair is not yet open and that runners cannot be in the area. Luckily, the Centennial Farm staff won the disagreement/miscommunication while we there! Definitely cool to see the animals and plants without huge crowds. The highlights were getting to see the newly born piglets and calves, taking a selfie with a friendly cow, as well as getting a brilliant idea for an old and nonworking wheelbarrow! Having done a number of 10ks, half marathons, and a couple of full marathons, I have stated to friends and family that I can't see myself ever paying for a 5k again because it's just too short of a distance. The OC Fair 5k Fun Run has changed my mind. read more

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This is my favorite 5k that I look forward to every summer in August. My early memories are of running through bbq smoke (but not in current years) and the smell of farm animals (every year). The course starts out in the parking lot and makes its way inside the fair for a good distance before ending back at the main gate area. If you're running this race straight through without stopping for the Detours of Fun, you're just not a fun person. These are optional stops at a couple of carnival games where you might win a stuffed toy. The Euro Slide was once a fun detour but now taken off course *sad face*. The last of these detours is the Pacific Amphitheater where you can get your photo taken on stage. It will be posted to download for free but you have to sift through the photos to find on your own. After the run, I usually stay at the fair for the day but there is some wait time before the fair officially opens. What's included: - bib pickup and free parking on event day - in 2019, a tech shirt (moisture wicking fabric) - finisher's medal You also get a ticket to come back to the fair but not many days remain before the fair is over. Since I've participated every year since they started, I have to say I miss how there used to be two 5k's, one on the opening weekend and one at the closing weekend of the fair which came with a Super Pass (season pass for the duration of the fair). read more

OC Fair 5k Fun Run - Races & Competitions Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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One of the best "fun run" 5k races I've done. The extra perks make this race worth doing, free parking at the fairgrounds, & free entry to the OC county fair. Race day bib pick up was a breeze, I got there about 30 minutes before the race started and it only took a few minutes to get my bib & shirt. The course is a flat 5k course that goes around & inside the county fair. If you're trying to run for a good time you should try to get as close to the start line as you can, since it's a "fun run" there are a lot of people running with strollers & young kids so if you're in the middle of the pack you'll probably spend time running around a lot of people early in the race. For people more into the fun of the run there's 4 attractions in the fair that they had open during the race, that giant slide was one of them, I forget the other 3. They have good post race snacks. Water, Gatorade, energy bars & chews. At the end of the race there's an they give awards to the top 3 male & female finishers. I have no idea what the general admission price to the OC county fair is but getting free parking & a free ticket to the fair is enough to add this race to my list of races that I'll do each year if I can. read more

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By nature, 5k's are meant to be fun, but just how many 5k's have you run that include "fun detours"? Uh huh. Well, the OC Fair 5k's got four of them! You're can simply run (or walk) straight through the looped course if you like, but if you'd fancy shooting a few hoops or breaking some plates for prizes, take the Fun Detour. Maybe, instead, you'd prefer riding that towering, burlap sack slide or taking a selfie while rockin' & rollin' upon the Pacific Amphitheatre stage. Again, the Fun Detours would be for you! The parking is free, the bib check-in is easy, and the medals are very creative and colorful. You even get one free OC Fair ticket! So after the race, switch out your sweaty running shirt for the cool 5k Fun Run t-shirt you received at bib pickup and enjoy the fair with your friends and family. A little tip: if you're planning on being rather competitive about this race, work your way up front. There are lots of walkers, kids, and strollers, and I mean lots! And they're there to have a fun run too, so keep an eye out, take your time, and hop on those detours! read more

OC Fair 5k Fun Run - One of the "Fun Detours." - Races & Competitions Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Fun run. Absolutely worth it. I would do it again next year. We stayed in the park after we finished the run and enjoyed the quietness in the fair before the public rushed in. I definitely recommend this way to enjoy the fair. Plus free and easy parking in the morning. Since when do you get free and easy parking at the OC fairground? The course itself was easy to complete. I ran and walked most of my way. The cloudy weather was nice for running. Over 2500 runners this year. Tons of drinks and snacks past the finish line for you to rehydrate and fuel up. The -1 star was because I completed the run first and then went back to the detours. All detours except the slide were closed when I went back after the run. I wish all the detours would remained opened until the run ends. The medal is so cute tho!! read more

