This is the final year of a 3-year initiative that focuses on our country’s agricultural roots. This year’s theme is “acres of fun” which specifically highlights the land and environment. I went behind the scenes to take a look at some of the ways the fair incorporated items into the theme. There are flower planters made out of repurposed jeans, veggie planters made from automobile tires (which is an amazing idea btw especially if you have lots of snails in your yard), coffee tables and walls made from pallets and cushions in all resting areas that were made from past years posters. It’s like a neighbor I used to have that saved every t-shirt since the beginning of time and then decided to make a quilt using all of them. Such a repurposable thing to do…recycle and reuse. There are also tons of areas around the fair that are super instagrammable.
There’s a 3-acre working farm with strawberries, avocados, fruit trees, kiwi plus cows, goats, sheep and pigs with brand new week old babies. There are so many exhibits to see and displays from competition winners from honey makers, cake decorators, flower designers, bug collectors, novelty enthusiasts, and botanists. Once this year’s fair is over there’s a small break and then it’s prep time for 2020. So much planning and work go into the logistics and details of putting on a fair. It’s a massive creation but when all the pieces work together it’s an amazing arena for fairgoers to learn about agriculture while having a good time.
The OC Promenade has a ton going on. There are over 125 food demonstrations on the main stage from food stylists, demos by Chicken Charlie and the Midway Gourmet, local food bloggers, food authors, recipe makers, professional chefs, and produce suppliers sharing food trends. You can also sign up to take a “Culinary Tour” throughout the promenade to get familiar with the vendors. Thermomix, Soviia Agave, Dietz & Watson, Northgate Markets, Temecula Olive Oil Company and more. And in the evening you can catch local musicians. There’s also a culinary lounge that’s open all day where you can grab a refreshing cocktail or mocktail.
Another behind the scenes opportunity with carnival owners RCSFun and the Midway Gourmet who took us around the midway to taste the different creative culinary concoctions. As a bonus, he took us up up and away on the new LaGrande XL Observation Wheel.
Believe it or not, there are a handful of healthy options at the fair. The food and fun is another area where a lot of research and logistics go into making sure the food trends are current and the best ingredients are being used. You will see no shortage of food on a stick covered in hot Cheetos even cotton candy that has been infused with Cheetos and a variety of other candied goodies. You’ll see burgers with donut buns, turkey legs bigger than a human head, chunks of pork belly wrapped in crispy bacon smothered with agave on a stick and sweet treats that will give you a sugar rush for days. Oh but I will tell you, the cauliflower pizza was delicious and was cooked so well it tasted like regular flour-based pizza crust. They are always striving to create new trends and to say up with the latest.
The OC Fair is open Wednesday through Sunday and closed Monday and Tuesday. See ya at the fair!