Timeline: A Brief History of the OC Fair - OC Fair & Event Center - Costa Mesa, CA (2024)

1889The Orange County Community Fair Corporation was formed shortly after the founding of the County of Orange.1890The first Fair is held in Santa Ana.1894The newly formed Orange County Fair Association, Inc. takes over organizing the Fair.1907The Fair becomes an annual event, extended to three days and branded “Carnival of Products.”1911The Fair is held in Anaheim and renamed the “Anaheim Carnival.”1916-17The newly organized Orange County Farm Bureau takes over organizing the Fair and moves it to Huntington Beach.1920sVarious chambers of commerce and other entities take turns sponsoring the Fair which was held in different cities including temporary fairgrounds on East Fruit Street in Santa Ana and near the then Orange County Hospital in Anaheim.1925The first OC Fair Board of Directors is elected. A rodeo and carnival are also offered for the first time during the Fair.1930sThe Fair is held in multiple locations from Santa Ana to Pomona as part of a tri-county fair concept.1939The first 4-H exhibits and competitions are held.1942-47Due to a Federal mandate during wartime, the Fair is not held.1949The State of California purchases land occupied by the Santa Ana Army Air Base and earmarks some of it for a new fairground to be managed by the newly formed 32nd District Agricultural Association.1949The Fair is held on its new site, which is soon designated as the permanent fairgrounds.1953The City of Costa Mesa was incorporated and includes the Fair’s property.1966The grandstand arena is built.1972The Fair expands to 10 days.1980The onsite equestrian center opens.1983The first concerts in the newly built Pacific Amphitheatre feature Barry Manilow, The Beach Boys, Oingo Boingo and Marvin Gaye.1984The first Friends of the Fair Day is held for guests with special needs.1987-92The Fair expands to 11 days, then 12 and finally 17 days.1994The first OC Fair cattle drive is held down Fairview Road featuring 125 riders and 250 head of cattle. Also the Pacific Amphitheatre is closed for the first time since its opening in 1983.2001The Fair introduced the Orange Crush Demolition Derby.2003The Fair expands to 21 days and celebrates the re-opening of the Pacific Amphitheatre.2005The Fair breaks the million-person mark for the first time welcoming 1,058,192 guests over 21 days.2007The Fair features two cattle drives, one on the sandy shores of Huntington Beach and another down the streets of Costa Mesa from Fairview Park to the fairgrounds.2009The Fair expands to 23 days. The self-produced interactive exhibit “Al’s Brain” leaves a big impact and Motorhome Madness Demolition Derby debuts.2010The Hangar building debuts with its 50-foot-tall arched ceiling and aviation hangar-style design.2012The Fair turns the popular demolition derby pink for breast cancer awareness and the first all-female derby was called Damsels of Destruction Demolition Derby.2013The Pacific Amphitheatre saw its highest grossing season to date without lawn seating. The Fair also introduced the OC Fair Foodies, a collection of food-related costumed characters that roam the property delighting guests of all ages. Foodies included Olivia (orange), Cornelius (roasted corn), Arturo (churro), Carl (cotton candy), Spike (carrot), Mike (bacon-wrapped turkey leg), Dip (corn dog), Clemon (lemon), Scoop (ice cream cone) and Slim (slice of bacon).2015The newly built Plaza Pacifica offers direct access to the concert seating in Pacific Amphitheatre from inside the Fair.2017OCFEC opens its veterans museum, Heroes Hall, and Table of Dignity, an agricultural workers memorial.2018The current highest overall attendance record is earned with 1,470,636 fairgoers through the gates during the Fair’s 23-day run. This year also marked the highest daily attendance record reached on Saturday, July 28, with a total of 86,334 attendees at the Fair.2019A Vietnam-era A-4M Skyhawk aircraft is relocated from the Santa Ana Civic Center to Heroes Hall.2020The OC Fair is canceled for the first time since WWII due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A virtual fair took place on ocfair.com.2021The OC Fair requires advance ticket purchase with limited daily capacity for the first time. The Fair also sells out for the first time on July 17.2021A new OC Fair Foodie costumed character, Strawberry Jan, is introduced.2022OC Fair Board votes to adopt a new mission statement: “Creating equitable community access to agriculture, entertainment, cultural and educational experiences.”2022Sunny the lemon debuts as the newest OC Fair Foodie costumed character.2023The Serenity Walk at Heroes Hall opens with a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 20.2024OC Fair is held for the 75th year at OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa.2024Centennial Farm celebrates its 35th anniversary.