How to Get Into the OC Fair for Free Friday

By Nisha Gutierrez-Jaime 

Get ready folks, the 2013 Orange County Fair is just about ready to open its gates. 

To celebrate opening day, fairgoers will get free admission and parking from noon to 1 p.m. on Friday. Event organizers said parking lots open approximately an hour before the Fair gates. The fair, themed "Come & Get It," will be open Wednesday - Sunday from July 12-Aug. 11.

But the deals don't stop on the first day of the fair.

Save on Tickets:

• Kids Free on Thursdays – Children 12 and younger will get into the fair for free on Thursdays.

• Heroes Always Free - All members of the military - active and veteran - get free admission to the fair everyday with an ID.

• Seniors Day –Senior citizens 60 and older can enjoy the fair with the family for $2 off all day Fridays, plus free merry-go-round and Ferris wheel rides. 

• Rise & Shine – Admission is $3 during the first hour Saturdays and Sundays from 10 to 11 a.m.

• We Care Wednesdays- Anyone who donated five cans of food will get in free on Wednesday, July 17 from noon to 4 p.m. Donate one new children's book, or three gently used children books, and get in free on Wednesday, July 24 from noon to 4 p.m.) Bring one new school supply valued at $5 or more and get in free on Wednesday, Aug. 7 from noon to 4 p.m.

• Super Pass - Fair lovers can purchase a Super Pass which grants one free admission to every day of the fair, in addition to other discounts including express entry at all gates. General Super Passes are $35, Seniors $30 and Youth $25. Super Pass holders can also receive 2-for-1 tickets for select Pacific Amphitheatre concerts, a 20 percent discount to select events in The Hangar and the Action Sports Arena and a carnival coupon book.

• Foodies - Take advantage of the $2 Taste of Fair Food promotion every Friday from noon to 4 p.m. when most Fair vendors offer $2 tastes of some of your favorite Fair foods.

• Rides - Thrill seekers can save in both the main carnival and Kiddie Carnival with the $2 Rides & $2 Games on Fridays from noon to 4 p.m. or $30 Unlimited Ride Wristbands on Wednesdays and Thursdays (sold until 5 p.m. and valid until 8 p.m.) 
• Read and Ride program offers free rides for children ages 5-11 who submit book reports. The required book report form is available online at ocfair.com. 
• Fair Express - Get discounted tickets to the fair and forget about hunting for a parking spot by riding the Fair Express, a bus directly to and from the fair from nine O.C. locations. The ride costs $2.00 each way, but comes with a coupon for $3 admission. The bus will run hourly every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during the fair. One-way fare is $2 and round-trip fare is $4. Get more information at octa.net/ocfairexpress.
  

Concert tickets, action sports reserved seats and single-day general admission are available for purchase online at ticketmaster.com or from the on-site Box Office. 

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