OC Fair, Costa Mesa Fairgrounds, Free tickets, giveaway, orange county
OC Fair Celebrates 125 years

The OC Fair is approaching quickly and I am so excited to share the details with you as I do every year and to give away a free pair of tickets! See details toward the bottom of my article! The OC Fair is literally one of my most favorite events of the year and I have been attending the fair since I was a small child!  Every year I look forward to this event and it is finally almost here!  This year the OC Fair dates will be from Friday, July 17- Sunday, August 16 with a celebration of its 125th anniversary!! 

OC Fair, Costa Mesa Fairgrounds, Free tickets, giveaway, orange county
OC Fair 125 Years

This year there will be many different culinary creations to suit everyone’s different foodie needs! Foodies can enjoy wild and unique new fare mixed in with the traditional fair food while culinary enthusiasts can enjoy a variety of competitions and exhibits highlighting baking, preserving and cocktail-making.

OC Fair, Costa Mesa Fairgrounds, Free tickets, giveaway, orange county
Dani eating a succulent turkey leg – OC Fair 2012

Food-related features this year will include a variety of new options inspired by the number “125” in honor of the fair anniversary and will include $1.25 combo add-ons or value-sized portions of menu items at reduced prices. Additionally, select vendors will offer a just-for-2015 luxury menu item for $125 including a caviar-topped Deep Fried Twinkie and the Chuckwagon BBQ Feast with enough barbecued fare to feed the whole family.  This just sounds insane!  I cannot wait to check out all of the new foodie items at the fair and I will share them with you when I do! 

OC Fair, Costa Mesa Fairgrounds, Free tickets, giveaway, orange county
And one year there was a red velvet funnel cake at the OC Fair 2012

Some of the new crazy fried foodie goodness items arriving at the fair include Deep-Fried Starbucks from Bacon A-Fair; Deep Fried Slim Fast Bar and Fried Peanut Butter Pickle Dog from Chicken Charlie’s; and Deep-Fried Birthday Cake and Deep-Fried Pizza from Apple Fries. Some more crazy unique food items include Fireball Donut and Samoa Donut from Texas Donuts; Chocolate-Covered Pork Rinds and Wasabi Bacon Bombs from Bacon A-Fair; $125 Caviar Twinkie from Chicken Charlie’s; Cuban Fusion Burger from Grant’s Tasti Burgers; and Frosted Flake Chicken Fingers from Pickle O’Pete’s.  Stay tuned for my take on some of this crazy fried goodness in a future post!

OC Fair, Costa Mesa Fairgrounds, Free tickets, giveaway, orange county
Bacon-A-Fair Food Booth – OC Fair 2012

As far as awesome OC Fair promotions go, there are quite a few!  Check out the awesome deals below!

Opening Day – The first day of the OC Fair – Friday, July 17th 2015

*For the first hour of the Fair, it will be FREE to enter and FREE to park!  This will take place from noon-1pm.

Daily OC Fair Specials

Active Military & Veterans – Free admission for active-duty military and veterans with appropriate military ID.  This will not be valid for spouses or dependents.

Read & Ride – Children from ages 5-11 can read 2 books to earn 3 free carnival rides.  Click here to download the book report form. 

*Completed book report forms can be redeemed for ride tickets at the Centennial Farm Information Booth during Fair hours. Tickets are valid July 17-August 16, 2015 only.  Official OC Fair Read & Ride Form must be used in order to participate in program.

Super Pass – Get a pass to enjoy all 23 days of OC Fair fun, food and more! Prices for the 2015 OC Fair Super Pass are as follows:

  • General (Ages 13-59) – $35
  • Seniors (Ages 60+) – $28
  • Youth (Ages 6-12) – $28
OC Fair, Costa Mesa Fairgrounds, Free tickets, giveaway, orange county
Dani with Zeeka the sand lady I made in 2013…This year I will be creating her hubby, Zeek – OC Fair 2013
Wednesday Only Deals

We Care Wednesday – Get FREE admission and 1 free carnival ride per person each Wednesday with appropriate donation (donation changes weekly.)  Donation categories and dates are listed below!

*Please note: We Care Wednesday donations are accepted at public entrances (Blue Gate, Yellow Gate or Green Gate) during promotion hours. Donations are not be accepted at Gate 5 off Arlington Drive.

Food Drive – July 22, Noon-3 pm
FREE admission with donation of 5 cans of food

Children’s Book Drive – July 29, Noon-3 pm
FREE admission with donation of 3 new or gently used children’s books

Clothing Drive – August 5, Noon-3 pm
FREE admission with donation of 5 new or gently used clothing items

School Supply Drive – August 12, Noon-3 pm
FREE admission with donation of NEW school supplies valued at $5 or more. Accepted items for this category: pens, pencils, crayons, notebooks, notebook paper and school backpacks. Receipt is also required.

$30 Unlimited Carnival Ride Wristband – Enjoy all of the rides you can handle for one price plus 2 free games. (These are only sold until 5 pm and valid until 8 pm. *Required Fair admission to receive this deal is sold separately.)
OC Fair, Costa Mesa Fairgrounds, Free tickets, giveaway, orange county
Wallabies at the OC Fair 2012
Thursday Deals

Kids Day – Children 12 & under can get FREE Fair admission all day.

$30 Unlimited Carnival Ride Wristband – Guests can enjoy all of the rides they would like for one price plus 2 free games. (Sold until 5 pm. Valid until 8 pm. Required Fair admission sold separately.)

OC Fair, Costa Mesa Fairgrounds, Free tickets, giveaway, orange county
Dani at the Wall of Chocolate at OC Fair 2012
Friday Deals

Seniors Day (60+) – $2 discount on Senior admission plus FREE Ferris wheel and merry-go-round rides all day

$2 Taste of Fair Food – Enjoy $2 samples of select Fair treats. Click here for the $2 Taste of Fair Food List. Valid Noon-4 pm 

$2 Rides and $2 Games – Rides and games are only $2 each in the Main Carnival and Kiddie Carnival. Valid Noon-4 pm

OC Fair, Costa Mesa Fairgrounds, Free tickets, giveaway, orange county
With Friends at the OC Fair – 2012
Saturday & Sunday Deals

Rise & Shine – Early admission pricing every weekend of the OC Fair – $3 general admission for everyone from 10 am – 11 am
*These discounted tickets are sold until 11 am and must be used by Noon on the day of purchase.

FREE Off-Site Parking (Weekends Only)

Free parking and shuttle service is available on Saturdays and Sundays from the Experian parking structure located off the Bristol Street exit of the 405 Freeway. Follow the signs to “Experian.” The shuttle operates from 10 am-1 am Saturday & Sunday only.

OC Fair, Costa Mesa Fairgrounds, Free tickets, giveaway, orange county
Chicken Jerald of Chicken Charlie’s With a Drumstick

To enter my OC Fair Contest, enter through link here –>  a Rafflecopter giveaway

The OC Fair & Event Center is located off of the 405 and 55 freeways at 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa. Stay tuned for more details about train and bus service deals for those coming from afar to the fair!  This article will be coming shortly!  I hope to see you at the fair!  Winner will be announced on facebook and emailed on Thursday, July 23rd! Good luck in my contest! 🙂

OC Fair, Costa Mesa Fairgrounds, Free tickets, giveaway, orange county
Dani with Colossal Fries 2013 at OC Fair

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