Carnival & Fair News

Adventure Aplenty at the OC Fair

Running for a full month and packed with attractions, carnival rides and food concessions, the 136th OC Fair began July 17 and concluded Aug. 16. This year's theme was “Your Adventure Awaits,” and the fair delivered what OC Fair & Event Center CEO James Canfield called “something for everyone here, whether it's a competition for who gets to make the best pie, our livestock auction, our educational programs, or entertainment shows.”

Pointing out that fairgoers each got to “define what your adventure is” this year, Canfield cited the wide range of animal exhibits and competitions, more than 100 food vendors and, of course, carnival rides as offering plenty of options.

The fair annually brings more than a million visitors to the Costa Mesa fairgrounds while continuing to utilize the limited-capacity admission model first employed during the pandemic. In 2026, paid attendance was capped at 55,000 per day, 10% higher than the previous year's limit. Advance tickets were required.

New technology this year allowed fair organizers to estimate attendance on the fairgrounds in real time, enabling additional tickets to be released for purchase as fairgoers departed. Canfield described the system as allowing additional tickets to be released “on the fly.”

Fair admission was $13 on Wednesdays and Thursdays and $18 Friday through Sunday. Children ages 6 to 12 were admitted for $9, seniors for $10 and children 5 and younger were admitted free. Because evenings were typically the busiest time at the fair, the Smart Start promotion offered $11 admission to guests entering between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The fair was closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

RCS Carnival Midway

Provided by Ray Cammack Shows, the carnival offered a variety of thrill rides along with an extensive Kidland area. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, unlimited ride wristbands were available, while individual carnival credits could be used for rides and games throughout the fair.

Another first this year brought a charitable twist to the carnival games. With more than 60 midway games, guests winning prizes could donate them to area children in need. Canfield was enthusiastic about the new program, a collaboration with area Lions Clubs. Winners could leave prizes in collection boxes near fair exits, eliminating the problem of winning toys so large that, as Canfield noted, “there's not enough space in the car.”

Other popular thrill rides included the Raptor Coaster, Titan and the fast-spinning Endeavor Space Wars. Joker 360, Cyclone, Aviator, Sound Storm and Overdrive were also among the midway attractions.

On the family side, the Big Wheel remained popular for its smooth ride and views of the fairgrounds, while younger guests could enjoy the Balloon Ride, Frog Hop, Kiddie Bumper Boats, coasters, Monster Trucks and Flying Jumbo Elephants. RCS provided more than 50 carnival rides at the fair.

Fair Food

Food choices were equally plentiful, with the popular $5 Taste of Fair promotion offering smaller portions of fair favorites at participating vendors daily until 5 p.m. New this year were $10 kids meals available at four KP's Kids Place locations.

Among this year's new food offerings was deep-fried tiramisu at Chicken Charlie's. Bacon Nation offered Bacon Bombs and Bacon-Wrapped Churros, while Biggy's Dutch Fries featured Dutch fries with black truffle mayo.

At Mom's Bakeshoppe, the Chocolate Chip Croffle combined croissant dough pressed in a waffle iron with vanilla ice cream. Other new offerings added even more variety to the fair's extensive food lineup.

Entertainment

Music also played a major role at the fair, with the Pacific Amphitheatre and other fair venues hosting a wide-ranging entertainment lineup.

Performers included country trio Midland, country artist Chris Young, the Happy Together Tour and Christian music artist Lauren Daigle. The entertainment schedule also included Hawaiian reggae artist Kolohe Kai and tribute acts such as ABBA LA and Elton: The Early Years.

Other performers included Cypress Hill with Ozomatli; Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth and Tonic; comedian and The Daily Show host Trevor Noah; John Fogerty; Patti LaBelle and The O'Jays; AJR; Dwight Yoakam; and The Head and the Heart.

Exhibits and Attractions

The fair also offered major exhibits and competitions, including the 1980s pop-culture tribute Rewind: VHS Comeback, complete with an '80s-style arcade, movie posters and soundtrack displays. New to the competitive lineup was a homebrew competition for beer and cider makers, while the popular table-setting competition was expanded and the visual arts exhibition showcased work from area artists in numerous categories.

There was more room to watch the popular All-Alaskan Racing Pigs at Plaza Pacifica, with additional seating and broadcasts of the races on outdoor screens.

Demolition derby and monster truck events also returned to the Action Sports Arena with multiple nights of crashing and racing. The venue hosted several variations of demolition derby competition along with multiple nights of monster truck action.

The Action Sports Arena was also home to the Nerveless Nocks Daredevil Circus, featuring the Globe of Death, Wheel of Steel and FMX Stunt Spectacular.

Each evening, Fair After Dark brought dance instruction, DJ dance parties and karaoke to the fair.

Another entertainment event featured zoot suit models and highlighted the history and culture surrounding the distinctive custom-made suits as part of the El Pachuco Zoot Suit Fashion Show & Lowrider Exhibit.

Other attractions included hidden speakeasy bars, the family-favorite Great American Petting Farm, Centennial Farm and strolling performances by the Dragon Knights Stilt Show and Captain Tall Tale.

Children could beat the heat at the OC Fair Splash Fountain or visit animals throughout the fairgrounds. Daily livestock programming included FFA and 4-H activities, auctions, milking demonstrations and exhibits featuring lambs, rabbits, swine, goats and beef cattle, along with other agricultural and educational exhibits.

According to Canfield, “The fair is all about the family and community experience. We really want to make sure the fair is approachable for everyone…the OC Fair is all about being able to provide a place so many people enjoy.”