Orange County Fair (California) facts for kids
The midway of the Orange County Fair in 2008.
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| Location | OC Fair & Event Center 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, California, United States |
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| Coordinates | 33°40′0″N 117°54′4″W / 33.66667°N 117.90111°W |
| Status | open |
| Opened | 1890, 1919, 1946, 2021 |
| Closed | 1916, 1941, 2020 |
| Theme | TBA |
| Operating season | Opens mid-July, concluding mid-August. July 19 – August 18, 2024 (23 days, closed Mondays/Tuesdays). |
| Attendance | 1 million+ |
The Orange County Fair, also known as the OC Fair, is a huge yearly event. It lasts for 23 days every summer. You can find it at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa, California. The 2024 OC Fair will run from July 19 to August 18. Its theme will be “Always a Good Time!”
Security guards, the Costa Mesa Police, and the Orange County Sheriff's Office help keep everyone safe at the fair.
History of the OC Fair
The first fair happened way back in 1890. It was a small event in Santa Ana with a few exhibits and a horse race. From 1890 to 1894, a group called the Orange County Community Fair Corporation ran it. Then, the Orange County Fair Association, Inc. took over.
Early fairs mostly featured horse races and farm animal shows. Around 1900, fun carnival rides and games were added. The fair then became a yearly tradition. For a short time after World War I, the fair moved to Huntington Beach. Otherwise, it stayed in Santa Ana.
In 1916, the Orange County Farm Bureau started managing the fair. A special board was chosen in 1925. The fair then moved to Anaheim. A rodeo and carnival rides were added, making it even more exciting.
From 1932 to 1939, the fair was held in Pomona, California. It was part of a bigger fair for Orange, Los Angeles, and Riverside County. After World War II, a state group called the 32nd District Agricultural Association took charge.
The state bought land from an old army base. Some of this land became the new fairgrounds. In 1949, the fair became a five-day event. It moved to the old army base, which became its permanent home.
The city of Costa Mesa was formed in 1953. The fairgrounds were now inside its city limits. The fair has been held on its 150 acres of land since 1949. It has grown into a huge 23-day summer event.
On April 27, 2020, the fair was canceled for the first time in 75 years. This happened because of a worldwide health situation. Since 2021, hand sanitizers have been placed around the fairgrounds. This helps stop the spread of germs. People also follow social distancing and wear masks. The fair was also canceled in 1917–18 and 1942–45.
Fair Attendance
The Orange County Fair is one of the biggest fairs in the United States. It ranks as the 9th-largest! Since 2021, only 45,000 people are allowed to enter each day. This helps make sure everyone has enough space and stays safe.
Climate at the Fairgrounds
The fairgrounds in Costa Mesa have a Mediterranean climate. This means it usually has mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. This type of weather is almost perfect for all the outdoor fun at the fair!
Gallery
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Swings
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Starship 2000
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The Zipper
