Deep-Fried Cake, Donut Burgers, Sand Sculpture, Baby Pigs: Welcome Back OC Fair!

A 300-ton sand sculpture, deep-fried coffee, and ice skating under the sizzling summer sun are among what’s new this year as the Orange County Fair begins celebrating its 125th birthday today.

The theme this year is “One Big Party” to mark the fair’s quasquicentennial.

Another first this year is the fair’s Chief Executive Officer Kathy Kramer, who told City News Service she feels like “a little kid at Christmas” as she has watched the fair develop over the past few weeks.

“You have 150 acres that is turned into literally a city where 1.3 million people come to visit you, and that’s pretty impressive when you think of building that from the ground up,” Kramer said.

One of the biggest attractions at the fair annually is the food. And Kramer said she was looking forward to trying deep-fried coffee.

“You can deep fry anything,” she said with a laugh.

Fairgoers a little more worried about their caloric intake might want to try the deep-fried Slim Fast bar, Kramer said, adding she realizes that sounds like an oxymoron. Still, it’s tasty, she said.

“I sampled it in San Diego and I was pleasantly surprised,” Kramer said.

For those less concerned about their diet -- or the really hungry -- there’s the triple-decker Krispy Kreme burger.

“So, imagine two Krispy Kreme doughnuts with three layers of burger and cheese in the middle,” Kramer said.

For the truly adventurous there’s the Fireball Doughnut, Kramer said. It’s an eight-inch doughnut topped with cinnamon fireball whisky caramel sauce and whipped cream and bananas.

“And it wouldn’t be a real party without cake -- deep-fried birthday cake,” she said.

“Fairenheit 32 Degrees” will feature an ice-skating rink and ice sculpting.

On Aug. 8, the fair will revive the cattle drive featuring cowboys and cowgirls on horseback driving a hundred head of cattle through Costa Mesa to the fairgrounds.

Fairgoers can also count on seeing the staples of the fair such as the petting zoo and animal attractions. Tuesday night, Truffles the pig gave birth to several piglets, which will be on display.

“They’re adorable, very lively,” said fair spokeswoman Robin Wachner.

Visitors to the fair can also count on a variety of concerts at the neighboring Pacific Amphitheatre. Some first-time performers this year include comedian Gabriel Iglesias, singer Alison Krauss, who will open for Willie Nelson, Charli XCX, an English singer-songwriter, country artists The Band Perry and Chris Young and New Wavers Spandau Ballet and Echo and the Bunnymen.

The fair drew 1.3 million visitors last year, about the same as in 2013. Kramer said she expects to top that because of the 125th anniversary.

The fair runs Wednesdays through Sundays until Aug. 16.

City News Service