To enter my 2014 OC Fair FREE ticket giveaway, click here –> OC FAIR FREE TIX 2014 Giveaway.The Orange County Fair is almost here and I have some exciting news for you! I am giving away two tickets to this awesome event in this post, so read my post for further for details! If you are anything like me, I absolutely love the county fair and every time it comes around, I am excited to attend as many times as I possibly can!! The Orange County Fair 2013 will be held where it is held every year, at the Orange County Fairgrounds and Events Center in Costa Mesa on 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. This year the fair dates will be from Friday, July 12th through Sunday, August 11th. Hours are Wednesdays through Fridays from noon to midnight & Saturdays & Sundays from 10am to midnight. General admission is 411, Seniors 60 + – $8& children, ages 6-12 – $6. Parking for cars is $10 & buses $20.
- Dating my husband in early years – Personality Analysis Truck OC Fair 2003
Go to website for further deals about discounted/free admissions through FAIR PROMOTIONS or see my table of promotions below!
| Opening Day – Free Opening Hour | Friday, July 12th from Noon – 1pm – FREE entry to the fair! FREE admission & Parking! |
| We Care Wednesday | *1 FREE admission & 1 FREE carnival ride per person with donation. Go to link for list of donation days here: WEDNESDAY DONATION LIST* $30 Unlimited Carnival Rides Wristband – plus 2 FREE games |
| Thursday | * Kids Day – Free admission for kids 12 + all day* $30 Unlimited Carnival Rides Wristband – plus 2 FREE games |
| Friday | *Seniors Day (60 +) $2 off senior admission plus FREE Ferris wheel & merry-go-round rides all day*$2 Taste of fair food – Sample fair food 12-4pm*$2 rides & $2 games – sold until 4pm |
| Saturday & Sunday | Rise & Shine – $3 general admission between 10 & 11am only |
| OC Fair Express Shuttle Service | When using shuttle service, riders receive a coupon for $3 admission. For more details & bus fare info, go to these links: OC FAIR EXPRESS & METROLINK TRAINS |
| Super Pass | Receive general admission to the fair for the full 23 days for one price! General – $5, Senior (60+) $30, & Youth (6-12) $20 To see details about super pass go here: SUPER PASS |
There are some awesome bands to check out this year at the OC Fair & Events Center/Pacific Amphitheater and when purchasing tickets for a show, you get free fair admission as well. For summer concert options at the Pacific Amphitheater, see link here: PACIFIC AMPHITHEATER SHOWS Last year, I went with my husband and some friends to see the old 80’s hair band Cinderella and it was a blast!
There will be several new food stations to offer their delicious yummy fried goodness, as well as some healthy options as well…believe it or not, this does occur! 🙂 To see my review of last year’s fair food, go to link here: OC FAIR 2012 OC Fairgrounds also has an awesome New Years Eve Event later in the year. For details about that event last year see here: NEW YEARS EVE AT OC FAIRGROUNDS 2012
Now for the fun part…how to get in the fair for free!! 🙂 I am giving away a pair of two Orange County Fair Tickets 2013 that are valid to be used on any day to get into the fair. To enter my contest all you have to do is follow the rules in the giveaway here: a Rafflecopter giveaway
I will select a winner and announce them on my blog and my facebook page on Sunday, July 14th and mail them out asap which gives everyone one full week to enter! Good luck everyone!! What I have to say: See my About me section for contest disclosures HERE. To enter another contest after entering mine to double your chances of winning, go to my husband’s blog & check out his contest through link here: Another OC Fair FREE ticket giveaway.
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My favorite Memory at the OC Fair was when the petting zoo animals started eating my boyfriend’s shoelaces and shorts. It was funny, scary and memorable all at the same time! I also loved the piggy races but was so sad to see people handing out coupons for bacon 😦
I love this comment!! It made me smile:) Thank you! I too am an animal lover:)
My favorite memory is the food!
The food is awesome, isn’t it? I cannot wait to try the new items this year!!
Thanks for the OC Fair posting. I worked there for 4 years with lots of nice memories, I have made some nice friends. That is my best memory.
