Best Fair/Festival

1. OC Fair

88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa; 714-708-1500; ocfair.com

Without a doubt, the OC Fair is the summer’s ultimate event. Dating back to the late 1800s, the fair’s roots predate the county itself by a year. OC Fair & Event Center CEO Michele Richards says that simultaneous growth resulted in a deep bond with local residents, helping to make it unique.

Once people round up family and friends for a visit (or two), it’s hard to resist the temptation to go sample some unusual fried concoctions, funnel cakes and all sorts of scrumptious grub.

Visitors can try their luck with arcade games, enjoy carnival rides, check out new products, arts and crafts, fair contest winners, livestock, kids activities, tribute bands and cultural entertainment at The Hangar and more.

Then there’s nightly concerts at Pacific Amphitheatre, which outshines other county fairs due to its layout and top-notch bookings.

MINDY SCHAUER, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Konga riders get their adrenaline rush at the OC Fair in Costa Mesa.

Brantley Gilbert, X, Los Lobos, Cheap Trick, Dwight Yoakam, Cole Swindell, Jo Koy and The Fab Four were among this season’s performers. Richards notes that the 8,000+ seating capacity ensures “every location is a good one and you feel connected with your favorite performer.”

After the 2020 season was canceled due to the pandemic, the down time was used to spruce up the facilities, which also hosts other events yearround. Officials instituted various safety and sanitary measures, contactless parking payments and improved online ticket sales this year.

– George A. Paul

2. Sawdust Art Festival

935 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach; 949-494-3030; sawdustartfestival.org

The Sawdust Art Festival embodies the spirit of the late ’60s, when it began as a free-spirited, gypsy artist camp from Laguna Beach presenting handcrafted creations. Still occupying sawdust-covered paths on a 3-acre eucalyptus grove in the canyon, the summer festival in the intervening years has added a second, holiday-themed event, year-round arts programs, classes and workshops.

Franky Duschane, Sawdust Festival director of marketing, says the nonprofit organization works hard to create an inspiring and educational show, “a one-of-a-kind” experience in keeping with its legacy. Artists build their own booths, creating “an ever-changing eclectic village of art. The first thing people see when they walk through the gate is a myriad of color.”

More than 160 local artisans contribute to the summer show (attended by 200,000+ visitors). The winter event boasts thousands of lights and decorations and spotlights international artists.

3. Garden Grove Strawberry Festival

Village Green, Euclid and Main streets, Garden Grove; strawberryfestival.org

The Garden Grove Strawberry Festival started in 1958 and regularly attracts more than 300,000 people each Memorial Day Weekend. The last event, held in 2019, featured a Strawberry Cake Cutting Ceremony, rides, attractions, various contests, a 5K run, live music and more.

Past parade grand marshals have included TV and film personalities Burt Ward, Dawn Wells, Sally Kellerman, Cloris Leachman, Hilary Duff and Pat Boone.

Andrea Perez, festival president-elect and director of community services, notes that nonprofits “run their own food and game booths and can make money for their organizations.” The festival association “gives back $100,000 to different local charities that apply” and provides high school scholarships.

Having gone virtual the past two years because of the pandemic, the festival will return in May 2022. “We are excited to get back,” she says.