Orange County Fair back in action as opening day visitors soak up the sun
Thousands of happy spectators lined up early for their chance to “Feel the Sunshine,” as the 2022 Orange County Fair kicked off Friday morning at the fairgrounds in Costa Mesa.
Guests at the front of the line, like Santa Ana resident Eva Cruz, arrived more than an hour ahead of an 11 a.m. opening, just to be there when fair organizers called a countdown and rolled open the Blue Gate entrance to a flood of fairgoers.
Cruz was there with 19-year-old son Angel, and daughters Alicia, 17, and 12-year-old Alondra to continue a family tradition that was temporarily halted two years ago by a still-new COVID-19 pandemic closures but was back in full swing Friday.
“My favorite part is getting on the rides, seeing the animals and just walking around,” she said. “We were very sad when it closed.”
The family arrived at the fairgrounds at around 9:30 a.m. to secure a spot at the front of the line, where some last-minute planners were still trying to preorder tickets online on their cellphones (a contact-free practice adopted during last year’s modified fair that organizers opted to keep).
Angel Cruz was loaded down with a picnic parcel, a nod to cost consciousness.
“It’s a little pricey, so we brought our own lunch, sandwiches and chips for the kids,” he said.
With the gates open, throngs of people poured in to receive a full fair welcome from a retinue of fair employees, local dignitaries, members of the Clown Patrol and the O.C. Fair Foodies — a costumed troupe of culinary characters whose presence lends an agricultural feel to the festivities.
New this year is Sunny the Lemon, a mascot whose name and beaming yellow visage ties in perfectly with this year’s fair theme, “Feel the Sunshine,” according to Michele Richards, OC Fair & Event Center chief executive.
Sunny joins Strawberry Jan, Cornelius the Corn, Olivia the Orange and Arturo the Churro and is the fair’s first non-gender-specific character.
“We thought Sunny could have their own identity,” Richards said. “Sunny is whoever Sunny chooses to be — authentically Sunny. Everybody is welcome here with open arms, and we want them to feel comfortable.”
Helping roll back the gate to welcome fairgoers was Doug LaBelle, current chair of the OCFEC Board, who’s been around the fair blocks in his 12 years with the organization.
In addition to rides and seasonal attractions, LaBelle hopes guests check out the site’s Centennial Farm and Heroes Hall Veterans Museum, two features that show the work the Fair & Event Center, operating as California’s 32nd District Agricultural Assn., does year-round.
“Come to the fair, enjoy and have fun,” he said. “Everything is just perfect, and we couldn’t do it without Michele and her staff.”
Inside the gates, it didn’t take long for spectators to scurry to their favorite corners of the 130-acre fairgrounds. Kids from Club Kare in Arcadia, under direction from counselor Tim Lunney darted right for Patches — a gargantuan oxen meant to teach kids about bovines at work.
Nearby, 2-year-old twins Scarlett and Sabine Kauffman watched from their dual stroller as Patches serenely submitted to pets and brush strokes down his velvety black side panel. An erstwhile 4-H project, the bull has since grown to 2,400 pounds.
The twins’ mom, Newport Beach resident Stephanie Kaufman, brought the girls and their sister, Stella, along with mom Vicki Hernandez as part of a family tradition whose roots go back 68 years, when Hernandez used to come as a little girl. All three generations of women said seeing the animals was one of their favorite fair activities.
“I also like the shopping,” Hernandez said, smiling.
Over in the midway, visitors tempted by a rainbow of giant plush animals, fruits and popular cartoon characters tried their hand at carnival games and walked away with consolation prizes.
One exception was Joe Bullock, 15, of San Clemente, who awkwardly carried a giant Scooby Doo, connoting mastery over the game Bottle Up, where people must bring a glass bottle to standing using only a ring.
Well, clarifies mom Michelle Cannon, Joe didn’t earn the prize himself — it was won by Cannon’s uncle, Rick Iida, who came to town for a family reunion and insisted the family swing by the fair so he could try his hand at the task.
“It’s his favorite thing. He has one at home and he practices, so he won this,” Cannon said. “We’re going to come back before we leave and get another one.”
Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley came to opening day as one of several local dignitaries and as a Costa Mesa resident. While there in an official capacity, she said she planned to return in the evening to hang out with husband Casey and socialize.
“This is my tradition to come on opening day of the fair and raise the flag,” she said. “It’s the kickoff to summer.”
Richards, who came to the O.C. Fair in 2002 and got hooked, couldn’t agree more.
“It’s like putting out an invitation to the most fabulous party of the year and seeing so many people come out and knowing we’ve made a difference and created a great experience,” she said.
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