Thank you Lisa for the note! Good luck:)
My favorite memory was trying chocolate covered bacon last year. It was terrible but hilarious as my whole family passed in around.
How funny! I also tried that for the first time last year too and I thought I would hate it, but to my surprise I loved it.:) Thanks for entering & Good luck:)
Are you kidding.. the second the one oc fair shuts down, we are ready for the next. this is a 13 year Family traditin that for us says summer is here. WE got our passess for the girls and as of today between the hangar and the Ampitheater close to 10 shows we will see CAN’T WAIT. OH and the Gyros are a must.. addictive!!!!
It sounds like you guys know how to enjoy the fair right!! I love family traditions:) Ours is the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach:) How awesome you have passes and shows lined up:) Thanks for checking out my post & I am addicted to those gyros as well..I like taking mine to the wine tasting area while sampling and eating!! 🙂 Thanks for entering & Good luck:)
This is a great OC Fair blog post! Super informative and makes me super excited for the fair this year! The OC Fair is for sure my favorite SoCal fair and I have been coming every year since I was 18 and this will be my 10th year attending! Thanks for all the details!! 😀
Awesome:) Thank you for the compliment Tawnie! It is greatly appreciated!! The OC Fair always does bring on fun times and great memories:) I may have to go for opening day this Friday!! 🙂 Thanks for entering & Good luck:)
My favorite memory is the year my mom entered into one of their contests and one first place.
Very cool Jenny! What contest did she enter? 🙂 My husband entered a recipe contest this year:) Thanks for entering & Good luck:)
My favorite memory is watching the Alaskan pigs race!
They are adorable:) Thanks for entering & Good luck:)
I won $100 at the California Lottery booth after an enjoyable wine tasting experience at the Wine Gardens.
I won $100 at the lottery booth after spending some enjoyable time wine tasting at the Wine Gardens. Best day at the fair ever! 🙂
That sounds amazing!!! I don’t remember seeing a lottery booth, but I I always spend a lot of time in the wine garden:)
My daughter used to dance with her ballet and jazz classes at the OC fair so of course, that was my favorite part. It was always hot but fun never-the-less. Another aspect of the fair that I enjoyed was finding out who won the gold, silver, bronze for their wines.
Thanks for the comment Shelley! What a great memory!! I also remember performing at the Orange County Fair for the singing and dancing group, Kids R’ Music 🙂 I am all about the wine tasting:)
My fondest OC fair memory is when I went with 3 of my girlfriends. One, was actually a friend of a friend. We had such an amazing time running around like little kids, eating wings, eating fried foods, wine tasting, and playing games. I remember when I saw that the games had minions that they were giving away, I had told my friends I really wanted one. My friends and I huddled and made it our mission to get one. When we finally did, we took a victory pic with him. That night, I became closer to my friends, and made a new one. Little did we know, that a year later she would no longer be with us. Her laughing and smiling and having a blast, is what makes this my fondest OC fair moment.
Wow Jackie! What an amazing story and such powerful memories you have of the fair. I am so happy you have such beautiful memories with your friend for no matter what happens memories will always stay alive in your heart and the love will never dissipate. It sounds like the OC Fair is a very special place for you. Thanks again for sharing your story, ❤ Good luck in my contest and thanks for your comment! ❤
My favorite memory is that the Fair was one of me and my husband’s first dates after we were married. After being in a long distance relationship for three years it was so nice to be able to do things together. We had a blast!
That is awesome Audra! Thanks for sharing:) Cheers to you and your husband:) Good luck in the contest::)
Great information about the OC Fair. I really like how you included information about discounts, times and events. Great Post
Thank you:) It is very important to know about the deals and discounts to enjoy the fair to the fullest and do everything you want to do:)
A must at the fair… funnel cake!!!
Always! Especially red velvet style!
My favorite memory at the OC fair is performing with my belly dance sisters on the Plaza stage and looking forward to doing it again on Aug. 4.
That is an awesome memory! I will have to come check that out if I am at the fair that day:) Very cool! Good luck in my contest.:) Thanks for the comment:)
WoW!! this is chicken Leg Piece and Funnel Cake….yummy and crunchy, i am loving it….
