We absolutely love the OC Fair!! it's our annual must‑do summer tradition (especially since it's where my husband and I had our first date over a decade ago)! The fair runs every summer from about mid‑July through mid‑August (this year July18-August17) and is open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from around 11a.m.-11p.m., and Fridays & Saturdays until midnight -- lots of time for all the fun! Tickets are around $13 midweek and $15 on weekends for adults, $9 for seniors/kids (6-12), and free for kids 5 and under, and you can even get a $60 Every Day Passport to come anytime! Parking onsite is about $15 per car (and buses/limos around $30), with tons of parking and staff guiding you in -- even though it gets packed like Disneyland on summer nights! We always have the best time -- from grabbing pizza, pineapple fried rice, ice cream, boba, fried Oreos, or whatever catches our eye at the food vendors (prices vary by booth), to watching shows, visiting animals (the kids love that), and snapping so many fun photo ops! The atmosphere is amazing, the smells and lights are the best, and you seriously need like 10 hours to do it all -- we're so glad we went and can't wait to go back again next summer! read more

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I come to the ocean fair and events center several times a year. Always for the Pacific coast Sportfishing show and usually for a trip or 2 to speedway races, sometimes for the swap meet, and occasionally the oc fair. Parking is expensive and I often feel like I am getting taken advantage of, especially when I'm paying for the attraction or event and then additional fees for on-site parking. The grounds themselves are fine, about what I expect for a county fairgrounds. Reasonably well maintained and fairly clean so kudos to their custodial staff because many patrons and visitors are frankly pigs, dropping trash, food wrappers, and other refuse rather than walking to a trash receptical and disposing of it responsibily. Pacific amphitheater is a good place to see a show. Good acoustics and convenient location. It would be great if the management would invest back into the facilities. I'll return because there are events and shows that I want to attend at the oc fair and events center. read more

I've been to a couple of events here such as a pet expo, OC Night Market, the Vietnamese Tet festival, the OC Fair, OC Japan Fair, etc. Like every other event at any fairgrounds, at least in California (had a friend from Texas/Denver be baffled at how much everything cost here), you have to pay for parking and sometimes it's more expensive than the entry ticket to the event. I feel like the parking here is more concrete hell than the Pomona fairgrounds even with a shuttle. From what I recall and from at least the experiences that I have had at the events, there's way more outdoor stuff here than at the other fairground. There's that covered walkway and some buildings, but most booths and vendors are outside. So if you're here in the summer or even fall and parts of late spring, you're going to be boiling to death. It is what it is. Honestly, if there's a counterpart closer to me or elsewhere, I'd prefer that over this fair ground. read more

Ahhh the good old OC Fair. I try to come to this event yearly, if not then every other year. It's fun to walk around and try to fried foods. I also love the animals so much. The petting zoo is great! 2 years ago, I got to hug a llama. It was magical lol This year, I was determined to try more of the food. I created a list of the fair items that we wanted to try, and we walked around looking for those specific items. That way we would get to sample more. I'll list what we tried and my take on each item. It's kind of a mixed bag. Boba 5/10 The boba was not chewy or warm. Cold boba is gross. The Thai tea itself was bland and not very flavorful. Not a good boba drink. Funnel Cake 9/10 This was a real hit. Probablly our favorite out of everything we tried. I should have ordered it without ship cream. They smothered it in whip cream and the funnel cake got soggy fast. Shrimp & Fries 8/10 The shrimp was cooked well. The batter was crispy. Not bad. The French Fries were filler food and nothing exciting for those. The shrimp and fry basket took forever for them to make. Fried Pineapple 8/10 Actually, not bad. I wish they didn't put so much chocolate drizzle on top. The pineapple was good. I liked the fried batter too. It tasted like a pancake lol Walburgers burger and tots 7/10 The impossible burger was alright. The sauce was so spicy. Too spicy that it overpowered the burger. Not a fan. I wouldn't get that again. The cheese tots were also very spicy, but those tasted better. Fried Cookie Dough 10/10 Wow! What a surprise. Warm cookie dough inside. Delicious! My husband and I loved this. You have to eat it fast though, otherwise it becomes this mushy mess. Watermelon Taco with Dole Whip 5/10 Very gimmicky, at best. The watermelon wasn't the freshest or sweetest. It was like eating the rind of the watermelon. Not good. The dole whip tasted good. Slice of Cheese Pizza 7/10 This is your basic slice of pizza. Nothing above average about this. It was almost like eating cardboard lol Cheese Nachos 7/10 The cheese tasted like the canned cheese that you buy at the store. Not good. The cheese ruined these. I was hoping for something cheesy, crunchy and salty. Instead ended up with lackluster cheese sauce. Overall, a lot of the food is boo boo and gimmicky. Next year I would do the funnel cake and fried cookie dough. That's about it lol read more

