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!