The Orange County Fair is back starting Friday, July 18, launching a 23-day celebration that runs through August 17 at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa. Organizers announced that this year’s theme is “Find Your Happy,” and they’re promising plenty of ways to do just that — with new rides, low-cost food options, live entertainment, and attractions for all ages.
Fairgoers can expect more than 60 rides across the main carnival midway and the kids’ zone, including new additions like Aviator, Soundstorm, and the Royal Wheel. Younger visitors will be the first to try out the Frog Hopper, debuting this year in the children’s area.
Visitors looking to make the most of the carnival are encouraged to purchase wristbands online before the fair opens; advance wristbands are valid Wednesdays and Thursdays and will only be available onsite starting opening day.
Food will again be a major attraction, with the return of the popular $5 Taste of Fair promotion. Until 4 p.m. each day, concessionaires will offer smaller portions of Fair favorites for just five dollars.
Visitors can use the online food finder to track down returning hits and new culinary experiments like bacon cotton candy. Organizers suggest packing reusable containers to take leftovers home and opting for shareable items to sample more.
Entertainment at the OC Fair spans live concerts, stunt shows, and community performances. Tickets to shows at the Pacific Amphitheatre, The Hangar, and Action Sports Arena include same-day fair admission, and tickets to post-Fair events offer weekday access. Acts this year range from ZZ Top to Mowterized Mayhem’s lawnmower races.
For children, the fair offers a packed schedule featuring All-Alaskan Racing Pigs, the Sand and Sea exhibit focused on Orange County’s coastline, and roaming entertainers like Megan the Bubbleologist and the OC Fair Foodies. Centennial Farm will feature new baby pigs and educational exhibits staffed by beekeepers, master gardeners, and more.
Admission options include the $60 Every Day Passport, which offers access every day of the fair without blackout dates, plus special two-for-one deals on select entertainment. Daily schedules, including pop-up athlete visits, art demonstrations, and livestock competitions, can be found online.
To stay cool and comfortable, organizers recommend bringing sun protection, a refillable water bottle, and comfortable walking shoes. Fair maps, available at information booths, help visitors locate water stations, indoor entertainment, and exhibit halls.
The Sky Ride offers a scenic and breezy trip across the fairgrounds.
Guests are encouraged to skip the parking hassle by taking the OC Fair Express bus from one of six OCTA locations for $2 each way, with drop-off directly at Yellow Gate. Rideshare users can be picked up and dropped off at Gate 1.
More information on tickets, attractions, and daily updates is available online.