EDITORIALGet out to the O.C. Fair

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Get out to the Orange County Fair.

The fair, which started up last weekend and runs through July 30, remains a piece of the county’s past brought into the present. There are goat shows, ceramics demonstrations, an egg-laying contest, milking demonstrations (as detailed in Wednesday’s Pilot) and quilting demonstrations. There are the carnival games and rides. There’s the old-fashioned food that couldn’t taste better and couldn’t be worse for you.

But the old-time feel isn’t the only reason to get out to the fairgrounds. There’s plenty of contemporary fun to be had: musical acts, the Peking and Mapapa African acrobats and, of course, the performances at the Pacific Amphitheatre that have again become a highlight of the event.

And those are just a wee sampling. (Try just sticking to a wee sampling of the funnel cakes or anything else deep-fried.) There is more than enough to do for any taste, age or mood.

Costa Mesa residents, in particular, should be taking advantage of the fair ? especially those who miss the recreation opportunities the city used to have. No Kona Lanes? Get out to the fair. No ice skating? Get out to the fair. Can’t find a field for soccer or baseball? Get out to the fair while it’s here.

You can’t say there isn’t enough to do these three weeks out of the year.

Of course, if you live in Newport Beach (or anywhere else for that matter), you still should make the trek to Fair Drive. Local, tourist, long-time fairgoer or first-timer, you should get to the fair.

See, we told you we’d say it again: Get out to the Orange County Fair and enjoy yourself.

The fair is open noon to midnight Tuesdays through Fridays, and 10 a.m. to midnight Saturdays and Sundays.