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In my opinion, this race is good for families and people who would prefer to complete the run/walk at a leisurely pace. For me, I found it difficult to weave between all the strollers and walkers that self corralled themselves in the front area and it wasn't until approximately mile marker 1, was I finally able to pass the majority of the walkers. I applaud anyone and everyone who participates in a walk but I will skip this race in the future. Pluses were parking was free, medal was cute, same day packet pickup available, and you get a free ticket to the fair. read more

OC Fair 5k Fun Run - Races & Competitions Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I really enjoyed this run! Got an email last week and decided to sign up the week of, which I've never done. Besides, it looked fun and the price was relatively low. You get to run/walk around AND inside the fairgrounds before it opens to the public at 11am...and free parking to boot! Packet pick-up was a breeze on race morning although they suggest picking things up the day before. Tshirt was not a tech shirt but a regular kind but that's OK, the design is really funny. Keep in mind there are lots of strollers and walkers enjoying the event, and you may be dodging/weaving in and out of "traffic"...I wish there was some way that walkers/strollers could be on the right side and runners could be on the left...I saw many near collisions, myself included. This run also has "fun detours" which means you can stop off the course to play a game or take a picture on the Pacific Amphitheater stage, I chose the latter. Saw so many shows there that I couldn't believe I was on the actual stage... and I posted a pic to prove it! Post-race refreshments are plenty and I saw that Noosa yogurt was giving away cases of their product...wow! I really enjoyed this event and you could tell by the enthusiasm of the participants and volunteers that they did too! read more

This is a marathon that's fun for the entire family. You can run, or walk. Several people had their kids in strollers. It was also super cool to see some kids in their wheelchairs. I love seeing the smiles on their faces that they can do the course and get a medal like everyone else. You can either run, or there's detours to some of the fair games. They always give you a cool medal at the end of the race, and you get a nice t shirt. After the race you can stay for the fair, and you also get a ticket to come back another day. After the race you get water, and snacks. This is probably my favorite 5K. read more

Fun Run it was! The course itself was pretty cool. It took you throughout the fairgrounds, even through the stinky horse area. They also had some fun detours where you could take a break from the run and play some carnival games and go down the big slide. Pretty cool. Plenty of volunteers, which is always nice. Only one water stop though. Especially with today being as terribly muggy as it was, and extra water stop would've been appreciated. There were plenty of bathrooms that were open along the way. Parking was free for all those who ran (normally $10). Registration included a free ticket to the fair, which we just decided to stick around for after the race. You also received a shirt and a medal! The most annoying thing about this race was the people who decided they didn't want to listen to instructions. Yeah, I'm talking about the stroller moms and dads who didn't want to start at the end of the pack and instead ran into ankles and took up a ton of space. Or the parents with little kids who pushed them too hard right out of the gate and were falling all over the place because of all the early congestion. read more

It's timed, but why bother? This is the OC Fair "Fun Run". Have fun! There were 4 "fun detours" to take advantage of as you make your way around the OC Fairgrounds. Unfortunately, the workers didn't make the detours overly obvious, so I missed one completely, and it seemed most people missed the 3 that I actually had the opportunity to do: - Ride the Euro Slide. - Try to break plate(s) with a baseball (you can win a prize if you do). - Have your photo taken holding a guitar on the Pacific Amphitheater stage. Race fee includes: - General admission ticket good any day of the fair.* - T-Shirt. - Large medal. - Free parking. - You technically can just hang out after the race and spend the rest of the afternoon at the OC Fair. *WARNING: The fair ticket (one of the biggest perks) comes in the goodie (coupons, promos, etc) packet that you pick up on race day after you run. My packet did NOT have a ticket in the bag and I didn't realize until I left. I contacted the OC Marathon people who put this together, and at their convenience, scheduled a time to pick up my ticket. I drove to their office, and they flaked! No one answered the door. I contacted them about flaking and they never responded! Although the race was fun, this really left a sour taste in my mouth about anything OC Marathon related for the future. If you run this race, keep your eyes peeled for the fun detours, and make sure to check your packet for the ticket!! read more

I enjoyed this run. I thought it was organized and not too difficult. Unfortunately, I didn't do any of the Fun Detours. I did notice there were lines for them so I opted not to do any but I did wanna go on the giant slide. Anyways, for the price I think the race more than pays for itself since you get a free ticket to the fair, shirt, and medal. I would definitely do it again. read more