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It's been a quite a few years since I last visited the Oc Fair. I got to check it out this past weekend for the last weekend of the fair. After 9 years since my last visit to the fair, it felt like discovering it all over again. Tickets were $15 for a Saturday visit and parking was another $15. Prior to 4pm, the fair also has a Taste of OC where different food booths over some $5 deals. We ended up checking a lot of different food and drink vendors. We chose to try the Walking Dorritos with Birria , Frozen Margaritas- note need a wristband), Chicken Charlie's Fried Zucchini and Shave Ice. (The Shave Ice was part of the $5 deals). (Note - food not part of the $5 deals can be on the pricey side. The Walking Dorritos were $17 and the Frozen Margarita was $13). Aside from checking out the food vendors, we saw the Rewind: A VHS Exhibit and the Orange County Sand and Sea Exhibit. The Rewind: A VHS Exhibit was my favorite. I thought it was so cool! Talk about a blast from the past. It had a lot of different VHS tapes, movie posters and art work on display. There were also a ton of photo opportunities. We also checked out the carnival, the livestock, baking, fruit and vegetable competitions. I got to plant a succulent and take it home. There was a lot to see but honestly we packed in all that the fair had to offer in a few hours. There will be a lot of walking! Best advice - wear comfortable shoes, a hat, sunglasses and wear a ton of sunscreen! Visiting the OC Fair made for a fun weekend. Years may have gone by, but the fair's food and fun still haven't lost their charm. read more

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It is my second year to visit the OC Fair. Always buy the tickets online! There are booths there, but they do only do customer service. It is better to go on a Friday or Sunday in my opinion. You can still find parking spots in the complex and can find more seats at the outdoor dining area. Better to go in the late afternoon or early evening since the UV rays are low (or none anymore) during those times. Bring sunglasses and sunblock too! So far, the recent dishes that I tried here were from Chicken Charlie's and Dippin' Dots. The Chicken Strips & Fries was a big serving and definitely good for sharing. The chicken was crispy and the fries had some garlic and parmesan cheese on it. I had their lemonade as my drink. It is just your typical lemonade, but it is refreshing to drink on a hot day. I had half Cookie Monster and half coffee flavor ice cream at Dippin' Dots. You do not see these flavors quite often. It has been a good experience so far (as long as you are prepared). read more

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I love the Fair! As a senior, it is not really ideal venue for me but I enjoyed myself. I liked walking the midway and soaking in the sounds and the smells and the excitement of the people there. The parking was easy but it takes a while for the crush of cars to park. I arrived about 11:30 AM. The entrance was very quick and only $9 for senior admission. The information booths were very helpful. I had volunteered to staff a booth for a nonprofit organization. Everyone was in a good mood and the people watching was extraordinary! I had a great time! read more

OC Fair & Event Center - At the fairgrounds for charity fundraiser! - Festivals Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

To me, the oc fair can be a hit or miss. When it hits, it's a home run, when it misses, it's an airball. You might say those are two different sports, and that's right. That's because the parking is wack and almost full every time and the food is overpriced at most stalls. Not saying there isn't any good food, because there are some hidden gems. What's also good about the fair is the animals you get to pet and watch race! All different things but all in all, it's cool for what it is. Not the most affordable family fun but definitely a staple in the oc. read more

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OC fair gets better and bigger every year! Parking is $15 and gets you in the door. Food and drinks are sold separately. We are a giant hot dog, watched a show and walked around for hours. read more

