Winter Fest OC lights up the fairgrounds

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An ice skater takes to the rink under the lights moments before the masses arrive during the 3rd annual Winter Fest OC at the OC Fair & Event Center on Thursday.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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Guests fill the grounds as they walk past a giant Christmas tree ornament during the 2017 Winter Fest OC at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa on Thursday.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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Kids run through the giant Christmas ornament during the 2017 Winter Fest OC at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa on Thursday.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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Guests stroll through the festival of lights entry tunnel during the 2017 Winter Fest OC at the OC Fair & Event Center on Thursday in Costa Mesa.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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Guests take to the snowflake summit ice slide lanes at Winter Fest OC in Costa Mesa on Thursday.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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A youngster attempts to make a snowball from the ice rink during the 2017 Winter Fest OC at the OC Fair & Event Center on Thursday.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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Norman Wesley cooks hot dogs for the crowds during the 2017 Winter Fest OC at the OC Fair & Event Center on Thursday.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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Families enjoy the ice rink under the lights at Winter Fest OC on Thursday in Costa Mesa.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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Guests scoot down the snowflake summit ice slide lanes Thursday at the 2017 Winter Fest OC. The festival is at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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A mother and daughter make the rounds on the ice rink at the 2017 Winter Fest OC at the OC Fair & Event Center on Thursday.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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Guests stroll through the festival of lights trail during the 2017 Winter Fest OC in Costa Mesa on Thursday.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

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Guests stroll through the festival of lights entry tunnel during the 2017 Winter Fest OC at the OC Fair & Event Center on Thursday.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

By Daily Pilot staff

Dec. 21, 2017 9:40 AM PT

Snow and ice blanketed the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa MesaThursday evening.

It wasn’t the result of a freak winter storm. The frosty features are fixtures of Winter Fest OC — an annual event stocked with seasonal attractions.

On opening night Thursday, attendees were able to dash through a snow play area, skate around an outdoor ice rink, go ice tubing down the 150-foot-long Snowflake Summit, pick their way through an inflatable maze and stroll along the Festival of Lights — a twinkling pathway illuminated with 2 million bulbs.

The event includes carnival rides, games and food, and features a nightly parade and tree-lighting ceremony with fireworks and falling snow.

Winter Fest is open daily through Jan. 7. More information is available at winterfestoc.com.

Winter Fest OC lights up the fairgrounds

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