What you should know
- The OC Fair 2024 took place from July 19 to August 18
- The fair staff always shares some of their impressive numbers after the event is over, including the number of treats sold
- A “lemon garden” was used for the fair’s lemonade, while six tons of sugar were needed to make the candy floss
A teaspoon of this, a tablespoon of that: when we pull out a recipe, we know that we are dealing with quantities that have been measured very carefully.
But when it comes to the OC Fair’s annual final report, which offers a look back at the impressive numbers from the Costa Mesa event, we are talking about Tonsno teaspoons.
The staff of the traditional fair announced their balance sheet for 2024 on August 22nd – an entertaining and sometimes breathtaking way to show how big this major event really is.
A ton of garlic was a spicy ingredient in Biggy’s popular garlic fries, and 1,200 pounds of Parmesan cheese gave the potatoes a cheesy flavor.
Mom’s Bakeshoppe sold 111,000 chocolate chip cookies baked from scratch, while The Snax Shack processed 3,850 pounds of popcorn corn to create its super-flavorful, oh-so-tasty kettlecorn.
For the corn dog fans out there, the following number is a real eye-opener: Big Daddy Corn Dogs used 6,000 pounds of corn dog batter for its savory snacks and walks, “enough to fry four miles of 12-inch-long sausages on a stick.”
Chicken Charlie’s always stands out at trade shows for its inventive food, and in 2024, the unusual eatery sold 2,000 Hot Honey Funnel Cake sandwiches, not to mention 9,450 Deep-Fried Oreos, one of the booth’s famous staples.
And it wouldn’t be a fair without a certain citrus drink. The fair team reported that they needed a “lemon garden” to produce all of the lemonade sold at the fair.
Beyond the treat zone, there was sweet math. Count it all: During the 2024 event, seventeen piglets were born and, sweetly, a little peacock chick too.
In the Heroes Hall, approximately 2,370 “postcards were created to honor our active soldiers and veterans.”
130,000 people enjoyed a live show at the Pacific Ampitheatre.
And what was going on in the fair’s competition categories? There were around 16,259 entries, covering the entire creative spectrum from paintings to quilts.
Oh yes: And there was a million dollar winner at the California Lottery booth.
This is not the only time the word “million” appears in the 2024 trade fair review: “During the trade fair period, more than 1.13 million guests came through the gates,” the staff revealed, and more than 50,000 people were present on a dozen days of the trade fair.
The numbers may change, Costa Mesa says, but even with the slightest fluctuation, the headline is clear: Year after year, the OC Fair is a boisterous and lively festival that thousands, if not millions, of people are talking about when the event finally ends.
But wait: There are still plenty of concerts at the Pacific Amphitheatre through September 14. Get the schedule and ticket information now.
