Opening Day: OC Fair Kicks Off Friday

COSTA MESA (CBSLA) – The Orange County Fair is back with thrilling rides, fried food and adorable animals.

The iconic fair, which was canceled last year because of the pandemic, will open Friday at the OC Fair & Event Center. It will run through Aug. 15. The theme for this year's fair is "Time for Fun!"

Tickets must be purchased online in advance. There will be a capacity limit of 45,000 people per day.

"We have upped our cleaning and sanitation practices," OC Fair CEO Michele Richards told CBSLA Friday. "We've got extra handwashing, hand sanitizing stations. We're limiting our capacity so that we've got plenty of elbow room to spread out and have a great time."

Tickets on weekdays are $12, and on weekends $14. Admission for seniors 60 and older, and youth ages 6 to 12, is just $7. Children 5 and under get in for free. Hours are 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays, and 10 a.m. to midnight on weekends. The fair is closed Monday and Tuesday.

The Toyota Summer Concert Series at Pacific Amphitheatre returns as well beginning July 29 with Brantley Gilbert. Other performers include The Commodores and War on Aug. 5, Cheap Trick and Blue Oyster Cult on Aug. 11 and comedian Joy Koy on Aug. 15.

There will also be several tribute bands performing at The Hangar.

In:
• KCAL 9