OC Fair Returns July 17 with Trevor Noah, Bacon-Wrapped Everything and New Rides
- Jessica Peralta
- 18 minutes ago
- 8 min read
Megan McIver – aka Megan the Bubbleologist – performs a high-energy, bubble-filled show using wands, upbeat music and audience participation for an engaging, family-friendly experience.
“I fill the air with dazzling bubbles of all shapes and sizes, creating magical moments that captivate audiences from start to finish,” Los Angeles-based McIver said. “Children and adults alike are mesmerized as bubbles shimmer, swirl and dance through the air. It's a joyful, laughter-filled experience that brings families together and creates memories they'll treasure long after the fair is over.”
This is McIver’s second year performing at the OC Fair, which opens July 17 and runs through Aug. 16 with a theme of "Your Adventure Awaits.” Bubbles are just one of the many forms of entertainment guests will find.
“At Pacific Amphitheatre, we have really punched up the entertainment and the venue itself,” said chief business development officer Michele Capps, who is managing the entertainment. “The venue itself has received a facelift …. From the food venues to the restrooms, we're paying attention to every little detail, so the venue itself feels a little fresher.”
Entertainment
Some of the Pacific Amphitheatre highlights include former “Daily Show” host Trevor Noah performing on July 30, Nelly on Aug. 2 and Patti LaBelle on Aug. 6.
“We have John Fogerty – that one is selling really fast, as is Patti LaBelle,” Capps said. “AJR and Dwight Yoakam look like they're going to be really high sellers.”
Capps said they’re planning musical entertainment for every taste between Pacific Amphitheatre and The Hangar, which spotlights local performers and tribute bands.
“If you like country, if you like reggae, pop, if you're an ‘80s fan, a ‘90s fan, ‘70s,” she said. “We've got Abba LA and the Elton John tribute band. We've got comedy, a little bit of everything.”
A new tribute band at The Hangar this year is Coldplay USA.
“We're going to open the first day of the fair with Twisted Gypsy, the Fleetwood Mac reimagined,” Capps said. “Burritos, the Sublime tribute. We've got a Depeche Mode experience called Devotional. So every day of fair we have one .… It's every genre – from Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars (tributes) to Michael (Jackson), everything is covered.”
For thrill-seekers, Action Sports Arena offers everything from the Nerveless Nocks Daredevil Circus to Kicker Monster Truck Show and all kinds of Demolition Derby.
“Something new this year over in Action Sports Arena, the Demolition Derby … they always sell out, they're always a favorite,” she said. “We added an entire second week of that, so instead of just five nights, we will have 10 nights.”
Capps said they’re also giving people the opportunity to reserve grandstand seating online in advance for a small fee of up to about $3, depending on the night. Free seating is still available.
“In the past you've had to stand in a very long line and hope you get in, so now you can go online,” she said.
Exhibits
Exhibits and competitions are another fun OC Fair tradition that guests can expect this year. According to Johanna Svensson, exhibits and education director at OC Fair & Event Center, the fair offers competitions for collections, miniatures, scrapbooking, jewelry, photography, sculpture, cosplay costume creations and more in the Hobbies & Handcrafts and Visual Arts areas. Culinary competitions cover everything from cookies and breads to preserves and honey. Centennial Farm features competitions for all things gardening – from vegetables to cut flowers.
“If someone has a hobby, it's likely that we have a competition for it,” Svensson said.
Svensson said the Commercial Wine Competition, coordinated and proctored by the Orange County Wine Society, is still one of the most prestigious and renowned competitions of its kind in the state.
“At the same time, home winemakers also have the opportunity to compete,” Svensson said. “I sincerely believe we have a competition for nearly any skill or craft that members of the Southern California community enjoy creating, cultivating and perfecting.”
The Home Brew Competition and Cakes & Cupcakes Competition are returning after a six-year hiatus. The Visual Arts Department is again hosting the Plein Air Competition after a pause of multiple years. And on July 26, competitors will spread across the fairgrounds with their paints and easels to capture the fair in action.
“We have also added new categories to our photography competition, including Americana and street photography,” Svensson said. “Another exciting development is that we are doubling the size of our popular table settings competition by offering two separate shows this year.”
The first show will be on display during the first two weeks of the fair and the second will replace it beginning Aug. 5 and remain on display through the end of the fair.
“The competition has grown significantly in popularity and competitiveness over the past several years, so we wanted to create more opportunities for participation while also giving returning guests something new to experience,” Svensson said.
New this year is a special themed ribbon in some competitive exhibit categories celebrating America's 250th anniversary. Svensson said that this year guests can explore culinary landmarks found along the Orange County coastline in the “Sand & Sea” exhibit, showcasing culinary competition entries. Guests can also participate in a scavenger hunt throughout the exhibit and everyone who finishes it will get a prize. In the Culinary Sand & Sea space at Promenade Stage, chefs and artisans from throughout the county will be giving demonstrations to fair guests.
“There is also a nightly eating competition for all ages at 7 p.m. and a three-time daily magic show that never fails to disappoint,” Svensson said. “We're also bringing back our tribute to VHS tapes and home movie culture: ‘Rewind: The VHS Comeback.’ Guests can relive the magic of home movie nights and video store adventures through hand-painted re-creations of classic film and soundtrack posters, live artist demonstrations, a vintage 1980s arcade, an Alfred Hitchcock-themed bar and lounge and other surprises celebrating the unforgettable culture of the VHS era.”
