Yay, it’s almost time for the 2025 Orange County Fair, which runs this year from July 18 to Aug. 17. As many of you have discovered, the fair can be surprisingly expensive, what with the admission, parking, funnel cakes, carnival rides and fried Twinkies.
But here are our best tips to save money while you’re there:
Every year the fair has new food options; 2018 brought lasagna nachos and caramel crack fries to the midway. (File photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG) Get a wristband for carnival rides: Do you like thrill rides? Another advantage of going mid-week is that you can ride all day, if you buy a carnival wristband. It includes unlimited rides and two free arcade games, but it’s good only on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Buy in advance for $49 until July 17, then onsite for $54. You can ride from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., but you must redeem it by 5 p.m. daily. (Closed toed shoes are required for some rides.) Read & Ride: Speaking of rides, kids ages 5-11 who read three books and sign up for the Read & Ride program can get a QR code valid for two free rides in the Kidland area only. Only one per child. form.jotform.com/251238689032157 Ride the special bus: This OCTA bus is available only twice a week — on Saturdays 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. (i.e. after midnight) and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., depending on location. Kids 18 and under ride free. Bus fare is $2 one way or $4 roundtrip, from five locations directly to the fair. You’ll likely save on parking at the fair, which is $15 for passenger cars —plus the bus drops you off right next to the Yellow Gate. No long marches in the heat (at least until you get inside.) OCTA pick up locations are at the Fullerton Transportation Center, Anaheim ARTIC, Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center (SARTC), Goldenwest Transportation Center (Huntington Beach) and Laguna Hills Transit Center. Map out your free entertainment options in advance: You don’t want to miss the All-Alaskan Racing Pigs, do you? There are five, count ’em, five stages with free entertainment, so look and see what interests you before you go. Local music groups, dance companies, culinary demonstrations and fun shows with a magician and a hypnotist. You can also see shows at the Action Sports Arena if you’re willing to stand (you have to pay for seats, except for Aug 13-17). Shows at the Hangar are free until 5 p.m., after that you have to stand, unless you want to buy a seat. Go dancing: There’s a new OC Fair After Dark dancing venue on weekends at the Plaza Pacifica Stage. Swing dancing with a live band on Fridays from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m.; DJ West Coast Dave on Saturdays from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m.; Latin dancing to a live band Sundays from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Kai Dolan, 2, reacts as he poses for a picture with Strawberry, one of the All-Alaskan Racing Pigs, during the OC Fair in Costa Mesa, CA, on Wednesday, July 24, 2024. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG) See the animals: Honestly, this is my favorite thing to do, and it doesn’t cost anything. I always head to the livestock barn to see the many types of animals. And visit the OC Fair’s resident animals at Centennial Farm, including pigs, goats, cattle, chickens, rabbits, peacocks and sheep. Look for the llama show as well. (Sadly, no poultry this year due to avian flu.) Find the schedules for the animal exhibits at ocfair.com/oc-fair/things-to-do/animals View the local exhibits: Who will win? See the competitors for the produce and floral prizes in Centennial Farm. Or visit the Home Arts & Collections gallery or the OC Promenade/Culinary to see other competitions, including woodworking, quilting, baking, table setting, fine arts and more. Do kid stuff: Visit the Orange County Sand and Sea exhibit with an ocean animal touch tank. (Don’t be scared. They don’t bite.) Go see the milking demonstrations at Millennium Barn, at 2:15 & 4:15 p.m. There’s a petting zoo with goats, sheep, pigs and more daily near the Yellow Gate (and check out the baby animals!). And, of course, you have to see the Alaskan racing pigs, which perform 3 or 4 times daily. pigrace.com
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