OC Fair bringing back its cattle drive this summer

Hundreds of cattle will again line Costa Mesa streets as the Orange County Fair’s cattle drive returns Aug. 8 after last appearing seven years ago.

Fairgoers first witnessed the bovine parade down Fairview Road in 1994, with more than 125 horse riders and 250 head of cattle. The fair last hosted the drive in 2008, with 300 cattle walking 3 1/2 miles to the fairgrounds.

This year’s OC Fair runs July 17 through Aug. 16 with the theme “One Big Party.”

The cattle drive will begin at Orange Coast College. Groups of riders and dogs will go through the Mesa del Mar neighborhood on their way to meet up with the cattle, according to Doug Lofstrom, who is coordinating the drive.

The cattle have been on hiatus because the fair tends to alternate its events so they don’t become stale, said fair spokeswoman Robin Wachner.

“If you do the same thing year after year, it’s not very exciting,” she said.

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Uber discount

Fair guests who don’t want to fight traffic or pay the $10 fee for parking at the fairgrounds can leave the driving to Uber this summer and get a price break.

The fair entered an agreement with the popular ride service to provide first-time passengers with a $25 discount on trips to or from the fair.

Fair staff announced the partnership during a board meeting Thursday.

Those looking for a ride with Uber can download its smartphone app and enter the promotion code “OCFAIR” to redeem the discount.

The price cut will mean a lot of rides will be free, depending on the distance, said Michele Richards, chief business development officer for the OC Fair & Event Center. Uber will give the fair a percentage of each fare before the discount.

Fairgoers will still be able to ride the OC Fair Express bus for $2 each way. Riders can buy a $3 ticket to the fair rather than pay the $12 general admission price.

[For the record, 5:35 p.m. May 29: An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that the cattle would go through the Mesa del Mar neighborhood. Only riders and dogs will go through the neighborhood.]