Glad you enjoyed! Those items are both amazing…cannot wait to pig out at the OC Fair!!!
My favorite county fair actually was when I took two of my special education students to the fair. I felt that they may not have been able to go to things like that very often and we had a wonderful day. It is a great memory for me to remember the smiles on their faces.
What a fabulous memory Burton!!! I love it! Thanks for sharing:) I too am a teacher, so I can understand how great that felt! :)Thank you for the entry! Good luck in my contest.:)
That looks like so much fun!!!! We used to have a lot of fun things like that in New England as well throughout small towns and communities. I miss that kind of thing. Unfortunately, in Dallas all we have is the State Fair of Texas – which is overpriced and really not that much fun. It’s too big for any sense of community in my opinion.
I am sure the state fair must have it’s own charm though! I am sorry to hear that..I have never been to a state fair.:) I would love to check one out! Sounds like you need to come visit Orange County:)
Thank you my love! ❤
Sent it out on the twttier wire!
You rock! Thanks Rob!! ❤ ❤
I have never been to the Orange County Fair, but I did grow up with the Del Mar (San Diego County Fair) and it still remains a highlight for me and one of the things I miss most about not living in San Diego anymore. We were just reminiscing yesterday about thae fair.
Come on back home Marie! 🙂 I am sure there has to be awesome county fair i your area though:) I have never been to the San Diego County fair. I need to check that out one year.:)
You had me at the giant turkey leg!!! hahaha! Looks like an amazing time! Great post!
Thanks Angie!! Those turkey legs are damn amazing!!
Sounds like a whole lot of fun! Sharing and spreading the word!
Thank you Alexandra!!! It is greatly appreciated:)
Actually I have never been to the OC fair. I plan on attending this year though. I moved to Costa Mesa in Dec. I can’t wait to check it out!
Very awesome Mari! Welcome to the OC:) You will love our county fair!! It is always a blast!! 🙂 Thank you for the entry! Good luck in my contest.:)
I absolutely love reading your articles Dani. Fun, informative and always a new adventure. I enjoy our local country fair too. Have fun at the Orange County Fair and have a corn dog for me:)
Thank you so much!! You are too kind:) Glad you enjoyed! Have fun at the fair my fiery gramma:) ❤
My favorite memory at the Orange County Fair was seeing hypnotist Mark Yuzuik! His show is so entertaining to watch and I have never laughed so hard! 🙂
I loved him too! I remember seeing him! My friend bough the video of herself on the stage! 🙂 Thank you for the entry! Good luck in my contest.:)
County fairs are so much fun! Enjoyed your journey. My favorite memories are of the 4-H chicken booth. We always had to eat Bar-B-Q chicken from the 4-H club! LOL
Sounds awesome Martha! Fair food rocks and you cannot go wrong with bbq chicken!! 🙂
Thanks for the giveaway! I love the OC Fair for the most obvious…the food!!!
Awesome! Thank you for the entry! Good luck in my contest.:)
My favorite memory form the OC fair was when my friends and I went on a quest to try every single fried treat it had to offer, the best was the fried Snickers.
Oh wow!!! You had to be super stuffed!!! I never tried fried Snickers…I will have to try that this year! 🙂
Uh, can’t wait for The California State Fair here in Sac…finally candied apple now that my teeth are fixed and I actually can bite it 😉
Awesome! I( have never been to the state fair! It is on my list of things I must do:)
When I was a young girl, I used to go to the State Fair every year and even entered things because I was in 4H … my favorite year was when 2nd place (darn, wanted the Grand Prize, smile) for my cookies! The reason I lost? They weren’t all exactly the same size and I wonder where I got my perfectionist streak!
That is a great story! Thanks for sharing:) You should go back to the fair this year and relive some of those memories:)
haven’t been to a county fair in years! I do miss the Conjeo Valley one I went to every year growing up. Thank you for sharing. Letting my peeps back in Cali know!
