ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. — The Orange County Fair will be in-person this year, marking the return of an important revenue stream to the local economy.
The OC Fair Board voted for an in-person fair on March 25 but will restrict numbers and introduce strict health and safety protocols for the event, which runs from July 16 to August 15.
"We are grateful to plan for an exciting and safe OC Fair this year," said OC Fair Board Chair Natalie Rubalcava-Garcia in a news release. "This milestone will allow the community to come together to celebrate the future and generate much-needed opportunities for economic development and growth in Orange County. The Board and staff have done a fantastic job of responsibly managing our finances and preparing to meet safe reopening guidelines to not just make it through the pandemic, but to emerge resilient and ready for 2021 and beyond.”
The fair has long been a significant economic contributor for the county. Located in Costa Mesa, the OC Fair & Event Center is an expansive 130 acres with 157,000 square feet of event space. The fair generates thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars annually, according to a 2015 report conducted by the California Department of Food & Agriculture Fairs & Expositions Branch.
In 2015, the report notes, the fair generated nearly $300 million. Fairs across the state generated nearly $4 billion that year. So far, the Orange County Fair is the first to announce in-person festivities. But with limited crowds, the fair may not be able to capitalize on the market vacuum.
The county's coronavirus infection rates have dropped, and hospitalization numbers have waned. But should case numbers see a resurgence, fair plans could be altered.
Tickets will go on sale May 1 and will be consistent with ticket prices from 2019. General admission tickets will be $12, and children’s tickets will cost $7. General admission will be $14 for weekends. The fair is scheduled to be closed Mondays and Tuesdays in keeping with tradition. Friday prices are expected to be sold at weekend prices.