Definitely one of the better run Fun Runs I've been to. Registration is pretty simple and you get to see inside most of the fairgrounds with your fellow runners. There are various fun stops along the way. You can go throw darts at balloons, sink a basketball, take a picture of you holding a guitar on the amphitheater stage, or slide down the the big slide. The carnival games have the added bonus of giving stuffed animals to winners. After the run, there were also plenty of sponsors and vendors handing out samples and selling food. You get a free ticket to the OC Fair on the day of your choosing. To be fair, there was only about a week left in the fair. You can just wash up and join the fun later on the same day. Finished in about 40 minutes even with the stops to take photos and play the carnival games! read more

This race will get the most out of your $25. Most 5k's don't even give out medals at the end, but this one does. And you get a semi-decent shirt plus an entrance to the OC fair as well. Oh, and you get free parking too. You can pretty much stay after the race and stick around for the fair itself and not pay for the usual $7 for parking. And as for the expo, well, not much, maybe a dozen or so vendors, but with a lot of freebies such as 5 hr energy drinks and FRS, you can get so many samples that you essentially get back your $25 investment. So what a great way to get some exercise before you gorge yourself into the endless onslaught of fried twinkies, funnel cakes or fried butter that can only be found at the OC fair. Note to self: 21:19 in 2012. read more

So far this is the best 5k that I have done. It's truly a "fun run" and I'm not quite sure why they even time it. There are detours along the way so you can play carnival games and win a prize and go down the giant slide. All this is free. Parking is also free, as well as fair admission after the race so I definitely feel like I got my money's worth out of this race. Registration was very simple. All the lines went super fast. I just wish they labeled the restrooms better because there was an insane line at the closest one about 15 minutes before it started. But there were several other restrooms open, but no one knew about them. The course itself is not so interesting. You just go around the parking lot, the inside of the fair, through the theater, and back out again. It is also very confusing to navigate if you get lost from the crowd because there are just volunteers pointing which direction you need to go. It gets complicated once people start going through the detours since some people are still running the main course, while some people are just finishing a detour and trying to find their way back to the course. Next time, I will probably just finish the whole 5k and then go back and do the detours. The lines get pretty long and I was curious to see what my time would've been if I hadn't stopped. By the time we finished, all the freebies at the end were almost gone :( read more

Like fried food? Hate lines? Pygmy goats your thang? Don't go to the Oc fair at night, do this run instead. Oh wait, did I say run? I meant to say pay 30 bucks to get inside the fair before its open, thus allowing you to take pics without the crowd. Oh the goats are along the way? Cool. Wait, you can go inside and pet them? Way cool. Wait, if you detour the right way, you can pass by the place where they keep giant stuffed animals? Oh and you get a free ticket to go again the following week? And a free t shirt? And free snacks and drinks? Say whattttt!!!!! What. Are you doing by going to the Oc fair at night. Screw that. It's crowded, parking sucks and the lights aren't even that cool. Come here for the fun run. Stay inside the park after you're done. Sell your free ticket or give it to a friend. You don't need it. You get to eat and ride everything with no crowds. Plus you can pretend you ran 5 kilometers (hah) the run is a week before the week closes fyi read more

The medal is so cute!! This race is pretty small and probably doesn't have more than a thousand people total. It got pretty congested in the actual fair. I feel like it would have been so much better if they turned on the lights inside of the fair. Instead it looked like a sad run down fair. At one point, the line for games and the actual course intersected and runners could not get by. It's a great concept, but it was pretty unorganized and I got a little frustrated. I might give it another go next year tho. ;) read more

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What a quick lil fun run! I was pleasantly surprised how fun this race is. This is a great starter race with plenty of distractions. The volunteers at the detours made them easy to spot. I did the break a plate carnival game and slid down the big slide. I didn't care how it would screw up my final time. Running with a small stuffed animal was a bit of a pain but a great souvenir I can give away. One of the volunteers wasn't patrolling her station so a bunch of people cut through the course to get on the big slide. Boo. I only saw one water stop. Meh. Lots of walkers and baby strollers. I wish all races were like Disney races since everyone walking knows they should stay on the sides and not hoard the middle of the path. It got annoying for those of trying to run. Hmph. Cute shirt and medal! Yay! Real toilets! Hurray! Free parking and a free ticket to come back another day makes this an affordable 5k. read more

A nice local 5K. A great high quality medal for finishing, a great post race food and health fair, and plenty of parking.