The OC Fair & Event Center is a large multipurpose venue on the east side of Costa Mesa that hosts the Orange County Fair each summer — one of the largest county fairs in the United States. The fair runs for 23 days in July and August, featuring carnival rides, livestock shows, live music, and competitions in everything from photography to pie-baking.
Outside fair season, the venue hosts concerts, swap meets (twice weekly on weekends), and large events. The swap meet is one of the largest in Southern California and worth a Saturday morning browse for vintage clothing, tools, food, and general junk.