Acres of Fun at the OC Fair!

Acres of Fun at the OC Fair!

By Bobby Navarro

The OC Fair is back! From July 12th to August 11th, The OC Fair and Event Center is hosting “Acres of Fun” running Wednesday to Sunday in Costa Mesa. Every year the fair brings nearly 1 million visitors with entertainment, rides and food that have now become an annual meeting grounds for local families and tourists alike. We were invited by Melissa’s Produce to get a first look at the sights and sounds of the start of fair season, and wanted to share some of our finds.

THINGS TO EAT – There are some people I look at for fair food trends, that I know are constantly innovating. Chicken Charlies is a long standing fair food aficionado, breaking barriers and making waves year after year on the fair scene in Southern California. The favorites this year are not as fried as in years past, but they will still make a real foodie question themselves. Chicken Charlies has two locations, one in Midway accessible from the main Blue Gate Entrance, and the second is across from the Kids Land entrance closest to green gate. In addition to the common favorites on his menu, like the skewered chicken, many fair fiends find themselves gravitating to the things on the menu that make you squish your face. Think Triple Decker Cheeseburger with a Krispy Kreme bun!

His newest creations include an ice cream sandwich with donut buns, stuffed with fried chicken. The flavors were salty and sweet and surprisingly more delicious then you might originally think.

We also tried the new Buffalo Chicken Chimichanga, which was stuffed with Buffalo Chicken Mac n Cheese wrapped in a green tortilla and then topped with hot cheetos. Even though I am a sucker for interesting burritos, I knew too many bites of this hot headed buffalo chicken style was going to have me wanting to take a nap. There are many more interesting foods to find at the fair, and there are a few vendors that always have something new, so make sure to take a menu peak at vendors like Biggies, Bacon-A-Fair, and Get Fried.

THINGS TO DO – The OC Promenade is located off the main Midway between the two art exhibit hangers. The OC Promenade has always been known for its culinary programming and its visual displays. Here you can see the entries for some of the local competitions like cake making, spices and table settings. In addition to all the photo opportunities, the OC Promenade has invited some exciting people to make the space a full culinary experience. Northgate Market has some guacamole and avocado toast offerings, find yourself transported to a Parisian Patissiere complete with macaroons and chocolates, and finish with learning the art of fermentation at the kombucha counter. If that wasn’t enough, every day is filled with different kinds of culinary programming including cooking demos, culinary education panels and cooking competitions. This is a great way to kick off your fair experience, or stop by when you need to break up your day with some shade and seating.

TIPS AND TRICKS – There are tons of promotions that the fair provides to make the fair accessible to everyone. We have listed a few to make sure you are totally prepared for your fair excursion.

OC FAIR EXPRESS: Don’t let parking take up all your fair time! Take the local OCTA for $2 ($4 round trip) to the OC Fair and get a coupon for a $4 fair ticket (valid on day of service only)

WE CARE WEDNESDAY: Every Wednesday the OC Fair partners with local charitable organizations to provide a free entrance and single ride ticket in trade for a donation. This is a great way to teach your children about the power of helping others in need. Each Wednesday is a different donation supporting a different cause, so make sure to read the website for the most up to date information, but here is what we know.

July 24th – Noon – 3pm – Second Harvest Food Bank – Donate five canned food items.

July 31st – Noon – 3pm – Think Together – Donate 3 new or gently used children’s books.

August 7th – Noon – 3pm – Goodwill of Orange County – Donate 5 new or gently used clothing items.

KID’S DAY: Children under 5 are always welcome free at the fair, but on Thursdays, children under 12 are all welcome for free. A great way for families of all sizes to join in the fair fun.

The fair offers many promotions to support all ages, visit the OC Fair website to plan the best time to go in the most affordable way that is best for your group. Summer isn’t the same without some deep fried food, heart pumping rides, and some good ol’ entertainment so stop on by the OC Fair!

Be sure to check out this amazing video below for more food and fun highlights from this years OC Fair!

 

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Knott’s Summer Nights!

Knott’s Summer Nights!

By Erin

*We were invited as media to come check out Knott’s Summer nights! All thoughts and opinions remain my own.*

It’s finally summer time! Time for BBQs and lots of fun get togethers. Well, Knott’s is here to liven up these warm summer nights even more! At Knott’s Summer Nights, when the sun sets, the farm comes alive with an all-new nighttime summer party that will liven up the night at Knott’s Berry Farm! Knott’s Summer Nights is THE place to be for family and friends to come together to enjoy the cool sights, sounds and flavors of summer. Knott’s special summer nights will be here nightly at 6pm through August 11th!

With a hub of live music, special summer food offerings, Instagram-able photo opps, interactive experiences, and family-friendly games, Knott’s summer nights will be an event to remember. The party offers numerous ways to enjoy the nighttime festivities, as live music, food and games take over the Knott’s midway. Guests can choose to dance to today’s popular country and folk tunes in Calico Park, rock out to a live band at the Mine Stage or bop to beats of the Boardwalk DJ around Charleston Circle Fountain.

