The tide of fun was high as more than one million visitors joined the stampede to the annual OC Fair, setting an attendance record of 1,090,653. The previous record of 1,058,192 was set in 2005.

"One of the reasons the OC Fair rises above other forms of summer entertainment is because it is an event continually striving for excellence," said Becky Bailey-Findley, OC Fair CEO.

"The 21 days of the OC Fair celebrate excellence in all forms and creates lasting memories for the community. In the midst of an ever-changing world, we celebrate all that is good."

The 2007 OC Fair was themed "Cowabunga! - The Year of Herefords, Surfers and Sand." Cattle and surfing-related displays and exhibits were found throughout the Fair, including the Avenue of Breeds, a giant sandcastle, and Cowabunga Beach.

During the Opening Day Free Hour on July 13, 20,938 people took advantage of free admission and parking from noon to 1 p.m. At the Fair's Summer Food Drive on July 18, 22.2 tons of nonperishable food items were donated by 9,243 generous fairgoers, which will provide meals for an estimated 88,000 individuals through Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County. On Aug. 1 during the Summer Book Drive, 13,200 bookworms donated 36,409 new and used children's books to Orange County public elementary schools through
the partnership with the Los Angeles Times Reading by 9 program.

The 2007 OC Fair Cattle Drive, on Friday, July 27, raised $275,000 benefiting Centennial Farm educational programs including school tours, Agademics and The Ranch After School Program.

Other 2007 OC Fair facts and figures include:
• California Grill sold 584 Hucowamungous Burgers, which equals 876 pounds of Angus beef; 3,504 slices of bacon; and 1,752 slices of cheddar cheese.

• Chicken Charlie premiered the Deep-Fried Peanut Butter Banana Honey sandwich selling over 4,000 to sweet-toothed patrons.

• Orange County residents were awarded 1,980 Blue Ribbons for prize-winning art, crafts, collections, quilts, cakes, photographs, woodcarvings and other ingenious creations.

• On the three Kids Days, 25,636 children visited the Fair for free.

• A total of 18 piglets came into the world during Fairtime.

• Mark Yuzuik hypnotized nearly 800 people.

• A total of 45,247 "Unlimited Ride Wristbands" were sold for $20 each on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

• Top rides in the Main Carnival were La Grande Wheel, Hydroslide, Euroslide, Hi-Miler, and the Sky Ride.

• At the Junior Livestock Auction, 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA) youth raised $279,077 on the 331 animals sold at the annual event. All proceeds benefit 4-H and FFA members.

Summer nights rocked for a fifth consecutive year with the Lexus Summer Concert Series at Pacific Amphitheatre. Concertgoers filled the 8,500-seat venue nightly for acts such as Willie Nelson; Earth, Wind & Fire; Lynyrd Skynyrd; Bob Dylan; Heart; and Fergie.

New free-with-Fair-admission entertainment offerings included the internationally acclaimed sand animation master Ferenc Cako of Hungary, Extreme Rodeo, and 21 nights of surf music on the Main Mall Stage.

At the OC Register Arena, standingroom- only crowds enjoyed five nights of "Weird Al" Yankovic, the annual "Orange Crush" Demolition Derby, Lucha Libre, AGA-BOOM!, Viva el Mariachi with Mariachi King Jose Hernandez and his Mariachi Sol de Mexico, Bull Riding, and Fiesta del Charro. Visit ocfair.com/saycheese to sign up for the latest news about time and money saving promotions as well as early snapshots of the 2008 OC Fair.