The smell of livestock, the taste of fried goodness, the sound of roller-coaster riders screaming past. It’s what Orange County Fair-goers can depend on every year.
But every tradition needs a shake-up now and then. The fair opens today. Here are seven new attractions to check out between now and Aug. 10.
1. Turkey Stampede
First, imagine a pace car: a monster truck called Big Red, with its truck bed piled high with turkey chow. Add to that up to 30 turkeys of all varieties. What do you have? The fair’s inaugural Wild West Turkey Stampede – a race around a show ring, with the fastest fowl winning the most treats.
The fine-feathered spectacle will feature domestic turkey breeds, like the Broad Breasted Bronze, along with heritage breeds, such as Blue Slates and Bourbon Redsheld. Look for the show in the Livestock Show Ring Aug. 6-10. Showtimes are at 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m.
2. Brew Hee Haw
For the first time, craft beer connoisseurs and brew aficionados have a place of their own. The inaugural Brew Hee Haw Craft Beer Roundup happens only the first weekend of the fair and is presented by the wildly popular Brew Ha Ha Productions.
The event showcases some of our region’s best breweries and brewpubs, with more than 60 beers on tap, including some rare finds.
Buy tickets to the event and get 15 tasters, a commemorative glass, food pairing recommendations and seminars from local experts. Tickets buy you admission to the fair, too, and you can come and go from the tent as you like. It’s like a VIP lounge at the fair, said Brew Ha Ha Productions co-founder Carrie James.
The event is open in four sessions: Friday from 6 to 10 p.m.; Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. For more information, visit ocbrewheehaw.com.
3. Dance Mob
Here’s a way to work off some of the fair’s gut-busting goodies: Join a dance mob nightly at 8:30 in the Hangar.
Dance mobs have sprung up around the county in recent years, often bringing together strangers who perform the same dance steps in a public place. The fair’s take on this footloose phenomena is a five-minute choreographed dance mob called Commotion.
Learn steps such as the sticky floor and grapevine beforehand by going to the OC Fair & Event Center channel at youtube.com.
4. New Celebrity Chefs
Learn culinary secrets – and snag an autograph – from two TV chefs and the man behind Kogi barbecue in free step-by-step cooking demonstrations offered Thursdays this month in the Hangar.
The celebrity lineup includes Carla Hall, co-host of ABC’s “The Chew” and a contestant on “Top Chef.” Hall will demonstrate her French and Southern cooking style at 4 p.m. on July 17.
Roy Choi, best known for his taco truck Kogi barbecue that specializes in Mexican and Korean cuisine, will whip up Latin-Asian dishes at 4 p.m. July 24.
Finally, Kelsey Nixon, host of “Kelsey’s Essentials” on the Cooking Channel, will show how to create simple but tasty dishes at 4 p.m. July 31.
5. Explorium
There’s a new way this year for kids to get their hands dirty and see some creepy crawlies up close and personal.
The free, hands-on exhibit located in the Family Fair Way will have live and preserved insects, spiders, caterpillars and scorpions for little ones to inspect. There also will be live entertainment, including the Magic of Frank Thurston, Prehistoric Pets and the Dino Dig Sandbox.
For the little competitors in the family, contests will include a snake ring toss and other games. Beloved favorites will be featured in the family area, too: miniature bumper cars, circus acts and a live-size hamster ball for kids to roll around in.
6. Budweiser Clydesdales
After a two-year hiatus, the iconic Budweiser Clydesdales return to the fair, bringing with them nearly two centuries of tradition. Known for pulling 1-ton loads, the earliest version of the powerful horses was first bred in the 1800s along the banks of the River Clyde in Lanarkshire, Scotland, according to Anheuser-Busch.
Today, a Budweiser Clydesdale must be a gelding at least 4 years of age, stand 72 inches at the shoulder when fully mature and weigh 1,800 to 2,300 pounds. The horses also must have a bay coat, four white legs, a white blaze and a black mane and tail.
Watch a team of the historic horses in action Aug. 6-10 in the Livestock Area. A hitch preparation demonstration will take place at 4 p.m. daily, followed by a parade through the fairgrounds at 5 p.m. (except Aug. 7).
7. Cooking competitions
It’s not too late to show the culinary world what you’re made of. There are four categories chefs and bakers can still compete in. They include a healthful eating competition July 19; a chili, wings or salsa competition July 26; a cupcake competition Aug. 2; and a “fairtastic food” competition Aug. 9.
Free OC Fair admission will be granted to entrants who pre-register by the Wednesday before each competition. Winners can be of any age.
To sign up, contact Renee Fontes at rfontes@ocfair.com or 714-708-1621.
Contact the writer: lsteussy@ocregister.com and nshine@ocregister.com
