The 136th annual Orange County Fair opens July 17 and runs through mid-August, offering more tickets this year while holding the line on prices, the fair’s chief executive said.<\/p>\n
“A lot of work has gone into making the fair more approachable for folks and we held our pricing to last year’s numbers,” OC Fair CEO James Canfield said in an interview with City News Service. <\/p>\n
“We increased the cap (on attendance) to get more folks in, and then we built several packages this year,” to keep ticket prices affordable, he added. <\/p>\n
Among the new offerings is a $5 Taste of Fair menu featuring sample- sized portions of popular foods from participating vendors. <\/p>\n
“Generally, it’s a smaller portion of whatever the items are,” he said. Another new perk for families is a children’s menu, Canfield said. <\/p>\n
“One of the things we learned last year at the fair is… folks were having trouble finding what to feed the kids,” Canfield said. “The kids want lunch, but they can’t eat a four-pound corn dog, so one of the things we did this year was set up four — what we’re calling kids places — where you can get a $10 kids meal that is an entree, chips, French fries and a drink for $10.” <\/p>\n
Some new goodies this year include “gooey maple butter popcorn,” Canfield said, adding he was also looking forward to the Deep-Fried Tiramisu, which will be offered by Chicken Charlie’s as it celebrates its 30th anniversary. <\/p>\n
The carnival midway will feature about 70 rides, including a new attraction called Air Raid, described by Canfield as an “intense multidimensional spinning experience.” <\/p>\n
But for those with weaker stomachs, there’s the Ferris wheel and a “nice variety of calm rides” along with the roller coasters, Canfield said. Advance ticket prices remain unchanged from last year, he said. <\/p>\n
There’s an “everyday passport<\/a>” for $60 that gets you on every day of the fair, which runs Wednesdays through Sundays until Aug. 16, Canfield said.<\/p>\n Families might like the package of four tickets <\/a>and two carnival ride wristbands for $150, Canfield said. Visitors arriving between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays can enter for $11, he said.<\/p>\n “It’s all about making sure we’re able to accommodate the broadest group of people and really make the fair accessible,” Canfield said. <\/p>\n