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The OC Fair began in 1890 and went from a one day affair all the way to the month long event that it is today. Although it's closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, it still welcomes more than a million visitors every year and continues to grow in popularity. The fair is located in Costa Mesa and it's recommended to get tickets online in advance. Parking is $15 for cars (they accept card and cash) and there is a lot of it if you come early. Admission is as follows (as of August 2025): $13 general admission on Wednesdays and Thursdays $15 general admission on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays $9 seniors 60+ and kids 6-12 every day Free for kids ages 5 and younger We came at around 10:45am just before they open at 11am and there was already a long line waiting. There were multiple entrances around the exterior of the fair depending on what you want to see first. The blue gate is the main one while the other ones on the left and right are closer to the farm and rides. Some of the fair's food offerings were part of the "$5 Taste of the Fair" where they had samples of their foods for only $5. We really enjoyed eating our way through the fair trying a bunch of different things for low prices. This deal is only until 4pm so you should come early if you want to take advantage of it. Our favorites were the chocolate chip cookie cone, tater tots with chili cheese, strawberry funnel cake, and bacon wrapped hot dog. There are a variety of classic fair games like basketball, duck toss, beer pong, baseball, fishing, hammer, balloon popping, and many more. Rides include classic rollercoasters and 360 spinning ones. The California lottery booth also offered many opportunities to win prizes. Live music played at multiple areas during the day and plenty of alcoholic drink stations were placed throughout. The pet farm housed cows, horses, and my favorite: the racing pigs. The fair is family friendly and full of entertainment for people of all ages. Whether you're here for the games, rides, animals, or food, there's something to enjoy for everyone. While it can be an expensive day out it's a fun place to check out every year. read more

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Probably my last year coming to OC Fair, the organization has tremendously gone downhill. Besides our 1 hour drive to the fair, we waited another hour in line to get into the fair parking with NO signs or employees letting us know that it was already FULL; we waited for absolutely nothing. We drove 2 blocks down and luckily found parking at a near by school for $15. I had pre-purchased our tickets $15 each online. They no longer offer rides wristbands, the tickets are mostly encouraged to be online but their connection is absolutely terrible and you're going to wait for the app to load to scan, and expect to pay $100 or MORE for game/ride tickets. Overall I paid a little over $200 for the fair when I could have gone to a better theme park instead. Fairs aren't what they used to be but now it's even worse and not worth your time- if you absolutely must I encourage early day attendance. read more

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Really fun! Just expensive The OC Fair is such a classic summer activity! Great vibes, crazy food, fun games. There's so much to do! However, I feel like it's only gotten more expensive and more crowded over the years. I do overall enjoy the fair! I just feel as if it is getting less worth it to go every year due to the crowds and the price. For a better experience, I highly recommend trying to go on a not so busy day (so perhaps a weekday or even daytime might be better)! read more

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Some food stands have a $5 menu item for a snack size item/drink/dessert & I liked it! It's great for people to try a few items & share a variety of things without breaking the bank. It's only available for a certain time of the day (before 4pm?) It was fun to walk around & play games! Ofc expect to pay Fair event prices read more

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I think this is my third fair ever in life and this one felt so much different. It felt calm despite it being packed, it felt energetic, it was good vibes. It was super easy to get in and out of the place. I arrived at 1pm and while there was a bottleneck to get into the parking lot. The line was steady and payment of 15 bucks was quick. The attractions and food and event hall are all spread out. We spent about 4 hours here and still feel like we missed something. There are petting zoos. There are some exhibits. There are some presentations. There are people selling things. They had it all. Not a fan of rollercoasters but there are one or two that didn't look too scary. There were also others that looked terrifying. Theres a good balance. Tons of games and tons of things to keep children and adults entertained by the smell, sights, and sounds. read more

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This year, admission is $15 per person and parking is $15 per car. Highly recommend to get your ticket online. We came around noon on a weekend and parking was pretty easy and available. It gets a lot busier when it's cooler in the evening. OC Fair is a very fun summer occurence with lots to do. The only thing is how expensive the food, rides, and games but you can definitely enjoy the fair on a budget. Some food booths offer a $5 tasting item before 4PM which I definitely took advantage of for lunch. There's a lot to see and do. They showcased all the competitions from bakers to makers. I didn't realize how many contests there were! There's a cute pig racing event. They got livestock animals with goats, pigs, rabbits, etc. There's also a gardening section with all the fruits and vegetables they've been growing and it's really impressive. There's definitely something for everyone of all ages. read more

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OC Fair Review - Always look forward to the OC Fair, the heart of summer in OC. I love the variety offered at the fair from fun foods, to unique shopping opportunities, games, arts, music and more. The downsides are the large crowds and unorganized parking that you mean find yourself stuck in for 2+ hours on busy nights, plan accordingly by utilizing ride shares and avoid weekends if you can! read more