No summer night dance party is complete without an abundance of food and drinks, and no one does food better than Knott’s. Seasonal flavors collide, as the Knott’s culinary team creates tasty twists to classic summer favorites. From build-your-own-S’mores stations, to hand-crafted ice cream flavors, guests can experience food in a whole new way at Knott’s Berry Farm this summer. For just $35 you can get a Tasting Card that’s good for 8 different items of your choice. It’s a very good deal as the portion sizes are VERY generous! The Knott’s Summer Nights Tasting card provides samplings of delicious one-of-a-kind summertime items at select locations throughout the midway. Most locations (there are 9 different food/drink booths) and items are available from 6:00 p.m. until park closing. Must be 21 and older for alcoholic beverages.

Booth A: Ice Cream

  • Ice cream cone $6
  • Ice cream sandwich $ 8

Booth B: Snacks and Dessert

  • Kettle corn $ 6
  • Fruit salad $6

  • Churro loops $ 5.50
  • Farmer’s Market Shortcake $ 5.50
  • Peach crumble $ 5.50

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Knott’s Boysenberry Festival 2019

Knott’s Boysenberry Festival 2019

By Erin

*I was invited to the media preview for purposes of this post. All thoughts and opinions remain my own*

It’s that berry time of year again! It’s time for the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival! Today through April 28th you can enjoy all things boysenberry at Knott’s Berry Farm!

The Knott’s Boysenberry Festival is an annual food-inspired event that celebrates the park’s historic roots by highlighting the little berry that started it all, the boysenberry.

This year’s festival will feature over 75 new and returning boysenberry-inspired creations crafted by the Knott’s culinary team. Guests will have the opportunity to indulge in a tantalizing lineup of dishes ranging from savory foods with a boysenberry twist to one-of-a-kind specialty desserts and drinks that can only be found at Knott’s Berry Farm during this time of year. In addition to the unique food and drink offerings, the Knott’s Boysenberry Festival offers a wide selection of daily entertainment, live music and fun activities for guests of all ages to enjoy.

Now here’s a look at all the foodie delights you have to look forward to at this years festival!

Knott’s Boysenberry Festival 2019 Food Items

$35 – Tasting Card (8 choices of the 14 options) $30- Wine/ Craft Brew Card

Tasting Card Items

1) Boysenberry Chili in a Boysenberry Sourdough Bread Bowl (NEW!) a. Sutter’s Stand

2) Boysenberry and Lemon Hummus with Pita Bread (NEW!) a. Sutter’s Stand

3) Boysenberry Dry Rubbed Flank Steak with a Boysenberry Cream Cheese Topping (NEW!) a. Sutter’s Stand

4) Boysenberry Elote a. Ghost Town Bank Stand

5) Boysenberry Jerk Chicken Wings (NEW!) a. Spur’s Chophouse Outdoor Stand

6) Boysenberry Sausage in a Bun a. Wilderness Dance Hall

7) Boysenberry BBQ Chicken Skewers with a Boysenberry Aioli (NEW!) a. Wilderness Dance Hall

8) Boysenberry Pot Roast over Boysenberry Mashed Potatoes (NEW!) a. Inside Spurs Chophouse

9) Boysenberry Glazed Salmon over mixed Greens and topped with a Boysenberry Vinaigrette (NEW!) a. Inside Spurs Chophouse

10) Boysenberry Habanero Baked Mac and Cheese (NEW!) a. Wagon Wheel Pizza

11) Boysenberry Jambalaya with Chicken and Sausage (NEW!) a. Wagon Wheel Pizza

12) Boysenberry Pulled Pork Tostada (NEW!) a. Wagon Wheel Pizza

13) Boysenberry Waffle with Maple Boysenberry Cream Cheese Syrup (NEW!) a. Ghost Town Bakery

14) Boysenberry Cinnamon Sugar Flour Tortilla Chips with Boysenberry Ice Cream (NEW!) a. Ghost Town Bakery

Other Boysenberry Food Items

Spurs Chophouse:

  •  Boysenberry Shawarma (NEW!)
  •  Boysenberry Cheesecake on a Stick

  • Boysenberry Glazed Salmon over mixed Greens and topped with a Boysenberry Vinaigrette (NEW!)
  • Boysenberry Pot Roast over Boysenberry Mashed Potatoes (NEW!)

Spurs Chophouse Stand:

  •  Boysenberry Jerk Chicken Wings (NEW!)
  • Spurs Patio: Wine & Beer Bar
  • Boysenberry Draft Beer, Boysenberry Wine, & Assorted Wines

Ghost Town Grill:

  • Daily Specials
  • The Berry Beast (NEW!)

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