GET OFF THE COUCH AND “FEED YOUR BRAIN”
AT THE 2010 YOUTH EXPO EXPERIENCE APRIL 9-10

The annual Youth Expo, which returns to the OC Fair & Event Center April 9-10, is challenging local students to get off the couch and “Feed Your Brain” with great exhibits, competitions and hands-on activities and demonstrations.

The two-day experience will feature the talents and abilities of local youth in a variety of competitions and exhibits such as agriculture, engineering, photography, fine arts, home arts, the sciences, architecture and construction.

Children and their families can also get involved when they visit Youth Expo with great hands-on activities such as:

-Milking a replica cow
-Butter making
-Making a recyclable planting pot
-Candle making (small fee required)
-Ceramics projects
-Leather decorating (small fee required)
-Pet and brush a pony
-General arts and crafts

Parenting OC magazine will host more than 80 family-friendly companies and organizations, stage entertainment, a Spelling Bee (April 10 only), and other free amusements.

Additional free entertainment includes: Gale Webb’s Extreme Sports & Air Show, Wild Science, Prehistoric Pets, the new Ag Magic Show, and other family-friendly options.

Also memorable are the animal demonstrations including the oxen demonstrations starring Patches & Freckles, baby chickens, cow milkings, guide dog demonstrations and the 4-H livestock competitions.

The 2010 Youth Expo experience is held in conjunction with the annual Orange County Science and Engineering Fair and the annual Home Builders Council (HBC) Design/Build Competition. The Science & Engineering Fair challenges budding scientists, engineers and mathematicians in categories like mechanics, aerodynamics, physics, electricity, astronomy, chemistry, biology and other sciences. The Design/Build Competition features future builders and designers in a live challenge between local high schools, community colleges, Regional Occupation Programs (ROP) and special interest groups. Visit ocsef.org for more information on the Science & Engineering Fair or hbc.org for information on the Design/Build Competition.

Admission is free for Youth Expo. Parking is $5. Friday is Field Trip Day, when schools are encouraged to attend in large groups. Parking for buses is free on Friday only. Youth Expo is open Friday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Visit ocfair.com/youthexpo for more information.

OCFEC HOSTS INTERNATIONALLY-CELEBRATED BARRETT-JACKSON CAR AUCTION’S WEST COAST PREMIERE JUNE 25-27

June at the OC Fair & Event Center (OCFEC) will be roaring with excitement as it welcomes the internationally known Barrett-Jackson Auction Company, LLC, host of “The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auctions™”, for its first-ever California appearance June 25-27.

“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, Barrett-Jackson chairman and CEO. “The West Coast is packed with auto enthusiasts who follow Barrett-Jackson and are valuable and committed constituents of the collector car hobby.”

Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Barrett-Jackson specializes in providing products and services to classic and collector car owners, astute collectors and automotive enthusiasts around the world. Prior to this year, Barrett-Jackson held annual televised car auctions only in Scottsdale, Palm Beach, Fla., and Las Vegas that drew more than 300,000 attendees in 2009 alone.

In Barrett-Jackson tradition, the weeklong event will encompass all of OCFEC’s grounds with the famous collector car auction, sponsor promotions and displays, vendors, exhibitors, interactive demonstrations and other festivities.

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

General admission is $13-$75 for adults; $8-$25 for seniors, students and military; and $5-$15 for children. For more information about Barrett-Jackson or to purchase tickets, visit ocfair.com or barrett-jackson.com.

THE BEAT GOES ON FOR THE 2010 OC FAIR

The 2010 theme for the annual OC Fair will be “The Beat Goes On,” which highlights that, as a tradition for 120 years, the heart of Orange County – the OC Fair – continues to beat. This year's theme also highlights the great Fair entertainment and celebrates the 120th anniversary of the popular summer event.

Tickets for select shows in the Pacific Amphitheatre and, new for 2010, The Hangar, an entertainment complex, are currently on sale:

Pacific Amphitheatre
Train July 18, Sunday	Martina McBride July 22, Thursday	Ziggy Marley/ Common Sense July 23, Friday
Blue Oyster Cult/ Foghat July 25, Sunday	Julianne Hough July 29, Friday	Joan Jett and the Blackhearts with very special guest star The Runaways’ Cherie Currie August 11, Wednesday
LeAnn Rimes August 12, Thursday	“Weird Al” Yankovic August 13, Friday	ZZ Top August 15, Sunday
Visit ticketmaster.com to purchase Pacific Amphitheatre tickets.