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Had a lot of fun at the OC Fair--great energy, lots to do, and definitely worth checking out! Parking: Plenty of parking available across the street. It cost around $10-15, which wasn't bad at all for the convenience. Cost Breakdown: * $15 per person for entrance * $50 in ride tickets covered two rides for two people - Ferris Wheel: Best at night for the views and lights - Rave Wave: Perfect if you're craving adrenaline and fun! Food: Great for sharing--hot dog and fries hit the spot. Even just the fries made a good snack. One of the stalls (Massage Experience): Tried the seated chair massage--so good! My massage therapist was incredibly knowledgeable and really helped relieve the tension. Totally worth it. Highlight: * The fried Oreos were hands down my favorite treat of the night. * Photobooth was fun credit/debit only Overall, fun experience with great vibes and solid value! read more

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Stopped by on Sunday, 07/20/25. My first time attending the OC Fair! Boyfriend and I stopped by pretty late in the afternoon time, and the line to get in wasn't too bad. Parking was $15 each. We bought some snacks which were pretty affordable as well (Nachos for $8, corn on the cob for $7). The alcoholic drinks, on the other hand, were pricey but still bought some lol. We purchased ride/game tickets (16 tickets for $20). We rode on the carnival and played a game (won a small plush toy - pink ice cream cup). Overall the weather wasn't too horrific either. A great way to get your steps in. We also danced the afternoon/night away to Spanish music! read more

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This review is for Imaginology, normally held Annually the 2nd week of April. Our family loves this event that is hosted at the OC Fair. It is a free event that promotes STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. The only thing you have to pay is parking which was $12 today. We love this event because there is so many cool activities and tons of giveaways. There are robot building, to aerospace, to using your creativity, hands on activities, art, outdoor activities, reptiles section, to agriculture which doesn't have it's own name in STEAM anywhere but still such an important part of STEAM as a whole. Speaking of agriculture, we saw some chicks hatching in it's incubator, SO NEAT!, and goat milking. There are also some food vendors such as bbq, ice cream, and hot dogs on a stick. This time we tried the Boy Scout stale that were selling hot dogs and burgers. For $13 I the Scout Master which includes 2 thick patties with cheese and a bratwurst on top! Crazy good deal. I thought the patties were going to be In-n-out thin so I got 2 and it was a very filling burger. Parking situation is also fairly easy and unlike the OC Fair event that happens in June where it's a hot mess. Gate 1 opens up at 10 and parking and the front entrance to Imaginology is only a few feet away. Love this event! read more

I love the table settings in the craft building. The little houses were cleverly created. The crochet area even had special gifts they will be donating for cancer patients. I saw a cow. Lots of rides. So much food including pickles wrapped in bacon. Wow yum!! It was a really fun day. read more

OC Fair & Event Center - Visiting the fair today - Festivals Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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First time at the Fair and it was huge! Tons of food! We had a great time eating through! The $5 daily deal is awesome and a great way to test taste things! Luckily my kids are grown and gone so it's just me and my Husband but it's a pricey trip for a family with little kids. I don't think I saw kid prices for entry. read more

OC Fair & Event Center - Pineapple Chicken - Festivals Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

The OC Fair is always a fun time. Live music (especially fun cover bands), games (win a fish or giant stuffed animal), rides (to make you sick or at least a little dizzy), check out place settings and a host of crafts (that are just creative), buy a jacuzzi or a cool tiki bar sign, pet a goat or two, watch the pigs race, find the queen bee in the hive, learn about some peppers, check out some of the cool exhibits (the movie exhibit was awesome) and the food... yes the food. This year we tried the latest creation at Chicken Charlie's - the meat balls and mozzarella on a stick - this was 11 out of 10. See you next year or maybe next weekend. read more

