OC Fair is fun!

It's a simple statement, but true. We're enjoying ourselves tremendously at this year's Orange County Fair. A summertime staple since 1890, the OC Fair runs for about a month every summer, from mid-July to mid-August. This year we decided to get Super Passes, allowing us to go any time we wanted. We've already gone three times this summer, and we're planning a couple more visits before the Fair ends on August 12.

As with most state or county fairs, the OC Fair offers a mix of agricultural and crafts displays, carnival rides and games, live music and of course, lots and lots of food. While all fairs have unique features, there are a few areas that make the OC Fair special, which we particularly enjoy.

There are a few ways to enter the OC Fair and each has its charms. We like the entrance by Centennial Farm. This is a permanent part of the fairgrounds, and is open for visits all year, but they really put on their finery for the fair. In addition to the visiting animals, like Ankole cattle, llamas, and a working hive brought by the OC beekeepers, Centennial Farm boasts fruits, flowers and vegetables from raspberry vines to sunflowers to Anaheim chili peppers. This year, the agricultural crossed paths with the crafty, when yarn bombers made new coats for the cow and pig statues outside the Millennium Barn. Fun stuff!

Susan and the yarn-bombed pig.

The OC Fair's yarn-bombed cow.

Park Plaza, the next area you come to on the fairgrounds, is the host to the Crafters' Village. We saw a live ceramic making demonstration here (and found a sweet little ceramic butterfly to take home in the shop next door). There is usually a glass-blower here, too, but it looks like they missed this year, which is too bad. That's always interesting to watch. Missing this year too, is the ice museum. This is always a fun way to cool off while enjoying the artistry of the ice sculptors who have made everything from a Mona Lisa to a shark and coral reef out of ice in years past. We hope it's back next year.

Mitch posing with Poseidon in last year's ice museum.

A few of the bigger buildings on the fairgrounds are turned over to the display of the works of other local craftspeople. Beautiful pieces of woodworking, quilting, knitting and crocheting, cake decoration, painting and sculpture are on view for the duration of the fair. We haven't made it to this area yet, but we look forward to it, as it is always a favorite.

The next couple of areas are turned over to commerce and fair food. At the OC Fair you can find just about anything you can imagine either deep-fried, chocolate-dipped, or wrapped in bacon. In fact, there are a few places that actually offer chocolate-covered bacon! While we've enjoyed a funnel cake and some fresh-made potato chips so far this year, we've stayed away from the mile-long hot dogs and bacon-wrapped turkey legs (Mitch doesn't want to look too much like Henry VIII). That said, we've heard good things about the deep-fried Oreos...

This picture speaks for itself.

The livestock shows put on by the local 4-H and Future Farmers of America programs get us up-close and personal with goats, sheep, and cows (in fact, last year one of the goats tried to eat Susan's purse!). This year we found something new and one of the cutest things we've ever seen: the All Alaskan Racing Pigs show. 8 piglets compete in 3 races around a miniature track, complete with hurdles to jump. The final race includes cheer sections led by little kids from the audience. We're really looking forward to the day when our own child can have this experience.

There's the purse and the goat.

Go piggies, go!

Finally, we come to our favorite part of the OC Fair, La Grande Wheel. This 130-foot Ferris wheel takes riders high over the Fairgrounds for a view of Orange County that can't be beat. We've only ridden it at night so far and the view is amazing. We've also been wondering what it's like during the day and if you can see the Pacific Ocean from the top. We'll just have to ride again soon and find out!

The lights of the OC Fair from atop La Grande Wheel.

Self-portrait while riding La Grande Wheel, with a bit of the structure in the background.

We've had so much fun at the OC Fair this year, and we'll have even more before it ends. Even better will be the day we can visit the OC Fair with our child. Seeing the joy and wonder on his or her face will be the most fun of all.

Mitch always finds dinosaurs, even at the fair!