Thank you so much Chef Katrina! I hope you make it out to the fair this year:)
My favorite memory of the OC Fair is my first time riding the elephant way back when I was in high school in the 80’s and screaming my head off because I thought it was gonna buck me off! LOL! I have so many memories like that. Oh God! Don’t get me started on the Zipper ride! My sister and I were deaf from each other’s screams! Now, I’ll be taking my girls ages 17, 6 & 3 years old. They all want to do different things so I get to re-live all the kiddie rides and fun thrill rides too. I’m a new subscriber from Oceanside, CA but grew up in HB. I prefer going to the OC Fair over SD Fair, well because honestly I like parking close! Haha! Your pictures are great and you & your hubby look like a fun loving couple just like me and my husband. I’m a goof and he’s a dork! Match made in deep-fried heaven! 🙂
Thank you so much for your comment Lalita!! I love it:) It sounds like you have so many fabulous fun memories at the fair and you will have many more memories to make there in the future! I have never been to the San Diego Fair! I will have to check it out one day:) Thanks for the compliment about me and my hubby:) Goof & dork sound perfect together!! 🙂 I love that!!! “Match made in deep fried heaven!!” Awesome!!
woo! so excited! i used to go straight for the roast beef sandwiches every year as a kid!
Sounds yummy!! Loves the fair!
Looking forward to my first trip to the fair…
Awesome Seth! Good luck in the contest:)
That looks like a lot of fun. Much bigger than our local fair (we call them ‘shows’) in rural Western Australia.
Sounds like you need to make a trip out to Cali:) I am sure your fair is awesome too. I love how the county fairs give a feel of the local culture.:) I love our fair:)
Oh my! I get hungry each time I come here 🙂 Love the photo of you 🙂 My favorite food was what we call ‘foggy dogs’ here in Atlantic Canada. Its fried dough and I love it with butter and molasses!
Wow, those foggy dogs sound amazing Anita! I don’t think I have ever seen those at our county fair..I will keep an eye out:) Thanks for the comment:)
I have never been to the OC Fair but have heard awesome things about it. Would love to share the experience with my family!
Awesome Devon! You will love it!! OC Fair is one of the best County Fairs and it is always a great time!!! 🙂 Thanks for entering the contest.:)
I love the fair, my family loves the food, the booths, the rides everything. We make it a tradtion to go every year and will continue!
Jessica, thank you for sharing:) Good luck in my contest:)
This looks like a lot of fun!! My favorite local county fair memory is from when I was about 11 and lived in rural B.C. There was an annual fair where they had many types of competitions and rides… my favorite contest to watch was one where loggers had to make an arm chair (that could be comfortably sat in) out of a huge log using only their chainsaws 🙂
It sounds like you have some fabulous memories!! We don’t have any loggers at our fair here, I think it is more of a Canadian tradition though because I remember when I was in Vancouver, we went to the PNE Festival (county fair in Vancouver) with my friend and I remember seeing this type of activity. Very cool!! Thank you for sharing Moira!:)
It sounds you had a great deal!
Your photos speak of the joy in your hearts!
Ahhhhh:) Thank you Barbara! That is so sweet!:)
My favorite memory(ies) are the demolition derbies!
Awesome thanks for sharing and entering my contest Jessica:)
I love OC Fair purely just for the food. Can’t wait to go this year!
Awesome Selena! Thanks for the comment:) Good luck in the contest! 🙂
Fondest memory: first taste of funnel cake! It was downhill from there! Haha
I love it! This year you must check out the red velvet funnel cake!!! YUM!!!
Love your blog! And I love the OC Fair. Looking forward to the fantastic food and thanks for the tips and contest.
Thank you so much Susan!! I wish you the best of luck in my contest!!! 🙂
My favorite memories of the OC Fair was
Seeing Alton Brown with my dad and my dad winning 2nd place in the Best Beard Contest. Oh and all the fantastic food!
What a cool memory!! The best beard?? I love it..I wish they would do that again..that would be funny:) Cannot go wrong with the food! 🙂
Seeing Adam Lambert in concert-the seats were super close too!
Adam Lambert is pretty awesome! That must have been really cool! Good luck in my contest:)