Hurry up: Open your wallet and give me all of your money. That’s what it feels like when you go to the OC Fair, right? I mean, who can resist chocolate-covered pork, even though it costs more than your dishwasher? Or the carnival rides that leave you realizing you need to take out a second mortgage on your house?
The county fair, which opens Friday, is a wonderful place to be. The sights. The smells. The shows. Wouldn’t miss it. But a little planning can keep you out of bankruptcy court. Here are my best tips, garnered from years of visits:
Make a plan: If you don’t, you’ll end up spending a fortune on rides when there are so many other things to do. Look up the variety of free entertainment and plan your day around it. How about monster trucks, circus acts, magic shows, tractor pull, Peking acrobats, celebrity chefs and my personal favorite – the Alaskan racing pigs?
Carnival deals: You probably have to do at least one ride, right? You do, not me. Those things scare me. If you’re a glutton for punishment, you can buy $30 unlimited wristbands until 5 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays that are good until 8 p.m. And kids up to age 11 who read two books and complete a book report to bring with them can get coupons good for three carnival rides. Download the book report form from the fair’s website and bring it to the information booth at Centennial Farm to get the free ride tickets. Also note that seniors get free Ferris wheel and merry-go-round rides all day on Fridays, along with $2 off fair admission.
Limit the kids: I suggest giving your kids a set amount of money to spend on food or souvenirs. Then you don’t have to hear the whining all day or discover that you spent a mortgage payment on face painting and henna tattoos.
Enjoy the animal barns, which are free to visit: They’re my favorite part of the fair, and kids love them too. No one can resist the mama pig, who hopefully will have given birth to her litter of piglets by the time you arrive. Goats, cattle, rabbits, worms. Yes, worms. And the baby chicks, which will make you sigh, “Ohh.” And don’t forget the exhibit halls, including the Big Bug Hut. I love the Prehistoric Pets, the quilts and the gardening exhibits. Last year, I entered the table-setting contest, though, sadly, I didn’t win with my hillbilly-theme entry.
Bring your own food: I know, I know. You waited all year to treat yourself to deep-fried Kool-Aid. And, by all means, you should have one. But bring healthier fare from home for your main meal. This will save you a ton, and may just keep you from having a heart attack on the midway. Eating a big meal with protein before you come can help you resist temptation as well. If you want to sample a variety of food, visit noon to 4 p.m. Fridays, when you can get $2 deals at numerous booths, though the portions are usually small.
Ask for water: If you just want a drink of water, ask for one at the booths that sell drinks. There’s a good chance they’ll give you a cup for free.
More tips to get in cheap or free:
Come on opening day: There’s free admission and parking from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, but get there really, really early if you don’t want to get stuck in a massive traffic jam.
Serve your country: All active-duty military and veterans with ID get in free, all the time. Their dependents don’t, so plan accordingly.
We Care Wednesdays: Enter between noon and 3 p.m. and receive free admission and one free carnival ride if you donate to people in need. Note that you can’t enter at the main gate with donations; you must enter at the blue, yellow or green gates. The first We Care Wednesday is July 16, when you get in free with five cans of food. Other days involve gently used clothing, books and school supplies.
Kids Thursdays: All kids 12 and younger get free admission all day.
Super pass: If you just can’t get enough of the fair, buy a Super Pass for $35 ($28 for seniors and kids) that gets you in every day of the fair, plus discounts on some events and rides.
More discounts: Seniors age 60 and older get $2 off admission on Fridays. Everyone gets into the fair for $3 if they buy tickets between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Saturday or Sunday, when it will be cooler and less crowded anyway. You must enter by noon to use these discounted tickets. And note that, on weekends only, you can park for free in the Experian parking garage off the 405 at Bristol and take a shuttle to the fair. Residents of Costa Mesa get $2 off if they buy their tickets from the city.
For next year: Did you know you can enter a contest at the fair for only $5? And there are lots of kids competitions. You must sign up in the spring. The fair will be a lot more fun when you’re in it!
Want to know more? Go to OCFair.com. Hope to see you there.
Contact the writer: mfisher@ocregister.com or 714-796-7994
