• Contact

facebook
linkedin
tumblr
twitter
vimeo
rss

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact



2018 OC Fair Sets Attendance Records And Gives Back To The Community

August 17, 2018
by R.V. Baugus
#kathykramer, #ocfair
Comments are off

The 128th OC Fair in Costa Mesa, California, welcomed a record 1,470,636 guests who enjoyed 35 sold-out shows, ate hundreds of thousands of chocolate chip cookies and freed their inner farmers by greeting 11 new piglets at Centennial Farm.

“2018 was a banner year for the OC Fair in so many ways,” said OC Fair & Event Center CEO Kathy Kramer, CMP, CVE. “We want to thank the community for coming out in record-breaking numbers to enjoy the best celebration of the summer. We’re proud that 87% of guests surveyed said they increased their knowledge of agriculture and gave us a 4.62 overall enjoyment rating (out of 5).”

Through its community programs, the OC Fair collected 11,055 children’s books, 10,769 items of clothing, 8,849 cans of food, and 8,229 school supplies for local charities through the We Care Wednesday program during which guests received free admission with their donation.

The Friends of the Fair program welcomed 4,501 guests with special needs for a free VIP experience while the OC Fair Kids Club brought 1,150 children from local Title 1 programs to the Fair for a special experience that included free admission and rides, a gift card, and bus service.

The final audited attendance figures show an increase of increase 10% from the 2017 number of 1,334,753. Final revenue numbers will be released in October.

“The annual Fair funds our community give-back programs, agriculture education, and supports Centennial Farm and Heroes Hall, so a great year for the Fair pays dividends all year long,” Kramer said.

This year the OC Fair offered more discounts and promotions than ever before to help make the event more accessible. New in 2018 was Overalls Day and 3,140 fairgoers received free admission on Thursdays when they wore the denim classics. And a new carnival wristband deal was added to Sundays.

The most popular one-time promotion was the opening day “Free Till 3” admission and parking deal and 38,091 guests arrived early on July 13 to get the party started. Half-price early-bird weekend admission attracted 73,091 fairgoers. Some 16,610 veterans and active members of the military received free admission during the run of the fair and their family members purchased 22,647 discounted tickets.

On Thursdays, 25,158 children received free admission for Kids Day and more than 13,000 free carnival rides were provided to children who participated in the Read and Ride program.

The previous attendance record for the 23-day event was set in 2011 when 1,400,280 fairgoers turned out for the “Let’s Eat” theme and watched sold-out concerts by Bob Dylan, Selena Gomez, Blake Shelton, Weezer, Chicago, and more in Pacific Amphitheatre.

The 2018 OC Fair also broke the previous single-day attendance record when 86,334 fairgoers arrived on Saturday, July 28. That turnout bested the record of 84,986 guests who visited the Fair on July 21, 2001, to see the Orange Crush Demolition Derby debut, the “I Love Lucy” 50th-anniversary exhibit and to ride La Grande Wheel and the Euroslide for the first time at the OC Fair.

The OC Fair is currently the second-largest Fair in California by attendance, behind only the San Diego County Fair which runs three days longer. Nationally, the OC Fair ranks seventh by attendance.

R.V. Baugus
About the Author
R.V. Baugus is senior editor of IAVM's magazine, Venue Professional. Baugus is a 12-time Quill Award winner from the Dallas chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and Silver Quill recipient from the Southern Region of IABC. He is devoted in his community by serving as a deacon at his church, a facilitator leading a Grief Share class, high school football public address announcer for the Irving ISD and basketball PA announcer for Nimitz High School.
Social Share
  • google-share

Do you want to receive a Front Row News weekly digest?

Categories

  • Allied (861)
  • Architecture (147)
  • Arenas (750)
  • Career (897)
  • Convention Centers (897)
  • Education (623)
  • Events (1,544)
  • Food & Beverage (193)
  • Foundation (113)
  • Guest Experience (1,497)
  • Industry News (2,270)
  • Leadership (1,888)
  • Marketing (150)
  • Membership (2,001)
  • Music (213)
  • Performing Arts Centers (456)
  • Professional Development (409)
  • Research (128)
  • Safety & Security (442)
  • Sports (764)
  • Stadiums (611)
  • Student (159)
  • Technology (516)
  • Ticketing (92)
  • Touring (82)
  • Trends (365)
  • Uncategorized (665)
  • Universities (218)
  • Video (25)
  • Young Professional (198)

Twitter Feed

  • Twitter feed loading

Recent Posts

  • Where Are They Now: 30|UNDER|30 Class of 2019’s Trent Gray
  • Kevin Bruder, CVE, Remembered as Fair and Balanced, Inspiring but Unwavering
  • Where Are They Now: 30|UNDER|30 Class of 2017’s Anna Rosburg, CVE, CVP
  • Welcome to Our Newest Members
  • Where Are They Now: 30|UNDER|30 Class of 2016’s Corey Margolis, CVP

Categories

  • Allied
  • Architecture
  • Arenas
  • Career
  • Convention Centers
  • Education
  • Events
  • Food & Beverage
  • Foundation
  • Guest Experience
  • Industry News
  • Leadership
  • Marketing
  • Membership
  • Music
  • Performing Arts Centers
  • Professional Development
  • Research
  • Safety & Security
  • Sports
  • Stadiums
  • Student
  • Technology
  • Ticketing
  • Touring
  • Trends
  • Uncategorized
  • Universities
  • Video
  • Young Professional

Archives

  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • May 2012
  • March 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011

Recent Comments

  • Frank Bradshaw, Ph.D., CVE on John Meyer, CVE, a Tireless Advocate of Certification for Venue Professionals, Has Died
  • Neil Sulkes on Hilary Hartung, Friend to Many in Venue Marketing, Has Left Us
  • Jason Parker, CVE on The Devastation of Hurricane Helene and How We Can Support One Another
  • Larry Perkins on Touhey Testifies Against Speculative Ticketing Before Congressional Subcommittee
  • Peter Secord on Major Players for Planned Elkhart Amphitheater Were in the Mix at VenueConnect

© 2001-2013 International Association of Venue Managers, Inc.