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OC Fair was good fun as we went on the 2nd to last weekend and also had a concert (Tribal Seeds) at Pacific Amphitheater that evening. It was my first time at any county fair so I was a total noob to it all. Purchased tickets for the concert online and that ticket actually allows you entry into the fair for that day. That was a nice perk... Since we were gonna be on property already, we just headed to the fairgrounds a few hours before the concert to check out all the goings on. There are so many rides, food vendors and games spread throughout the grounds. There is certainly something for everyone. There were vegetable judging areas as well as livestock displays. Interestingly enough, the livestock display was some of my favorite parts of it. Lots and lots of goats. From adult to little ones. There were also some cows that were in the display/auction area. With so many food options, it was hard to choose. I wanted funnel cake, corn dogs, spiral potatoes on a stick and dole whips. The footlong corn dog was good despite the casing being stubbornly thicker than expected. The spiral potato on a stick was good but i needed more of it. It was priced too high ($12) for what you get.... Pretty all of the food is pricey and that was a little bit of surprise. Across the board, things were at least $12 to $35 for single items. We enjoyed it, it was hot, it was a lot of walking but it was a nice pre-concert activity. Might make it a yearly thing. Just have to bring our own water cause they were charging too much ($6) for that too.... Hopefully they have more drinking water stations next year. Parking was $15 at the entrance. read more

The OC Fair will always be amazing. Every experience leaves you wanting another. I hit the grounds on Thursday, July 23rd with two family members and it was awesome. Parking is pretty good starting from the time it opens until about 12pm. After that it can become packed. The price for parking was reasonable to me beautiful it's all day and you hand is stamped if you need re-entry. Upon arrival I totally appreciated Ralph at the Vista Mobility tent. I never met someone at an event such as this one to be so accommodating. He took the time to see which wagon would be comfortable not just for nephew but for my sister as the parent as well. The prices were "all day" prices and was very reasonable. He happen to be wearing a T-shirt that had the slogan " I love my scooter job" on the back. His customer service and work habits was in harmony with that slogan. The T-Mobile tent wasn't all what it was cracked up to be. A team member by the name of Letroye had my sister under one impression concerning a verbal deal he made with her and once money came on the scene, he switches his story. My sister wasn't happy with how things went. On the way out to the car she started to talk about the situation saying T-Mobile tried to jip people out of there money. Out of nowhere Letroye started walking along side us and which was quite creepy and asked "how did T-Mobile try to jip you?" She explained to him what he did and while looking straight at her, began to blame another coworker and denying it was him. She really was done after that. The food on the other hand was outstanding. What else could you expect at the county fair though? My sister wanted a fruit cup. They charged $12 dollars for it. A bit expensive but it was for my nephew so why not. I don't do warm watermelon, so I let him andmy sister handle that. I still didnt give in to the temptation of the smoked turkey leg. Twenty dollars per leg was a bit steep for me at that moment. So my sister went with Philly Cheese Fries. Santiago was the team member who helped us out. He was very welcoming and patient while we ordered. The portion was worth it and it taste awesome. I wanted a corn dog. So I stopped at a corn dog booth not too far from Philly Cheese Fries. I wanted the pepper jack cheese and a regular corn dog with the $5 lemonade. The corn dog was meh. The pepper jack was perfect. Should have purchased two. The lemonade was outstanding. Later on in the day I tried this area (forgot the name) that sold meals on a half of a pineapple. The concept and the food was awesome but you have to hold it pretty tight or your food go flying. Of course I walked away with a slushie, cotton candy (that's going to take forever to finish, because I went with the bucket) and some candy apples for a friend. The art exhibit was breathtaking. I didnt finish walking through it because my sister was pulling that baby wagon and I did t want to be in the way. The restroom were outstandingly clean. Honestly, I was more than impressed by that because establishments and restaurants can't even keep 1-2 stalls clean and here the fair grounds have hundreds of people coming and going and I don't find not one piece of tissue on the floor and the toiletries weren't ever missing. Those employees were superb. I also love what I would call tower sprinklers. You past by it and receive a cool mist of water sprayed on you. So refreshing!! I had such a a good time, I backfired and returned again with a friend the following Wednesday 7/30/25. Of course I stuck my head in to speak to Ralph of course. Didnt have any babies around this go around so I quickly went after their famous margaritas. Boy!! Was I satisfied. I was thinking it would be a bit watered down. No!!! I couldn't finish the cup. Awesome drink!!! My friend and I tried the only asian spot on the grounds and it was meh. She wanted ramen but I couldn't see that being sold on fair grounds. We did the pig race and it was actually very entertaining. I didnt think I would like it but it was a fantastic experience. We also tried a sundae from Dole/Cruchees Cream stand. I went with the Reese's sundae. It was good. Just way too much candy on it for me. Still didnt touch the smoked leg. I'll leave that for next year. Which I'm planning to get a room close to it and go two days in a roll. Can't wait!!! I had a very good time. read more

