Fairs and Carnivals

Orange County Fair Board Feet to be Put to Fire Again at Morning Meeting

Ever since former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger backed the Orange County Fair Board's desire to sell the state-owned property, a good chunk of fun has left the place known for good times since 1949. Let the bad times roll: the Orange County Fair Preservation Society (OCFPS), which has been highly crit ... More >>

OC Fair to Have "Arturo the Churro" Mascot; Board Director Calls it Racist

When it comes to the world of anthropomorphized food mascots, exaggerated ethnic and racial depictions are not only commonplace but virtually mandatory. The best example is the Milwaukee Brewer's legendary sausage races involving a hot dog (American), bratwurst (German), kielbasa (Polish), Italian ( ... More >>

13th Annual Elvis Festival

OC Fairgrounds

The English Beat

Orange County Fairgrounds

TNT

Orange County Fairgrounds

This Sunday: Tustin Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off

The 28th annual Tustin Street Fair and Chili Cook-Off will happen in Old Town Tustin, this Sunday, June 3, 2012 from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is free. There will be entertainment, food vendors, about 50 chili teams, carnival rides, beer and other diversions. CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE INFO you ne ... More >>

Orange County Fair Elephant Ride is Over

​The Orange County Fair Board, facing a crowd of more than 100 that included many animal advocates today, voted to end elephant rides.The news was cheered by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), which has sought bans on performing pachyderms around the country, and disdained by Have ... More >>

Ticket Giveaway: A Pair of Tickets to the OC Fair NYE Block Party!

​What exactly is at the OC Fair on New Year's Eve? Aside from the carnival rides, fireworks, food trucks and a casino, there's actually 12 (yes, 12) tribute bands, three per decade since the 1950s. From the same people who bring you the OC Fair, the second annual New Year's Eve Block Party on Satu ... More >>

[UPDATED with TV Star's Plea to End Santa Ana Zoo Rides:] OC Fair Begins and So Does Elephant Protest

​UPDATE, JULY 19, 7:29 A.M.: Constance Marie played Angie Lopez on ABC's George Lopez sitcom, and she's now Regina Vasquez on ABC Family's Switched at Birth.She's using her celebrity to issue this plea to Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido: Fire Have Trunk Will Travel as the elephant ride contractor at ... More >>

[UPDATED: Early Attendance Numbers] Hide Your Gas-Guzzling Oldsmobiles, There's a Patience-Swallowing Epidemic on the 55: It's FAIRMAGEDDON!

Chasen Marshall/OC WeeklyThe traffic is here. Be patient.UPDATE, JULY 15, 5:45 P.M.: By 3 p.m., the OC Fair had already had 32,439 people come through the gates, which was significantly up from last year's numbers at the same time. Last year, by the same time 24,164 had entered the fair. We estate t ... More >>

100 Reasons to Be Ecstatic About Summer In OC!

Summer here is bliss, better than anyplace else in the States

Chicken Charlie Reveals This Year's Cholesterol Contenders

Courtesy of Chicken Charlie​Shhh... that sound you hear is your arteries clamping shut as a preventative measure. They know county fair season is right 'round the corner, and that means deep-fried God-only-knows-what, sure as eggs is eggs.Our brethren and sistren at Squid Ink up there in that Ange ... More >>

OC Fairgrounds Board of Directors Commits to Stopping Sale--Also, David Ellis Speaks!

Chasen Marshall/OC Weekly​At its monthly meeting last Thursday morning, the board of directors of the Orange County Fair & Event Center announced its pledge to work to prevent the sale of the Orange County Fairgrounds. That would be the same board which, a year and nine months prior, on J ... More >>

Fair Games Over the OC Fairgrounds

The huge swath of public land is in play. But is the whole thing rigged?

Gettin' Made: Unique L.A. This Weekend

You read all about Renegade Craft Fair yesterday, but there's a second huge craft fair going on in Los Angeles this weekend. Don't miss Unique LA to check out over 300 great designers and artists, in the penthouse of the California Market Center in downtown Los Angeles! ​ After the jump, get ... More >>

Gettin' Made: Renegade Craft Fair This Weekend

This upcoming weekend is a huge craft fair weekend in Los Angeles folks, better clear some space in your calendar! Renegade Craft Fair returns to southern California with their first ever holiday sale featuring 150 indie artists and crafters at The Los Angeles State Historic Park. ​ Aft ... More >>

The Sex Offender Forecast: Fair

Six sex offenders tracked with global positioning system devices were arrested at the last Orange County Fair, surpassing the four arrested at the most recent Los Angeles County Fair and accounting for a large share of 17 such arrests statewide.Which just goes to prove my theory . . .