In the Visual Arts Gallery, guests can see the works of competition entrants in fine art and woodworking while also viewing a special exhibition featuring works by the late Southern California Latino artist Gil Ortega. The Hobbies & Handcrafts Gallery will feature the table settings competition, along with quilts, costumes, collections and a variety of handmade creations.
“Many guests fall in love with a piece of artwork or a handmade item and don't realize that many entries in our competitive exhibits are available for purchase from the artist,” Svensson said. “If someone visits the fair and can't stop thinking about a hand-carved wooden coffee table or a stunning photograph of a black bear in Yosemite they discovered in one of our exhibit buildings, OC Fair staff can help connect them with the artist. For many guests, the fair becomes an opportunity not only to appreciate local talent, but also to bring home a unique piece of it.”
Animals & Agriculture
Director of agriculture programs Evy Young said guests can expect to meet a variety of animal educators at the OC Fair this year.
“At Centennial Farm, guests can visit our animal educators throughout the fair, including chickens, goats, sheep, cows and the ever-popular pigs, of which we will have several litters of piglets to delight the crowds,” Young said. “Outside of the animals, we hope guests will enjoy all the flora — to go along with the fauna — and check out the variety of California specialty crops being grown around Centennial Farm, several varieties of flowers, tomatoes and peppers are just a highlight of the over 100-plus commodities grown at Centennial Farm.”
She said they will also have a variety of shows and judging taking place in the livestock area, including sheep, dairy goats, rabbits, donkeys and the very popular llamas.
“Proud 4-H, FFA (Future Farmers of America) and independent exhibitors will be ready to showcase their animals and skills,” Young said.
Centennial Farm will have multiple milking demonstrations in the Millennium Barn taking place daily. Local organizations like UC Master Gardeners of OC and the California Rare Fruit Growers will be there to help educate the public on a variety of gardening topics.
“We will also have a variety of pop-up education stations covering topics (including) vermiculture, organic gardening, sod, etc.,” Young said. “Lastly, we will have hundreds of entries on display — new entries come in weekly — from our ever-popular horticulture competitions.”
Main horticulture categories include cut flowers, container plants, floral arrangements, pressed botanicals and fruit and vegetables. In livestock, the fair has different livestock on display weekly, so guests can see something new when they come to the fair on different days. New this year is the livestock department hosting several horse exhibits over the last few weeks of the fair.
“When youth enter our agriculture competitions, whether it’s the fruit and vegetable competition or livestock, their joy of winning a ribbon — especially a blue ribbon — is always the best,” Young said. “It is a type of spontaneous joy that I can never get tired of seeing. But it’s also the type of joy that radiates beyond the child that participates, because I also get to see the families and friends that are excited and proud of that child’s accomplishment.”
Food
Of course no visit to the fair is complete without the requisite over-the-top food creation. This year's lineup includes dozens of new items and value offerings — including the $5 Taste of Fair, now daily until 5 p.m (extended by an hour this year). The fair features a total of more than 100 food vendors.
One highlight is the new Croffle from Mom's Bakeshoppe. Popular in South Korea, the chocolate chip Croffle combines a buttery croissant pressed in a waffle iron and is topped with vanilla ice cream.
The French onion 10-pound bun, from Ten Pound Buns, layers whipped butter, garlic, mozzarella, cheddar and caramelized onions into an oversized bread creation.
Gooey maple butter popcorn cone from Planet Popcorn features warm maple butter popcorn served in a cone with optional chopped nuts. There are also several gluten-free popcorn flavors available. Meanwhile Shawarma Fry Cone offers Middle Eastern flavors in a portable cone, or wrap, available at Chicken Charlie’s stands.
Nate Janousek, OC Fair concessionaire, owner of Bacon Nation and president of Fun Biz Concessions Inc., said he’s been offering food at the fair since 2015.
“This year, we will have the Bacon Nation, which provides an epic variety of bacon-wrapped items, such as massive bacon-wrapped turkey legs, foot-long sausages and hot dogs, bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers, fresh-cut bacon cheese curly fries and our new items, the pizza bacon bombs and the bacon-wrapped churros,” Janousek said.
He said they’re bringing another concession stand called Spud Ranch, near The Hangar, featuring giant baked potatoes stuffed with gourmet goodies like chicken alfredo, broccoli and cheese, pulled pork and brisket, chili and cheese, fresh-made macaroni and cheese, buffalo chicken and bleu cheese crumbles.
“This is the year of the bacon,” he said. “But I also predict that many of my fellow concessionaires will have some very exciting new items. We know our friend Chicken Charlie will surely be bringing his A-game and the RCS Carnival will have some unforgettable exclusives as well.”
OC Fair 2026: 'Your Adventure Awaits'
When: July 17-Aug. 16; hours are 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays; 11 a.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays
Where: OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa
Cost: Children $9, adults $13-$18, seniors $9-$10; onsite parking is $15 for cars and motorcycles, $30 for buses and limos.
Some days will sell out. It is recommended to purchase admission tickets in advance online.
Info: 714-708-1500, ocfair.com
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