{"id":39197,"date":"2012-08-14T00:21:28","date_gmt":"2012-08-14T07:21:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ineedtext.com\/FoodBlog\/?p=39197"},"modified":"2012-08-14T00:24:14","modified_gmt":"2012-08-14T07:24:14","slug":"oc-fair-stats-and-traveling-welcome-mats-movin-on-to-la","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.ineedtext.com\/FoodBlog\/oc-fair-stats-and-traveling-welcome-mats-movin-on-to-la\/","title":{"rendered":"OC Fair Stats And Traveling Welcome Mats Movin’ On To LA."},"content":{"rendered":"

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Until next year… Check out the stats released (below) by The OC Fair & Event Center Communications Department —\u00a0The 2012 Orange County Fair was a success on many levels.<\/p>\n

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The 2012 OC Fair Rolls Up The Welcome Mat For Its More Than 1.3 Million Guests<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 2012 OC Fair wrapped up another successful Fair season by welcoming 1,357,355 Fairgoers for 23 days and nights of \u201cHome Sweet Home\u201d with food, fun and farm animals.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn my first year as CEO, this Fair has exceeded all expectations. Every year, the Orange County Fair<\/strong> manages to deliver a high quality event and this one was no exception. Of course, we owe it all to our loyal guests, all 1.3 million of them, who make the OC Fair the success it is,\u201d said Jerome Hoban, OC Fair & Event President & CEO.<\/p>\n

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Fairgoers came to the OC Fair for outstanding entertainment as the Pacific Amphitheatre<\/strong> saw a record-breaking year with its highest-grossing summer concert series yet that also featured 7 sold-out performances, including Young The Giant\/The Steelwells, Steel Pulse\/The Dirty Heads, Earth, Wind & Fire, Tears For Fears, Victoria Justice\/Max Schneider, Heart, and Duran Duran. Music fans also came out in masses for rocking tribute and original bands booked in The Hangar<\/strong>, which\u00a0broke records with its highest attended season since opening in 2010. Sellout shows\u00a0included Journey Unauthorized \u2013 A Salute to the Music of Journey, \u201cLed Zeppelin Live\u201d Starring Heartbreaker, Purple Reign \u2013 THE Prince Tribute Show, Queen Nation \u2013 A Tribute to the Music of Queen, Wild Child \u2013 A Jim Morrison Celebration, The English Beat\/The Originalites, Which One\u2019s Pink? \u2013 The Best of Pink Floyd, Moonwalker \u2013 The Reflection of Michael Jackson, Dead Man\u2019s Party \u2013 The Oingo Boingo Tribute, and Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez. And not to be left out, adrenaline junkies packed the Action Sports Arena <\/strong>for X-treme Freestyle Moto-X, Bull Riding (Saturday, July 21 show) and five nights of demolition derby which featured traditional derby cars and motorhomes as well as a special all-female derby that raised around $6,000 for the OC Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for The Cure.<\/p>\n

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Fairgoers arrived at the 2012 OC Fair hungry and left with bellies full of deep-fried concoctions, grilled wonders and bacon masterpieces. Chicken Charlie<\/strong>\u2019s top \u201cTotally Fried\u201d item was the new Deep-Fried PB&J<\/strong> (9,000 sold) and at his new Pineapple Express<\/strong>, some 10,000 pineapples were used. Bacon A-Fair<\/strong>\u2019s Bacon-Wrapped Turkey Legs<\/strong> flew off the grill 7,500 times while 100,000 pieces of Chocolate-Covered Bacon<\/strong> tantalized sweet tooths. The new Biggy\u2019s Meat Market<\/strong> satisfied everyone\u2019s inner caveman by selling approximately 3,900 17-inch Big Ribs<\/strong>, which amounted to more than 10,000 pounds of bone and grilled meat. Some 30 percent of Big Ribs sold were packed up and taken back to the mancave by Fairgoers with the largest to-go order at 20 massive ribs. Of the more traditional Fair food items, Juicy<\/strong>\u2019s sold more than 60,000 turkey legs and enough corn dogs to stretch 3.5 miles end-to-end.<\/p>\n

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Fairgoers also looked to save on their trip to the Fair by taking advantage of the daily opportunities for free or discount admission. More than 382,298 Fairgoers took advantage of the free or discount admission promotions and of that number, 79,774 generous Fairgoers took advantage of free admission and a carnival ride offered with donations of canned food, children\u2019s books, clothing and school supplies during the four We Care Wednesday<\/strong> drives. Plus, 13,899 Fairgoers in total scooped up a Super Pass<\/strong> (featuring 23 days of admission).<\/p>\n

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The annual Jr. Livestock Auction<\/strong> welcomed increased numbers of animals sold and money raised with 323 cattle, sheep, rabbits, swine, turkeys and goats selling for more than $310,000, which benefits the youth participants in local 4-H and FFA programs.<\/p>\n

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In celebration of the 2012 theme of \u201cHome Sweet Home,\u201d 12,177 active duty and veteran military were welcomed to the Fair for free through the Salute to Heroes daily promotion to enjoy the Fair and view the new Let Freedom Ring Exhibit<\/strong> and nightly Salute to Heroes<\/strong> presentation in The Hangar.\u00a0(Press Release by\u00a0OC Fair & Event Center and photos by me)<\/p>\n

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More interesting numbers from 23 days at the 2012 OC Fair:<\/strong><\/p>\n