OC Fair Wraps On High Note

The Orange County Fair had a good run this year with fairgoers making it the second highest year for attendance since the fair began in 1890, a fair spokeswoman reported.

Over the 23 day run which ended Sunday, the OC Fair hosted 1,374,579 people who indulged in food and had fun with rides, game and all sorts of entertainment. Fair officials said 2011 was the highest record attendance recorded at the OC Fair, when 1,400, 280 visited the fairgrounds. Another 25,701 people were needed to break the attendance record this year, but overall fair officials said the fair wrapped on a high note.

"We had really, really great weather and that’s always a big factor," Robin Wachner, OC Fair spokeswoman, said. "The other thing was that we always bring back programming people love and also give new things for them to try. It was a great turnout all around."

According to Wachner, the Pacific Amphitheatre also saw its top-grossing summer concert series which included 11 sold-out concerts by Weezer, the B-52s and ZZ Top among other bands.
           
Crews are now working on tearing down the fair, but preparations are already underway for next year's extravaganza.

"We are always thinking and planning ahead for our next fair," Wachner said.

OC Fair 2012 at a Glance

• More than 478,500 fairgoers got into the OC Fair for free or at a discount through the numerous special days, donation drives and coupons
  
• Approximately 82,400 generous fairgoers donated canned food, children’s books, clothing and school supplies for free Fair admission during the four We Care Wednesday donation drives
• The Centennial Farm welcomed 16 piglets and the Great American Petting Zoo welcomed two lambs and two pygmy goat kids. Dr. Entomo’s Palace of Exotic Wonders – Insect Exhibit welcomed 40 Cave Cockroaches to its family
• Chicken Charlie used 7,500 gallons of vegetable oil to fry up 24,000 Bacon-Wrapped Pickles, 100,000 Deep-Fried Oreos and other treats
  
• Bacon A-Fair used 20,000 pounds of bacon around turkey legs, inside chocolate, wrapped around cheesy bombs or sprinkled around chocolate peanut butter bananas