Enjoying the fare

Marisa O’Neil

Only one thing beats going to the Orange County Fair before the rest

of the people on your block: getting in for free.

Early birds to Friday morning’s grand opening got through the

gates for free during the first hour of the fair. And some people

knew right where they wanted to go.

Caroline Carr, 5, started looking for the pig races as soon as she

came through the front entrance. Her brother, 8-year-old Clayton, had

his sights set on the giant Euro Slide.

Little Montana Grace Estrada, on the other hand, was content just

to hang out and empty things out of her big, red wagon. The

14-month-old is an old pro at the fair, her mom Kathy said, first

visiting as a newborn last year.

“We spent most of the time [last year] in the mother’s tent, which

is air conditioned so we loved it,” Kathy Estrada said. “[This year]

I’m going to take her on some of the rides and around to look at the

animals. She loves animals.”

Besides the requisite petting zoos, elephant and pony rides, and

livestock shows, the fair gives a nod to California’s agriculture

with its grape theme, “Jammin’ at the Fair.” Those who want to

unravel the mysteries of the vine can visit the Great Grapes exhibit

to learn, among other grape facts, that it takes 30 pounds of grapes

to make one case of wine.

Fairgoers who want to take a more hands-on approach, and who are

of legal age, can sample some of the California wines that win medals

at the fair. Under the canopy of the Courtyard, one-ounce samples of

wines like Cabernet and Sangiovese are available for $1 each.

“I’m a wine guy,” Newport Beach resident Skip Barchan said as he

sampled a Sauvignon Blanc from Temecula. “I never miss the

opportunity to taste different varieties of wine.”

And to go with that Chardonnay, how about a nice, deep-fried

Twinkie? Along with the fair staple of foods on a stick -- including

egg rolls and key lime pie -- just about anything that can be

battered and deep fried is, including Twinkies and Oreos at Chicken

Charlie’s.

If those are too much, Chicken Charlie’s also offers a healthier

option. The “fresh veggie combo” includes deep fried artichoke

hearts, mushrooms and zucchini.

“This is the first thing we came to get,” Emmanuel Barragan said

as he got ready to dig into a basket of fried zucchini and a fried

Twinkie.

But people might want to eat only after going on rides such as the

Inverter, the Booster and Spin Out, which whips riders upside down

and spins them as they sit, strapped into seats on the ride’s

outstretched arms.

“It was freaky, fast and scary,” 10-year-old John Payn said after

a trip on Spin Out.

More promotions throughout the fair’s run, from now until Aug. 1,

will give people the opportunity to come for free, said fair

spokeswoman Pam Highwart. Children under 12 on Tuesdays, on July 28

anyone who brings one new or three gently used children’s books from

noon 6 p.m., and anyone who brings five canned or dry-food items from

noon to 5 p.m. July 21 will get free admission.

* MARISA O’NEIL covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4268 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil@latimes.com.