Well, here we are in summer, which means it’s time for the OC Fair, which runs July 17- Aug. 16. It’s always fun, right? And you don’t mind taking out a second on your house to pay for it.
Oh, wait. You do mind? Then keep reading, because with a little advance planning, you can actually have fun without emptying the piggy bank. Here are our best tips for 2026:
Admission and parking
Sadly, there aren’t as many deals to get in as there once were, now that the fair limits admission to rcontrol crowds, but there are a few:
- Buy your tickets in advance: Adult tickets in advance are $15 Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, seniors $9 if you buy by Thursday, July 16. If you wait until the fair opens, tickets will cost $18 for adults and $10 for seniors. (And note that you can’t buy at the box office after opening, only online. I know that’s weird.)
- Come on Wednesday or Thursday: Get in for $11 on Wednesdays and Thursdays if you arrive between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Not only is it cheaper, but it’ll be cooler and less crowded. Otherwise, Wednesday and Thursday admission is $13 — $2 cheaper than other days. These prices are for advance purchase; prices will go up. Carnival deals are better, too.
- Be old: Seniors 65 and older get in every day for $9, if you buy in advance, or $10 after July 16.
- Be a kid: Kids 5 and under get in free. Ages 6-12 pay $9 per day.
- Want more fair? You can buy a $60 pass to get into the fair every day it’s open, even when it’s sold out.
- Parking:It costs $15 each day and can really be a hassle at times. But you can ride the air conditioned OC Fair Express bus on Saturdays and Sundays for only $2 per adult — and kids are free! You get dropped off right at the entrance, so no long treks. Learn more: octa.net/getting-around/bus/oc-bus/promotions/oc-fair-express-2026
Learn more: ocfair.com/oc-fair/admission
Carnival rides
- Kids can get two free Kidland carnival rides if they read three books and complete an online book report before they arrive. This is for ages 5-11 in the Read and Ride program. Learn more: form.jotform.com/252185334592157
- Get a carnival Dream Pass good any one day of the fair. This entitles you to 10 rides or games of your choice. But you must buy it by July 16 — before the fair opens.
- Need to be unlimited? On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, get an unlimited carnival ride pass for $50, but only if you buy by July 16, before the fair opens. You will receive a voucher that can be redeemed for a wristband between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Once activated, the pass is valid until 8 p.m. on that day.
- It causes me physical pain to classify $150 as a deal, but you can spend that for a family of four bundle. This is good on Wednesdays and Thursdays only, and includes two adult entrance tickets, two kid tickets, two kids meals and two unlimited ride wristbands. Such a deal. You must buy online before July 16.
- And for a mere $155, good any day, you can get the Family Dream Bundle, which includes two adult and two kid entrance passes, two kids meals and two Dream Passes. Again, you must buy by July 16.
Cheap eats
- OK, let’s get real. Few of us really want to skip the overpriced fair food, right? But be clever about it. Bring your healthy lunch and snacks in a disposable bag with a chunk of ice to keep it cold, or frozen water bottles that will melt. Sit and eat it, and only afterward get your fair food jones satisfied with one of the $5 bite-sized “Taste of Fair” promotional items that are available daily until 5 p.m.
- You won’t have to haul a cooler around, because you can toss the plastic bag when you’re done. And if the rugrats want more, note that four locations on the fairgrounds will offer $10 kids meals, if you buy a meal voucher in advance online. And note that if you bring a water bottle, there are free refilling stations around the fairgrounds.
- Here’s a few of the 90 $5 Taste of Fair items for a snack or dessert, available until 5 p.m.: A Fried Twinkie at Fried A Fair or StrEAT, small funnel cakes at numerous locations (yes, we love them too), a Jalapeño Cheese Corn Dog at Big Dogs, two churros at Dutchmen’s Funnel Cakes and so many more.
Free stuff to do
No, you don’t have to pay extra to have fun all day long. Here’s tried-and-true daily fun.
- Don’t miss the All-Alaskan Racing Pigs at Plaza Pacifica, and this year the races will be shown on a big screen as well. These little piglets travel in a fancy air-conditioned trailer built just for them, and they love to race, so go cheer them on.
- Magician Frank Thurston offers daily magic and comedy shows that are fun for everyone.
- What would the fair be without animals? Look for pygmy goats, llamas, chickens, miniature donkeys and other animals in the livestock area. Let’s not forget the mama sow, who will hopefully have a new crop of cute piglets for you to see.
- Head to the All-American Petting Farm to meet and feed sheep, pigs, goats and more. It’s near the Yellow Gate.
- Keep your eyes peeled for roving performers, including Megan the Bubbleologist, Dragon Knights stilt walkers, the Red Light Brass Band and a strolling DJ. Costumed characters will also be roaming around, available for howdys and photos, including Strawberry Jan, Olivia Orange, Sunny Lemon, Cornelius Corn and Carl the Cotton Candy.
- Check out the play fountain at the Main Mall, where kids can splash around. Bring a change of clothes because they’ll get soaked.
- There’s free singing and dancing every night on the Plaza Stage, with karaoke Wednesdays, country night on Thursdays, a DJ dance party Fridays, swing music on Saturdays and Latin music on Sundays.
- Sadly, nearly everything you’ll want to see at the Action Sports Arena costs extra and requires advance tickets. (Insert teardrop here.) However, if you get tickets to see The Nerveless Nocks Daredevil Circus Thrill shows, the cheapest seats cost nearly the same as admission to the fair. So you can get a reserved seat and admission in one.
- Want to touch sea creatures? Check out the Explorium at OC Promenade, with a Sand and Sea experience of Orange County’s coastline and includes a hands-on touch tank.
- Browse the exhibits. Every year, locals compete in numerous contests, including woodworking, collections, fruits and vegetables, handicrafts and more. See if you could win next year.
- Head to Centennial Farm and the livestock barns to learn more about the county’s farming heritage. See daily cow and goat milking demonstrations, visit goats, rabbits, guinea pigs and more, learn about bees and see beautiful Freesian horses Aug. 12-16.
Still have questions? Check out ocfair.com/oc-fair for answers.