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The annual OC Fair is in full swing! There is plenty of mouthwatering Fair food, heart-pounding carnival rides, adorable farm animals, live music and dancing, fair games and much more. There are also concerts at the Pacific Amphitheater and The Hangar and shows at the Action Sports Area. There's nothing quite like fair food. You've got your classics like Funnel Cakes, Fried Oreos, Kettle Corn, fried potatoes, cotton candy, Turkey Legs, Ribs, pizza, corn dogs, Burgers and Hotdogs. One thing that might not be a favorite: fried frog legs! My favorites were the Spiked Lemonade, Jalapeño Bacon Bombs, Candied Bacon Pork Belly Bites, Esquite with Hot Cheetos, Taro Boba, pizza slices from Garlicky's. Least favorites: Chicken Sandwich, Dubai Chocolate Strawberry Cup read more

The OC Fair is such a fun place to go! There's always a lot of people there enjoying themselves too. I love going to enjoy some good food and amazing fried desserts that you never see anywhere else! I found parking even though there was a huge line to get in. The people working here seemed to want to help you as well. I won a couple prizes which makes it even more fun. I always enjoy myself here at the OC Fair! read more

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We LOVE coming to the OC Fair every single year! This year was just as amazing as all the previous ones. The only complaint would be not being able to see the cows (that whole section was blocked off). The livestock exhibits weren't that impressive as other years. We love seeing all of the crops growing and how they grow. We purchased our tickets online as always- super easy entry. Parking is $15 cash or card is accepted. It opens at 11am. You can get there early to secure a nice parking spot. There are a lot of fun photo opportunities. They have photo booths throughout the fair as well. Those are $10 for 2 copies of a 3 pose picture strip. There is also an amazing craft village located near the blue entrance gate. So many amazing food vendors for whatever your heart desires. Lots of games, mazes, and rides for all ages. You can purchase tickets and wristbands at booths located throughout the fair. You can also purchase tickets on their app on your phone. You will leave having had the best time of your life, full, and exhausted lol. read more

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It's been awhile since I attended a state fair or city fair but I'm glad I went to the OC Fair this time around! It was amazing to see rides that I could never take but by just watching them go up and down and round was mesmerizing! There were tons of shops, exhibitions, music, shows, animals, vegetable gardens, of course food, and beverages! It would have been great if there were more variety and choice of food. Nevertheless it was a fun-filled day! Will definitely come back next year! read more

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The annual summer nights at the OC fair/ grounds. Last week is the best week to go with the family. Less crowds and lots to do, see, and enjoy. It's a great way to end the summer with fun and games but of course the delish food. read more

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It was a fun event to celebrate some good things with me and my friends. It was my third time going in my entire life. There are lots of games to play, and a lot of good food to try. Some might agree with me or disagree with me, but I wasn't much of a fan of the Marvel paintings they decorated. It seems like they decorated it for fun, but it doesn't really represent the rides or anything like that you'd understand at the famous theme parks. But it's not a huge deal. The parking was horrible, so do watch out for that. Other than that, it's a lot of walking around, looking and stuff, eating good food, going on fun rides, and playing games. read more

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First time at the OC Fair (and for my birthday) and had a wonderful time. It's sooooo big! So much to see and do - rides, games, events, good food and drinks, shows, animals, and more. Can easily spend an entire day there for sure, and do repeat visits. Only thing is, tickets themselves are cheap but dang rides are expensive as. Food and drinks are kinda standard for fairs and public event spaces but the ride prices and games were kinda ridiculous. read more

Love this fair! It has animals, crafts, entertainment, A/C zones, and fun contests like cookie and cake decorating. Food is pricey but they offer $5 specials before 4pm, which makes it easier to sample. The garden and livestock areas are great for kids. Plan ahead--check the website for discount days and go on early weekdays. Parking can be hectic, but OCC offers a cheaper nearby lot. If you're seeing a show at the amphitheater, fair admission is included--super convenient! read more

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Very disappointed with this year's OC Fair. I attended this past weekend and was shocked by how much it has gone downhill. There were noticeably fewer rides compared to previous years, prices were higher across the board, and there was little to no entertainment. No live music, no energy and no Rebelution this year, which was a huge letdown. It felt overpriced and underwhelming. Sadly, I won't be coming back anytime soon read more