$100 Million Orange County Fairgrounds Sale OK'd by State, But Fight is Just Beginning

​The state is moving forward with plans to the sell the Orange County Fairgrounds to Facilities Management West, a Newport Beach-based company formed solely to operate the 150-acre property, for $100 million, officials disclosed today.To say the sale, which is aimed at easing California's budget w ... More >>

Gettin' Made: Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Sale Call for Vendors

Southern California indie arts and crafters take note--Renegade Craft Fair is heading back to Los Angeles State Historic Park for their upcoming holiday sale! Image from Renegade Craft Fair website Tents full of crafts galore at last summer's Renegade Craft Fair in Los Angeles​ After the ... More >>

Fear and Longing In Karaoke

The contestants in KaraokeFest battle stage fright, self-doubt and one another

[UPDATED:] OC Fairgrounds Preservation Society Raises Fears About an Electric Daisy Carnival There

​UPDATE: Costa Mesa approved the fairgrounds deal (see end of post) . . . The Orange County Fairgrounds Preservation Society (OCFPS) warns warned Tuesday evening may be the last chance for the public to be heard on the future of the exposition facility in Costa Mesa--at least for the next 55 years ... More >>

Gettin' Made: KJazz Blues Bash Call for Vendors

Artists and crafters, are you looking for one last hurrah to share your wares at before the summer craft fair season is over? The KJazz Blues Bash is coming up in Long Beach next weekend, and there's still some vendor spots available.Image from KJazz Blues Bash website​After the jump, details on h ... More >>

Orange County Fair Breaks Attendance Record

​The fate of the Orange County Fairgrounds may be in limbo, but people's love of it during the annual OC Fair is not in doubt.The 2010, 120th anniversary fair run broke attendance records with  1,154,969 visitors.That beat previous best year 2007 by nearly half a million guests.

Deal or No Deal: OC Fairgrounds Edition

​"Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in."Al Pacino's famous Godfather III line comes to mind when observing the Marx Brothersesque process to sell the state-owned Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa to someone . . . anyone.The only difference is those who seemed to be out are the ... More >>

Gettin' Made: Renegade Craft Fair This Weekend in Los Angeles

This weekend marks the return of Renegade Craft Fair to Los Angeles--don't miss their brand new location at Los Angeles State Historic Park. ​ Details about this massive outdoor craft spectacular after the jump.

As Register Questions His Conservative Cred, Moorlach Defends Doubts About OC Fair Deal

​Following an Orange County Register opinion piece that took direct aim at the conservative cred of local Republican politicians who opposed selling the Orange County Fairgrounds to the highest private bidder, one of those called-out has fired back.Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach, writing i ... More >>

Gettin' Made: The Beat Goes On at the Orange County Fair

Celebrate summer by taking a little trip to the Orange County Fair this month! All kinds of goodness await you, from an array of deep-fried delights to pig races to concerts--and don't miss the extensive arts and crafts displays! To help get you in the mood, check out these great indie cra ... More >>

Royal Rumble at the OC Fair

In the battle between cover bands and aging rock stars, we tell you which music acts will give you the most bang for your buck

OC Fair

OC Fairgrounds

Orange County Fair Slides Into Its 120th Year With Deals and Promotions

​This year's Orange County Fair will be themed "The Beat Goes On," which is what has happened to the wallets of attendees of past summer extravaganzas.However, to help celebrate the fair's 120th year, several old and new deals and promotions are being offered.

Ride Michael Jackson In Sacramento

Flickr user InkyhackThe Balloon Samba in San Jose last year​Still not over the King of Pop's passing? Maybe you can pay tribute by riding amusement rides from Neverland Ranch--only seven hours away in Sacramento's California State Fair. The State Fair's carnival will feature four rides purchased ... More >>

Schwarzenegger Signs Off on OC Fairgrounds Deal; Latino Legislators Still Vow to Spike It

​Stung by a failed auction in January, the Schwarzenegger administration announced Wednesday it has signed off on the deal to sell the Orange County Fairgrounds to Costa Mesa for $96 million.However, standing in the way of final approval is the state Legislature, which includes Latino members who ... More >>

Fair Games

[Summer Guide] Our annual celebration of summer, the OC Fair, has its share of sport, spectacle and combinations thereof

Gettin' Made: Calling All Crafters!

The Orange County Fair is coming up, and with it comes a slew of opportunities for crafters all over California to get involved! ​ After the jump, all the details on how to get your work seen at the fair!

Home of OC Fairground's CEO Gets Egged

Jay Brockman​The president and CEO of the Orange County Fair and Events Center got egged, which apparently costs $3,000 to clean up. And then there is the noxious liquid . . .

