WINTER EVENTS FEATURE GUITARS AND TATTOOS

Tex*US Guitar Show
January 16-17

New, used, and vintage Texas-style guitars will be on display and for sale at this two-day guitar show. The show will feature regular music appliances, such as amps, drums, parts, and sound gear, as well as specialty items such as violins, memorabilia, mandolins, and banjos.

Representatives from manufacturers, retail stores, guitar repair services and online companies will be in attendance. The show is presented by the promoter of America's oldest, biggest and best consumer guitar events, the 4 Amigos and sponsored by Vintage Guitar Magazine.

MUSINK Tattoo & Music Festival
February 19-21

2010 marks the third annual outing for MUSINK at the OC Fair and Event Center. MUSINK will showcase the top renowned tattoo artists from around the globe. Hosted by Small Paul and The Original True Tattoo, the festival will feature over 300 tattoo artists.

The event will feature tattoo contests, seminars, fine art exhibits, professional skateboard and BMX contests, lifestyle vendors, and a motorcycle show. Visitors to MUSINK can also enjoy live musical performances on an outdoor daytime side stage.

See the Event Calendar to the left for the full Winter 2010 calendar.

YOUTH EXPO ENTRY DEADLINES AND KEY DATES

The 2010 Youth Expo is inviting local schoolchildren to "Feed Your Brain" April 9-10 at the OC Fair & Event Center. Here are the key dates for deadlines and special events:

• Entry Reservation Form Due: March 22
• Project Drop-off Date: March 31
• Youth Expo: April 9-10
• Field Trip Day: April 9

For more details, visit www.ocfair.com/youthexpo.

OC FAIR VENDOR APPLICATION AVAILABLE ONLINE NOW

Commerical exhibitors and food vendors interested in participating at the 2010 OC Fair, July 16-August 15, are invited to submit an online application for consideration at www.ocfair.com/vendors.

Application deadline is March 15, 2010. A non-refundable filing fee of $50 is required for submitting an application for consideration.

Visit www.ocfair.com/vendors for the application and selection processes.

2009 OC FAIR PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION WINNERS CATALOG ON SALE

A special catalog of the 2009 OC Fair Photography Exhibition Winners is available for purchase. The catalog features full color images of this year's Best of Show, Division, Theme and First Place winners from the Amateur, Professional and Young Adult categories in the photography competitions.

Catalogs are $15 each plus shipping. To purchase a copy, visit lulu.com and search for "2009 OC Fair" or click here.

Click here to view the best Faces of the Fair entries from 2009.

Guests to the OC Fair & Event Center and its numerous events now have an entire department dedicated to creating the safest and most enjoyable experience possible. The newly formed Guest Relations Department is a combination of public safety and guest services and offers essential support year-round.

“A key to growing our event business will be our commitment to the customer and guest, whether they are an attendee of an event, an event promoter using our facility or stakeholders on the property. It is the customer and guest that truly matter,” vice president of events Doug Lofstrom said. Guest Relations will fall under Doug’s supervision as a vice president.

During Fair-time Guest Relations will encompass public safety, first-aid, liaison with outside security services (Costa Mesa Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department), guest services, information booths and the guest services and ushers at the Pacific Amphitheatre and the Action Sports Arena. Year-round, Guest Relations will oversee public safety, guest services and the receptionists.

The Guest Relations main office is located in the former Department of Public Safety offices.

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.

The Parable of the Long Spoons

There was once a Man who thought much about what Heaven and Hell were like. He spent many hours trying to imagine either of them, but was finally no nearer than when he started. Who could help him?

There was an Angel who saw the Man and knew of his desire to understand Heaven and Hell. The Angel took pity on him and appeared to the Man saying, “Come with me, I will show you what they look like.”

First they went to the gates of Hell. The Man looked in and saw many people sitting at a big table laden with delicious food. They were all trying to eat, but the handles of the spoons they had were very long, and so they could not reach their mouths with them or eat any of the food there.

All were starving and lamenting, and there was much disagreeable talk about those responsible for this terrible condition.

Now the Angel took the Man to the gates of Heaven. Again he looked in, wondering what he would find. How surprised was he when he saw the same table laden with the same good food and set with the same long spoons! There were many people gathered around it, and all were happily eating and looked quite content. How could this be? When he looked more closely, he saw they were all feeding each other.

I pledge, in 2010, to feed and be fed by those sitting at the Fair banquet table. Will you join me?

Steve Beazley