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Pro: This is our go to place every summer. I love having their delicious corn on the cob. It's at the giant corn vendor. You can't miss it! We also love getting their cinnamons rolls too. It's inside the marketplace. They are famous for their cinnamon rolls. We also got their corndog meatball on a stick at Chicken Charlie's that was new. It was very good. The only thing that they should have done, is giving us sauces that are warm. I also love seeing the cute farm animals, and getting the chocolate milk which is inside the barn. It's super yummy. Lastly, I can't wait to go again tomorrow! Con: Be prepared for the rides, and games to be overpriced. We skipped it this year, since parking fee was 15 bucks and the food; and drinks can be quite expensive Also I got a Rootbeer from Rowdy's Rootbeer. It was very good to have on a hot day, but not 12 dollars good for something that is basic. It's actually new this year. Just only wish it was cheaper Lastly, they have signs all over that it is a smoke/vape free fair; but I spotted a young teen vaping behind a tree. It was a quick vape break but still. There is no vaping allowed read more

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Decided to check out the OC Fair on the last weekend and what was supposed to be a 1.5-hour drive turned into a horrendous 3 hour drive due to the insane traffic and parking situation! Not fun to sit in, however, our group managed to find parking and walk to the fairgrounds. In comparison to the SD County Fair, I believe parking is fairly easier with the San Diego fair. Admission fee for the fair is $15. The QR code for tickets made entering and playing games simple as workers will scan your ticket for entries. The prizes at the OC Fair are much better quality and more appealing to play for than the SD fair! We scored some cute plushies to take home! Food vendors were scattered throughout the venue and were open all the way until closing. As the venue is smaller, I did enjoy my time for the last few hours of the fair and got to walk around the entire lot. I enjoyed the nighttime experience of all the rides being lit up and late night eats since the fair closed at around midnight for Friday! I would revisit and plan more accordingly if I do go again though. read more

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I always check out all the food and fun activities when I visit the OC Fair. Ticket prices for entry, parking, games, rides, etc. have increased. However, some discounts can be available on their website and social media. Entry tickets can sell out, so purchasing them early for your desired day is best. The OC Fair and FunPass mobile apps are fantastic tools to enhance your experience and keep you organized throughout the day. Free cold water is available, so bring your water bottles. PROS: One of the major attractions of the OC Fair is the incredible variety of food available. From classic fair treats to unique culinary creations, there's something to satisfy every craving. Also: The $5 Taste of Fair The games and prizes The rides The events and animals The music throughout the fair People watching OC Fair bus is available if parking is a hassle, especially on weekends. CONS: The Summer heat Parking later in the day and evening and weekends can be tricky When crowds pick up, and lines get too long for many popular food and rides Prices for some foods and drinks can be a hit on the wallet. $15 for a 16oz beer!! What?! Not all drink prices are the same; there are some decent deals if you can find them. Despite the cost increase, the OC Fair is still an excellent time for all ages. read more

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First time here for the Brick Convention (Legos). It was very packed and busy with lots of families. The lines are long and it's hard to fight for a good spot to see the displays. There are a lot of vendors who are Lego legit, but a few who are custom brick vendors. There is also a limited amount of food at the very small food court. So, I suggest to eat before or after. It's not bad but not that special either. Especially, if you have been to one before. read more

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Can't say you're from the OC until you've made it to the OC Fair! As a long-term resident I honestly can't say I go every year - this was my first time in a while. But it's always a nice time. As I've gotten older (and Yelpier), food has definitely become more of a focus for me at events like this. When I saw TikToks about Chicken Charlie's hot honey funnel cake chicken sandwich, I KNEW I had to get one. It's not a fair without a greasy sweet and salty treat, and this did not disappoint. My tip is to always head there if you're looking for something gimmicky and fun. Blooming onion was also a must too. The ride and games experience was definitely more streamlined compared to what I've experienced in the past, now that there's an app. It's straightforward, but took a lot of time to create and verify the account. And a little bit pricey too. Bottom line - obviously it won't live up to the Texas state fair and I don't think I'd drive more than an hour to hear, but if you're in the OC, you need to go at least once! read more

OC Fair & Event Center - Blooming onion - Festivals Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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It was such a great time at the fair, and it wasn't too hot! Pricing and event were well worth it, and so happy we took the entire family. read more

OC Fair & Event Center - Festivals Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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had a blast with my sister! a lot of walking, be prepared Lol bring cash and card. food is pretty good, loved the art and music. read more

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