Gettin' Made: Call for Vendors for Summer's Renegade Craft Fair!

Lookin' for another great craft fair to vend at this summer? Renegade Craft Fair is back for it's second year in Los Angeles, and this time they're taking the fun outside! Picture from the Renegade Craft Fair website Los Angeles State Historic Park, (a.k.a. "The Cornfields") this s ... More >>

Orange County Fair: We're No. 11 in the Country! OC Great Park: Cirque Shows Will Make Money!

OCFair.comClowning around at the '09 fair.​ As the battle rages over ownership of the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, the current OC Fair & Events Center operators are trumpeting the annual summertime event holding onto the No. 11 spot among the top fairs in the U.S.Meanwhile, down th ... More >>

Cotton Candies All Around: Costa Mesa, Orange County Approve Pact to Buy Fairgrounds

​The county and the city of Costa Mesa just announced that the two government entities have approved a memorandum of understanding to purchase the Orange County Fairgrounds, which is state-owned property Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to sell. A private foundation composed of members of the publ ... More >>

County Lawyer Seeks State Probe of OC Fair Privatization Plan

What has Dick been doing?​The County of Orange's lawyer is calling on the California Attorney General to investigate potential illegal deals that could give private control of the $100 million-plus Orange County Fairgrounds property in Costa Mesa to well-connected political insiders.In an Oct. 30, ... More >>

Foes of Proposed Orange County Fair Sale Launch Website

Photo by Jennie WarrenAre certain fair board elements taking Orange Countians and state taxpayers for a ride?Some anonymous Orange County Fair employees have created a website that channels their displeasure with the proposed sale of the state-owned fairgrounds in Costa Mesa.OCUnfair.com takes parti ... More >>

UPDATE: Eat It! Michael Jackson To Get Butter Statue

If you didn't manage to get tickets to the MJ memorial at Staples Center tomorrow, fear not: you can probably still book a flight to Des Moines for the Iowa State Fair in August, when Jackson will be immortalized in butter. For ten days, the dairy King of Pop will stand next to the fair's traditiona ... More >>

When Orange Countians Loved Mexicans

Am deep in the vaults for an upcoming...something, when I stumbled across an ad in the then-Santa Ana Register for the 1969 Orange County Fair. The theme for that year? "Fiesta of Fun," with its logo a clown wearing a sombrero that read, "¡Vamos Amigos!" (upside-down exclamation point in the origin ... More >>

Orange County Mud Run

Hidden Valley Park

The More the OC Fair Has Changed, the More Its Rites and Rituals Have Stayed the Same

Gettin' Made: Renegade Craft Fair

The Gettin' Made blog feature is moving to the Heard Mentality section of the OC Weekly site, make a note of it! Heard Mentality is transforming like your fave yellow Camaro into an all-emcompassing culture section. copyright i made you a beard Renegade Craft Fair is finally coming to Souther ... More >>

Gettin' Made: Renegade Craft Fair

Hey Folks! The Gettin' Made Feature is moving to the Heard Mentality section of the OC Weekly site, make a note of it! Heard Mentality is transforming like your fave yellow Camero into an all-emcompassing culture section.   Renegade Craft Fair is finally coming to southern California - thi ... More >>

TAPS in Brea Scoops Five Medals At California Beer Competitions

The restaurant's brewmaster, Victor Novak (who sounds like a film noir actor, if you ask me), now has 37 awards to his name, thanks to the new haul. The California State Fair (which takes place from August 21 to September 7 in Sacramento) has given TAPS' Cream Ale a gold medal and its Irish Red a br ... More >>

Maloof Money Cup Promotional Video

This video is a couple weeks old (I just saw it yesterday on LAist), but it promotes the Maloof Money Cup, "the premiere showcase for amateur and professional skateboarding in 2009," which runs as a three-day festival during the opening weekend of the Orange County Fair July 10-12 at the Orange Cou ... More >>

This Sunday: Tustin Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off

Perhaps the greatest South Park episode ever made is "Scott Tenorman Must Die." If you've seen it, then you know where I'm going with this. Yes. I am making the connection between Cartman's Chili Con Carnival with this Sunday's Tustin Street Fair & Chili Cook-Off. Seriously, if you haven't, ... More >>

Wednesday's Headlines. No Surprises: Disney wins

More dirt on Debbie? Yesterday we noted that Debbie Carona was doing her darndest to wriggle her way out of a case that's mainly against her husband. Wait a second, missy. Today, Christine Hanley and Garrett Therolf at the Times report that the sheriff's wife urged Orange County Fair Board director ... More >>