Whether you make a beeline for the midway – there are four new rides this year – or let your tastebuds dictate your route, organizers of the OC Fair say everything is ready for another round of summertime fun.

The 2025 OC Fair opens Friday, July 18, for its 23-day run at the fairgrounds in Costa Mesa.

More than 1 million people are expected to visit the fair over the next four weeks.

The adrenaline seekers among them will likely be trying out the Aviator, a new 180-foot-tall ride that swings passengers for a 360 view of the fair and beyond. Also among the new rides is the Frog Hop for the kiddos and the Royal Wheel, an accompaniment to the larger La Grande XL Ferris Wheel that is a fair staple.

The culinary concoctions again aim to please … and test the bounds … and there are plenty of new options, such as bacon cotton candy on a pork belly stick and blue raspberry Dole Whip, to go with the tried-and-true fair favorites.

Soon fairgoers will be shopping the products buildings for the next gadget; cruising the midway hoping to win one of the many thousands of stuffed prizes; cooing at the barnyard animals big and small; and otherwise enjoying the vast selection of entertainment available.

Here is what you need to know to park, pay and get inside:

When and where is the 2025 OC Fair?

The 23-day OC Fair kicks off July 18 and continues through Aug. 17; it is closed Monday and Tuesdays.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and 11 a.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

The OC Fair & Event Center is at 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa; just off the 55 Freeway.

How much is admission?

General admission stays the same this year at $13 on Wednesdays and Thursdays and $15 on Fridays and weekends.

Ages 60 and older pay $9 any day, as do those 6 to 12. Children ages 5 and younger are free.

This is the key part: Admission is capped daily and tickets need to be purchased online ahead of time.

Several days sold out last year, so you will want to plan your trip. Dates with popular acts at the Pacific Amphitheatre, The Hangar and the Action Sports Arena tend to be among the days that sell out.

If you buy tickets for one of the evening concerts at the Pac Amp or The Hangar or at the arena, those include your fair admission for the same day.

Are you a fair junky? The Every Day Passport is available for $60, which has no restrictions on what days or what time you can visit the fair. There is a limited number available.

What are the parking options?

Parking will cost you $15 for cars and motorcycles.

Use Gate 1 on Fair Drive, which is the main gate, for Uber/Lyft/taxi drop-off and pickup.

Fair officials warned that Gate 10 off Newport Boulevard is often closed a peak hours, so you might aim for Gate 1 or 3 (which is on Fairview Drive and Merrimac Way).

Or let someone else do the driving. Besides ridesharing options, the Orange County Transportation Authority is rolling out its OC Fair Express again on weekends.

For $2 one-way or $4 round-trip (kids ride free), you can catch an OCTA bus ride from one of five locations around the county.

Buses will run from 10 a.m. to midnight each Saturday and Sunday – they will pick up about every 30 minutes.

Catch the OC Fair Express at:

• ARTIC station, 2626 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim

• Fullerton Park & Ride, 3000 W. Orangethorpe Ave., Fullerton

• Goldenwest Transportation Center, 7301 Center Ave., Huntington Beach

• Laguna Hills Transportation Center, 24282 Calle De Los Caballeros, Laguna Hills

• Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center, 1000 E. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana

Find schedules and more information at ocfairexpress.com.

What kind of discounts are available?

With the cap on daily admission at about 50,000 visitors, the fair is not offering the discounted and free ticket options it once did.

Tickets for shows at the Pacific Amphitheatre, The Hangar and Action Sports Arena do include free fair admission on the day of the show. And there is the $60 Every Day Passport for people who like to visit a lot.

Kids who read three books can fill out a form on the ocfair.com website – find it under general information – and snag a couple of free rides in Kidland.

And you can try samples of many fair foods for $5 until 4 p.m. each day. Just watch for the $5 Taste of Fair offerings at each food booth.

What items are you allowed to take into the OC Fair?

Soft-sided coolers are allowed, as are sealed food and beverages. Water bottles are allowed if factory sealed or empty when you get to the gate. No cans, glass or outside alcohol are permitted. No hard-sided coolers allowed. All belongings are subject to inspection before entering the fairgrounds.

Wagons and strollers are allowed and they are also available for rent.

Pets are not allowed though service animals as defined by the ADA are.

There is no smoking or vaping allowed during the fair, either inside buildings or outside around the fairgrounds.

Selfie sticks and drones are not welcome, nor are weapons.