It was a time of fresh beginnings throughout the fairgrounds as a smorgasbord of exhibits and amusements was offered under the tomato theme of “Red, Ripe and Rockin’.”

For the first time since 1995, stars graced the stage of the newly refurbished and reopened Pacific Amphitheatre, heralding the return of the venue. It also was the first time that the Fair ran for 21 days. It had been a 17-day event since 1992. Attendance this year was 881,596, compared to 898,197 in 2002.

Summing up the Fair’s new look, General Manager Becky Bailey-Findley told Fair staff and partners, “We have dared to seek new opportunities, try innovative methods, present unique programs and open our minds to new ideas. While the Fair might stay the same as past Fairs, without innovation it eventually would become flat, lifeless and plain. That is not who we are.”

The additional days seemed to make for a more relaxed Fair in 2003. Erin Koenig, coordinator of Kids Park, said that children this year had the time to spend on their projects at her venue without rushing.

The head of Home & Hobbies, Marva Grimm, agreed with that perception. “People took the time to look at the exhibits in our building without being crowded or rushed. Yes, it was more relaxed,” she said.

Fair visitors found more vendors than ever before offering wares. The 2002 Fair had about 200 vendors, but this year there were 237, plus 80 “shortterm” vendors from the Orange County Marketplace.

Thanks to increased security, Fair patrons were safer than ever this year. Orange County Fair Department of Public Safety Chief David Brokaw said that this year’s budget had been increased by 49% to inspect Fair patrons’ bags and to maintain a strong security presence. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the Costa Mesa Police Department also played a major role in Fair security.

Besides the Pacific Amphitheatre Summer Concert Series, fairgoers were able to attend an array of events in the Citizens Business Bank Arena, where all concerts and other attractions were free with Fair admission.

With the approval by the Fair Board of grapes as the 2004 Fair commodity, department heads and competitors already are planning their exhibits and entries for next year. The focus on grapes will include raisins, jams and jelies, wine, and table grapes.