The 2013 OC Fair opens this Friday – get in for free and much more!

 Media/Press Contact: Robin Wachner, Communications Department (714) 708-1543

The 2013 OC Fair Opens This Friday – Come & Get Free Admission & Much More

Costa Mesa, Calif. (July 8, 2013) – The 2013 OC Fair will open its gates Friday, July 12, to mark the beginning of the much-anticipated annual tradition that runs until Sunday, August 11 (open Wednesday-Sunday). The theme, “Come & Get It,” brings back familiar favorites, such as the All-Alaskan Pig Races and exhilarating carnival rides, as well as new features including Dr. Entomo’s Palace of Exotic Wonders, a sideshow-type insect exhibit, and the Summer in the Cities Presentation, a nightly multi-faceted celebration of Orange County.

Fairgoers can take advantage of free admission and parking during Opening Hour (Friday, July 12, Noon-1 p.m.) The following promotions are also available on Friday (open Noon-Midnight):

• Seniors Day: $6 admission for guests 60 and older as well as free Ferris wheel and merry-go-round rides all day
• $2 Taste of Fair Food: Sample Fair food Noon-4 p.m.
• $2 Rides & $2 Games: Sold until 4 p.m.

The excitement continues through the night with concerts and action sports. Colbie Caillat kicks off the Toyota Summer Concert Series at the Pacific Amphitheatre at 7:45 p.m. as tribute band Hotel California – A Salute to The Eagles will rock the stage at 8:30 p.m. in The Hangar and X-Treme Freestyle Moto-X will stun the crowds in the Action Sports Arena at 8 p.m. Pacific Amphitheatre and The Hangar concert tickets and Action Sports Arena reserved seats include free Fair admission for the same day, so ticketholders are invited to come early and stay late.

Other events for the first weekend of the 2013 OC Fair (July 13-14) include:

Saturday, July 13 (Open 10 a.m.-Midnight)

• Steel Pulse / Iration in the Pacific Amphitheatre (7 p.m.)
• Space Oddity – A Tribute to David Bowie in The Hangar (8:30 p.m.)
• 39th Annual Speedway Fair Derby in the Action Sports Arena (8 p.m.)
• Rise & Shine: $3 general admission (10 a.m.-11 a.m.)
• Free Parking & Shuttle Service from the Experian parking structure located off Anton Blvd. off the Bristol St. exit of the northbound 405 freeway. Shuttle operates 10 a.m.-1 a.m.
• OC Fair Express: Receive a coupon for $3 general admission for that day when using special routes directly from 9 different OCTA transit locations ($2 for one-way and $4 for round-trip). Visit octa.net/ocfairexpress for transit locations and times. Plus, Metrolink riders can catch a free ride on the OC Fair Express from the Anaheim Canyon, Santa Ana or Irvine stations simply by showing their Metrolink ticket. Visit metrolinktrains.com/ocfair for transit times and locations.

Sunday, July 14 (Open 10 a.m.-Midnight)

• The Go-Go’s in the Pacific Amphitheatre (8 p.m.)
• Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez in The Hangar (5 p.m.)
• Lucha Libre in The Hangar (8:45 p.m.)
• SummerFist VI – Mixed Martial Arts in the Action Sports Arena (6 p.m.)
• Rise & Shine: $3 general admission (10 a.m.-11 a.m.)
• Free Parking & Shuttle Service from the Experian parking structure located off Anton Blvd. off the Bristol St. exit of the northbound 405 freeway. Shuttle operates 10 a.m.-1 a.m.
• OC Fair Express: Receive a coupon for $3 general admission for that day when using special routes directly from 9 different OCTA transit locations ($2 for one-way and $4 for round-trip). Visit octa.net/ocfairexpress for transit locations and times. Plus, Metrolink riders can catch a free ride on the OC Fair Express from the Anaheim Canyon, Santa Ana or Irvine stations simply by showing their Metrolink ticket. Visit metrolinktrains.com/ocfair for transit times and locations.

Throughout the 2013 OC Fair (July 12-August 11), Fairgoers can also enjoy:

• Military Get in Free: Free admission each day for active-duty U.S. military and veterans with appropriate I.D.
• Read & Ride Program: Children (ages 5-11) who read at least two books and submit a completed OC Fair Read & Ride Book
• Report Form (available online at ocfair.com/readandride) will receive three free carnival rides.
• Free Exhibits and Events: Crafts and culinary displays in the Exhibit Promenade; Summer in the Cities twice nightly at The Hangar; Dr. Entomo’s Palace of Exotic Wonders in Memorial Gardens; Come & Get It Sand Sculpture; daily contests in the Fun Zone and more. All free with Fair admission.

Visit ocfair.com/2013 for a full listing of each day’s offerings.

The 2013 OC Fair, themed Come & Get It, is July 12 – August 11 and brings 23 days of food, rides, exhibits, animals, music, action sports and fun, as well as the Toyota Summer Concert Series at the Pacific Amphitheatre, The Hangar and Action Sports Arena. The Fair is open Wednesday-Sunday. Concert tickets, action sports reserved seats and single-day general admission are available for purchase online at ticketmaster.com or from the on-site Box Office. The popular Super Pass, which offers the passholder 23 days of admission, is available for purchase from the onsite Box Office or any public entry gate during regular Fair hours.

The OC Fair & Event Center is located off the 405 and 55 freeways at 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa. For more information, please visit ocfair.com, become a fan at Facebook.com/OCFair, follow us at twitter.com/ocfair or call (714) 708-1500. Also, download the free OC Fair iPhone and Android apps available now.

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