The Hangar (New for 2010)
The Hangar is the Fair’s newest complex with 23,000 square feet of exhibit space under a 50-foot arched ceiling. The aviation hangar-type complex will offer nightly entertainment.

		Wild Child – A Jim Morrison Celebration July 16, Friday
Visit ticketmaster.com to purchase tickets to The Hanger shows.

Action Sports Arena
Entertainment will be announced in the upcoming weeks.
(A limited number of free general admission seats are available on a first-come, first-seated basis with purchase of Fair admission for select shows.)

Reserved seats for Pacific Amphitheatre, The Hangar and Action Sports Arena all include Fair admission. Sign up for announcements about entertainment and special promotions at ocfair.com/subscribe.

120th Anniversary Exhibit
Fair enthusiasts are being asked to contribute to a special 120th anniversary exhibit, set to premiere at the 2010 Fair. This decade-by-decade look at the county’s beloved tradition will feature memorabilia, photographs and other items from the Fair’s long history.

Requested contributions include photographs, premium books from the 1950s or earlier, award ribbons or other Fair awards and trophies, souvenirs, and any other historical materials related to the OC Fair.

Contributions will be accepted until Friday, May 28, at the OCFEC Administration Building located on the north east end of the property at 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa (enter at Gate 4 off Arlington Drive), during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.) Donated items will become the property of the OC Fair/32nd DAA and will not be returned. Certain items can be considered on a loan basis and this is at the discretion of the OCFEC staff and will be determined at the time of donation. Not all items can be displayed.

THE 2010 FAIR CHALLENGES YOU TO GET INTO
THE COMPETITIVE SPIRIT

It’s not just your grandma’s competition any more. The 2010 OC Fair Competitions are challenging locals of all ages to prove they’ve got more skills than just being the fastest texter or having the most friends on Facebook. We know you can do it, so show all of Orange County you can.

The 2010 Competition Guides will be available online soon offering the opportunity for Orange County and California residents to show off their skills in talents like the Home Arts & Crafts (pies, cookies, cakes, breads, preserves, chili, hot wings, salsa, quilting, sewing, designing, jewelry making and more) and the Visual Arts (photography, mixed media, painting, woodworking, sculpting, and ceramics).

Or, if you’ve got a green thumb, there’s the Farm & Garden and the Floral Competitions.

There’s an outlet for people that just like to collect stuff with the Collections Competition.

For those who do better under the spotlight, there will be a number of on-the-spot contests during the Fair that will determine who makes the hottest chili, the yummiest cookie, or is the fastest pie eater.

Visit ocfair.com to see how you can get involved this year.

In addition to competitions, the Fair will feature concerts in the Pacific Amphitheatre, and, new for 2010, The Hangar. In the Actions Sports Arena, the Fair will offer thrilling acts like motorcycle racing, motor-home demolition derby, and bull-riding. The 2010 OC Fair, July 16-August 15, is open Wednesday-Sunday.

PARDON OUR DUST - CONSTRUCTION UPDATES

The highly anticipated new building, The Hangar, has been completed and is ready for its first scheduled event, the Marine Aquarium Expo in April. The newly built structure is at the heart of the OC Fair & Event Center property in the Main Mall area and covers 30,000 square feet with an aviation hangar-type design. During the Fair, The Hangar will feature various entertainment nightly.

Crews are continuing to complete new, permanent restrooms in the Livestock Area, the expanding the Green Gate patron entrance and other projects. Visit the Facility Improvements Update page on ocfair.com for future updates.

After 120 years, the heart of Orange County – the OC Fair – continues to beat.

In 1889, the Orange County Community Fair Corporation formed the first Orange County Fair, which opened on October 7, 1890 on the corner of Bristol and Edinger in Santa Ana.  If the original organizers could see it now!  "The Beat Goes On," this year's theme, pays homage to the Fairs of the past and assures the beat will continue on into the future.  But, what is the beat?   It is made up of our community's collective efforts, achievements and shared vision for the future of Orange County.  The beat includes us working together to honor past present and future.  After all, if the Fair is a mirror of our community, then it should reflect accurately the whole and the parts that make it up.

The year's summer Fair promises an even greater sense of grandeur than the success of last year's "Think Big" presentation.  We will celebrate our community, our heritage and our vision for the future all in the county's ultimate summer event.  I encourage all of you to join in the fun and make the OC Fair your summer home through the 23-day run.  And remember, when times are good or bad or happy or sad...the beat goes on!