OC Fair 2024: What you need to know about tickets, a parking increase and getting in

The 2024 OC Fair opens Friday, July 19, for its 23-day run at the fairgrounds in Costa Mesa.

The carnival rides are ready for action, the blue ribbons have been posted and the farm animals are happily snacking away in their display pens.

The 2024 OC Fair opens Friday, July 19, for its 23-day run at the fairgrounds in Costa Mesa.

READ MORE: 2024 OC Fair opens Friday with some new twists and lots of favorites

More than 1 million people are expected to visit the fair over the next four weeks, tempting their tastebuds with any number of sweet treats and crazy culinary concoctions; shopping for their next favorite gadget in the products buildings; hoping to win one of the many thousands of stuffed prizes waiting on the midway; and otherwise enjoying the vast selection of entertainment available.

Here is what you need to know to park, pay and get inside:

When and where is the 2024 OC Fair?

The 23-day OC Fair kicks off July 19 and continues through Aug. 18; it is closed Monday and Tuesdays.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and 11 a.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

The OC Fair & Event Center is at 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa; just off the 55 Freeway.

How much is admission?

General admission stays the same this year at $13 on Wednesdays and Thursdays and $15 on Fridays and weekends.

Ages 60 and older pay $9 any day, as do those 6 to 12. Ages 5 and younger are free.

This is the key part: Admission is capped and tickets need to be purchased online ahead of time. Several days did sell out last year, so you will want to plan your trip. Dates with popular acts at the Pacific Amphitheatre and The Hangar tend to be among the days that sell out.

Are you a fair junky? The Every Day Passport is available for $60, which has no restrictions on what days or what time you can visit the fair. There are a limited number available.

What are the parking options?

Parking will cost you more this year: $15 for cars and motorcycles.

Use Gate 1 on Fair Drive, which is the main gate, for Uber/Lyft/taxi drop-off and pickup.

Fair officials warned that Gate 10 off Newport Boulevard is often closed a peak hours, so you might aim for Gate 1 or 3 (which is on Fairview Drive and Merrimac Way).

Or let someone else do the driving. Besides ridesharing options, the Orange County Transportation Authority is rolling out its OC Fair Express on weekends again for the first time since 2019.

For $2 one-way or $4 round-trip (kids ride free), you can catch an OCTA bus ride from one of four stops around the county – buses will pick up about every 30 minutes.

Catch the OC Fair Express at:

• ARTIC station, 2626 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim
• Goldenwest Transportation Center, 7301 Center Ave., Huntington Beach
• Laguna Hills Transportation Center, 24282 Calle De Los Caballeros, Laguna Hills
• Fullerton Park & Ride, 3000 W. Orangethorpe Ave., Fullerton

Find schedules and more information at ocfairexpress.com.

What kind of discounts are available?

With the cap on daily admission at about 50,000 visitors, the fair is not offering the discounted and free ticket options it once did.

Tickets for shows at the Pacific Amphitheatre, The Hangar and Action Sports Arena do include free fair admission on the day of the show. And there is the $60 Every Day Passport for people who like to visit a lot.

Kids who read three books can fill out a form on the ocfair.com website – find it under general information – and snag a couple of free rides in Kidland.

And you can try samples of many fair foods for $5 until 4 p.m. each day. Just watch for the $5 Taste of Fair offerings at each food booth.

What items are you allowed to take into the OC Fair?

Soft-sided coolers are allowed, as are sealed food and beverages. Water bottles are allowed if factory sealed or empty when you get to the gate. No cans, glass or outside alcohol are permitted. No hard-sided coolers allowed. All belongings are subject to inspection before entering the fairgrounds.

Wagons and strollers are allowed and they are also available for rent.

Pets are not allowed though service animals as defined by the ADA are.

There is no smoking or vaping allowed during the fair, either inside buildings or outside around the fairgrounds.

Selfie sticks and drones are not welcome, nor are weapons.