OC SUPER FAIR CLOSES FOR THE SEASON AFTER 23 DAYS OF
SUPER VALUE, SUPER FUN AND SUPER QUALITY

“The 2009 Super Fair was received by fairgoers exactly as we had hoped, with a high degree of enjoyment and fun,” OC Fair CEO Steve Beazley said. “More than one million people continued the tradition of making the OC Fair a part of their summer entertainment, a fact we at the Fair delight in.”

For 2009, the OC Fair was rebranded as the “Super Fair” to promote the super value, super fun and super quality offered.

The first set of Fair babies were born to Rosie in the Farm.

More than 127,000 fairgoers took advantage of the values offered with a variety of gate promotions that offered discounts or free admission. More than 9,400 people purchased the first-ever OC Fair Super Pass, a season pass which granted 23 days of admission plus other discounts, coupons and front-of-line access.

Super fun was had on some 70 rides in the two carnivals on rides such as La Grande Wheel, Sky Ride, HiMiler, Hyrdoslide, Mini Bumper Cars and Pirate’s Island. Fun was also had in eating the unique Fair foods this year. Some 11,000 boxes of chocolate-covered bacon and 12,000 deep-fried Zucchini Weenies gave a new meaning to “dipped” and “on-a-stick.”

The first-ever "Think. Big." Demolition Derby supersized the action in the Action Sports Arena.

More than 250,000 brainiacs took a tour through the human brain with the world-premiere of “Al’s Brain: A 3-D Journey Through the Human Brain starring ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic.” Fair favorite Weird Al debuted his first 3-D music video and the Fair’s first 3-D attraction. Entertainment value was also enjoyed during sold-out nights at the Pacific Amphitheatre with acts including Duran Duran, Kelly Clarkson, Pat Benatar, Alan Jackson and the Black Eyed Peas. And in the Action Sports Arena, thrilling entertainment was enjoyed by thousands of fairgoers at events like the Maloof Money Cup, the Fab Four—the Ultimate Tribute to the Beatles, and a first-ever motor home demolition derby.

Here are more super numbers for the 2009 OC Super Fair as of Saturday, August 8:

Jumbo Mexican Funnel Cake

•700 multi-layered Jumbo Mexican Funnel Cakes were eaten and only two fairgoers met the challenge to consume one alone.
•4,400 feet of jumbo pretzels were consumed while 13,200 giant Blooming Onions and 20,000 orders of Tasti Chips were devoured.
•4,256 entrants submitted 13,925 entries which received 2,949 first place ribbons and more than $105,000 in cash awards.
•258 livestock entries were sold at the Junior Livestock Auction earning local youth 4-H and FFA members more than $168,000.
•For the four “We Care Wednesday” community donation drives, 38,096 generous fairgoers donated 32.6 tons of food, 17,166 new children’s books, 3,884 new children’s toys, and thousands of new school supplies.
•Born into the Centennial Farm family this year were 24 piglets and 2 kids (goats).
•Some 20,000 free rides were enjoyed on La Grande Wheel, with a Pacific Amphitheatre concert stub.
•Patron survey results showed fairgoers felt an “Excellent” overall satisfaction on their visit to the Fair with a 4.34 out of 5 average rating.
•Survey results also showed that on average fairgoers made 2.7 visits to the Fair and averaged 5.5 hours per visit.

 

WORLD-RENOWNED CAR AUCTION COMES TO OCFEC IN 2010

Barrett-Jackson Auction Company LLC, host of “The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions™” in Scottsdale, Ariz., Palm Beach, Fla., and Las Vegas, announced their intent to add a fourth event at the OC Fair and Event Center in the company’s 2010 auction lineup.

"The World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions™" is expected to appear at OCFEC in 2010.

“We’re thrilled about the opportunity to work with the OC Fair & Event Center to launch a fourth Barrett-Jackson auction event,” noted Craig Jackson, Chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. “The West Coast is packed with auto enthusiasts who follow Barrett-Jackson and are valuable and committed constituents of the collector car hobby.”

In the Barrett-Jackson tradition, the event would encompass the OC Fair & Event Center grounds and would include the famous collector car auction, sponsor promotions and displays, vendors, exhibitors, interactive demonstrations, and other festivities. The proposed dates would have the Barrett-Jackson auction taking place prior to the 2010 OC Fair.

“Barrett-Jackson is the gold standard of collector car auctions,” said Steve Beazley, CEO, OC Fair & Event Center. “In addition to being a signature event, we anticipate the auction having a positive economic impact for our local economy and tourism and great national visibility for OCFEC, Costa Mesa, and Orange County.”

Barrett-Jackson was established in 1971 and is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. The world-renowned company specializes in providing products and services to classic and collector car owners, astute collectors and automotive enthusiasts around the world.

Specific dates for the Orange County appearance at OCFEC have yet to be confirmed.

Visit the Event Calendar on ocfair.com for an list of upcoming events.

CENTENNIAL FARM TOURS, THE RANCH BEGIN NEW SEASON

Farm school tours start October 1.

Pre-registered guided and self-guided school tours are held Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The Farm is open to the public Monday-Friday, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Parking is free. Reservation requests and information are available on ocfair.com.

OCFEC BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECT LEADERS FOR 2009-2010 SEASON

At the September meeting, the OC Fair & Event Center Board of Directors elected Kristina Dodge and Dave Ellis as the 2009-2010 Board Chair and Vice-Chair, respectively.

Dodge, of Monarch Beach, has been on the Board since 2006 and previously was the Vice-Chair for the 2008-2009 season. She is also the co-founder of American Sterling Products, Ltd., a motion picture production company which has partnered with Chapman University's School of Film and Television to establish a program for student filmmakers.

Ellis, of Newport Coast, has been on the Board since 2007. He is also the founding partner of Delta Partners, LLC, a full-service government relations and public relations firm in Orange County.

The OCFEC Board of Directors is composed of nine volunteer members whose role is to set and approve policies for the OC Fair & Event Center. Annual elections of the Board Chair and Vice-Chair are voted upon by the full Board. Members are appointed by the Governor of California.

PARDON OUR DUST - CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

A number of projects have been completed or are near completion in the Master Plan capital improvements effort at the OC Fair & Event Center.

Check out weekly updates with details and photos of the major projects on the Facility Improvements Update page.

It's Very Clear, Our Change is Here to Stay

The Fair is an ever-evolving place. Some people are comfortable with change; others are less comfortable. Any time we move a favorite food stand, we receive calls and letters wondering where it went, even if it only moved a few spaces over. When we introduced Al’s Brain in 2009, people wondered, “Why is the Fair making movies?” The answer is that we strive to hold on to our traditions and heritage while continuing to innovate and introduce new and exciting programming to our most important customer: You!

Just because we may look a little different year over year, we never forget our history or our core values and we like to think of ourselves as one big, ever-changing family.

As we ready for the Fair to turn 120 years old in 2010, monitor the unfolding story of the possible sale of the Fair, embrace the new Barrett-Jackson car auction event and face head-on chronic economic challenges, we are reminded that change is our future, no matter what the outcome.

I encourage all of us to see, forevermore, change and tradition as two sides of the same coin at the OC Fair. It will be the key to all of our future successes, of which there will be many.

Steve