OC Fair & Event Center

the OC Fair Center in Orange County just proved itself as a global bridge for culture. The MENA event was a masterclass in scale and execution: a carefully curated showcase of 250 vendors spanning traditional dress, handcrafted olive wood, and authentic cuisine. Food trucks served up staples like falafel, shawarma, and knafeh—each bite a direct line to the Middle East. Attendance was astronomical, with people converging from across the U.S., and the event center scaled effortlessly: a massive 2,000-car parking capacity, seamless online ticketing, and a three-day pass priced at $40. The organizational rigor kept the focus on the rich, vibrant spirit of the Middle East. This wasn’t just an event; it was an international cultural phenomenon. If you missed it, you missed a landmark.

Gem Faire Visited the Gem Faire at the OC Fair & Event Center for the first time and had a really nice experience overall! There was a huge variety of gemstones, crystals, beads, jewelry, fossils, and handmade items from many vendors. It’s easy to spend a few hours walking around and exploring. A few helpful tips for first-timers: * Tickets are $7 if you buy them at the entrance, but you can get free tickets online ahead of time. * Kids 12 years and under get free entry. * Parking was $15. * Restrooms were available and maintained okay, though they could have been cleaner.

OC Fair & Event Center is a solid venue with a lot going on year-round. The space is large and well-organized, making it easy to navigate even during bigger events like the fair. There’s a good mix of food vendors, exhibits, and entertainment, so there’s something for everyone. Parking can get crowded and a bit expensive during peak times, and lines for food or attractions can be long, but that’s pretty typical for popular events. Overall, it’s a fun, lively spot that’s great for families, date nights, or just getting out and doing something different. Definitely worth checking out, especially during seasonal events.

Mena Festival was amazing! Great music, food and activities all day long for 3 days. Arabs from all over camr to celebrate their culture. Great arts and crafts, merchandise of all kinds.

I love the fair. Its a little expensive buy you can get some bargains here and there. But what fun is that? I want to go big! Play games and win stuffed animals. Established fried food. See a pig thats not me looking in the mirror after a fried twinkle. The fair is awesome!

Been wanting to come to this fair for a decade now. WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED!!! It was such a blast. Great attractions, amazing food, and was fun the entire day. The best part was the $5 food fest from 11am-4pm. Every fair on the planet can learn from this business model because you get to try so much!! Loves every second of my time at the OC Fair 😁

This our 1st time at this event. We drove an 1.50 in traffic & We had sooo much fun. Sooo much food to choose from, variety of games and rides.. We will be back next year..

We attended an event at the OC fair recently based in the Hanger. It was a really cool venue. Lots of space, airy and perfect for the event we attended. Parking was great however there was some confusion with staff charging vendors for parking when it was included etc. It would have been food to have some more food/drink options as we were there for 3 days and the little kiosk inside want to our liking. Pretty basic.Other than that it was great. Would attended an event there again in future.