O.C. Fair invites guests to ‘Feel the Sunshine’ as some (not all) pandemic practices recede
Organizers of the Orange County Fair are inviting visitors to “Feel the Sunshine” once more as a full schedule of festivities returns after a wholesale pandemic cancelation in 2020 and a modified event last year.
The fairgrounds in Costa Mesa were a scene of activity Friday, as merchants, concessionaires and assembly crews prepped the site for the fair, which opens July 15 and runs through Aug. 14 Wednesdays through Sundays.
“There’s a great feeling of anticipation of something really great to come,” Michele Richards, chief executive of the hosting OC Fair & Event Center said Friday. “It’s looking good out there.”
Richards explained this year’s theme was selected to represent community members coming together to be with one another and celebrate under somewhat more “normal” circumstances after two years of interruptions and COVID-19 protocols.
But while most of the pandemic restrictions have been lifted, for the time being, anyway, some of the processes and practices adopted during last year’s adapted fair are sticking around.
For example, tickets must be purchased online in advance as entry is still “contactless,” and daily attendance will remain capped at 45,000 guests. Richards says the cap is not due to COVID-19 but because vendors and guests had an overall better experience when crowding was reduced last year.
“Some of the things we learned last year is about how convenient touchless [transactions] can be,” Richards said. “We’re keeping a lot of that because it’s a better guest experience.”
Also improving this year’s guest experience will be the reopening of the fairgrounds’ Action Sports Arena and its many adrenaline-inducing events, including monster truck rallies, the return of the Costa Mesa Speedway, demolition derbies and the relocation of Brew Hee Haw craft beer and music festival on July 15 and 16.
As always, new opportunities for feasting on a menu of not-to-be-believed treats will be plentiful, as visitors can explore Kool-Aid chicken sandwiches, cotton candy ice cream sundae cones and jet-black milkshakes made with food-grade activated charcoal.
The fairgrounds’ Centennial Farm will be a flurry of activity as two sows are expected to deliver piglets sometime during the event.
“I can’t predict when, because Mother Nature is in charge of that, but we will have baby piglets at the event,” Richards vowed.
Despite the return to some semblance of normalcy, lingering signs of all-ongoing coronavirus will be apparent. County health workers will be on the site on weekdays offering information and free COVID-19 vaccines.
Richard said visitors who feel more comfortable wearing face masks are welcome to do so, even though there is currently no mask mandate for indoor or outdoor spaces, according to guidelines set by the Orange County Health Care Agency.
“We highly recommend people who are not vaccinated to wear a mask, especially indoors,” she added. “[And] if you’re sick, stay home, for heaven’s sake.”
Although online purchase is required this year, all associated fees have been waived, meaning adult tickets will cost $12 on Wednesday and Thursday and $14 Friday through Sunday.
Richards encouraged people to pick a date and secure tickets ahead of time, as some days are sure to sell out.
“The fair sold out 17 out of 23 days last year,” she said. “So, people have to get their tickets online and in advance.”
For more, visit ocfair.com.
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