More than two dozen buttons and pins hung from Bob Kakuschke’s blue polo shirt. The newest, a square pin in shades of creamsicle orange and featuring the slogan, “Feel the sunshine,” was added Friday, July 15.
It is this year’s proof of attendance to the OC Fair.
Kakuschke, and wife Maryrose, have been attending the fair for about 45 years, and Bob has the mementos to prove it.
The OC Fair is a tradition for the Laguna Hills couple, who were among the first visitors when the gates opened for its 2022 run.
“We look forward to it every year,” Bob Kakuschke said.
The couple has a favorite artist who they buy a picture from at every fair. And on Friday they planned to meet up with friends, Maryrose Kakuschke said of the day’s itinerary.
“I like to do the skyride,” she said. “We always get fair food.”
Fair goers enjoy one of the many rides during the first day of the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Bernie Roybal, left, of Covina has his photo taken with Katie the clown during the first day of the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Fair goers race downhill in a boat on the Wild River ride during the first day of the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Piglets born on July 10 rest in their pen next to their mother during the first day of the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Analyssa Artistigui, left, and her brother, Flavio, 9, both of Camarillo have their photo taken in blue ribbons during the first day of the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Eric Costes and daughter, Kiera, 4, right, of Irvine wait with hundreds of others in line to enter the gates for the first day of the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A first place, division winner and best of show in the amateur cake design category made by Jessica de Leon on display at the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Red Light Brass Band performs for fair goers during the first day of the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Frankie Slimak, 7, of Long Beach shows off her face painting on the first day of the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Performers make their way past fair goers during the first day of the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Bernie Roybal of Covina places his foot next to that of Tadpole the clown during the first day of the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Fair goers stop to look at the piglets born on July 10 as they rest in their pen next to their mother during the first day of the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A first place, judges award and division winner in the professional decorated cupcakes and cookies category made by Audra Ellingson on display at the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Fair goers have their photo taken with characters after passing through the gates during the first day of the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Maryrose and Bob Kakuschke of Laguna Hills have been attending the OC Fair for nearly 50 years. Bob wears his shirt with fair pins from the last 27 years that he only wears when they attend the first day of the fair, on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A fair goer takes a photo of a giant box of chocolates during the first day of the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
People stand in line as they wait for the gates to open for the first day of the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Fans are passed out to fair goers at the main gate for the first day of the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Fair goers make their way past the Fun Factory during the first day of the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
People make their way through the gates during the first day of the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Fair goers buy tickets for the many rides during the first day of the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Just some of the many types of food available during the first day of the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A first place and division winner in the amateur decorated cupcakes and cookies category made by Laura Rogers on display at the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Hundreds of people stand in line as they wait for the gates to open for the first day of the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Performers on stilts make their way past fair goers during the first day of the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A blue and judges award cake made by Alexis Arvizu on display at the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Just some of the many types of food available during the first day of the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A young Boer goat rests in the shade during the first day of the OC Fair on Friday, July 15, 2022 in Costa Mesa. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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The 23-day fair runs Wednesdays through Sundays until Aug. 14 at the fairgrounds in Costa Mesa.
Like last year, ticket sales will max out at 45,000 per day, and they need to be purchased in advance online. But the fair is still bigger and better for 2022: the demolition derby, monster trucks and other events are back in the Action Sports Arena, a new ride and several food stands have been added, and entries in competitions grew by more than 30%.
Friday at 11 a.m. sharp, the gates were rolled open. The smell of roasting turkey legs mingled with animal scents from the Millennium Barn, and a pair of colorfully attired clowns greeted the guests streaming in, accompanied by the sounds of a brass band.
Among them were about 45 teens in the Compton-Long Beach Upward Bound program, along with advisor Carina Rodriguez, who took a selfie with the clowns before posing some of the kids with them for photos.
Many of the students hadn’t been to this fair before and were looking forward to the rides and trying fried Oreos, she said.
“They’ve heard a lot about the food, they’ve heard a lot about the excitement,” Rodriguez said. “The OC Fair is just a thing you do every summer.”
Over in the OC Promenade, Yadira Valle and her colleagues were waiting for someone to try the new Blender Bar. It’s a stationary bicycle that powers a blender, making a fruit-flavored slushie or margarita for the person pedaling.
They’ll have strawberry, mango and pina colada flavors, with alcohol available for adults, Valle said. It takes 30 seconds or less of vigorous pedaling to crush the ice and mix the ingredients.
Nearby were display cases full of muffins, cakes and other baked goods contest entries; more than 400 batches of cookies will be judged later this week. Overall, competition entries went up from about 3,100 last year to 4,100 this year, said Evy Young, the fair’s director of agricultural programs.
That’s partly because categories (including confections and floral arrangements) were added after 2021’s slimmed-down fair, and also “more and more people (are) feeling more comfortable coming out in public” to enter and then come see if they won, Young said.
While some aspects of the event are returning to their pre-pandemic normal, OC Fair officials opted to keep the limit on attendance because they said guest feedback was good about the lack of crowding. They’re urging people to plan ahead for their visit, because 17 of the 23 days sold out in 2021.
One staple at every year’s fair is baby animals. This year there are several new kids – baby goats – and a litter of piglets were born July 10; another sow is due to have her babies July 21.
Ari Small and her 7-year-old niece, Frankie Slimak, both of Long Beach, stopped by the farm area Friday to see the animals. Frankie let go of the stuffed pig she won at the carnival so she could pet a calf.
“She’s sort of hard and she’s sort of soft,” Frankie said, when asked what the calf felt like.
It was her first time at the OC Fair, but there were also plenty of regulars among the opening day guests.
Cathy Mangerson, of Lake Forest, just celebrated her 71st birthday and was prepared on Friday to treat herself at the fair. She often comes on opening day and stays all day long, she said.
“I usually get ice cream and then go in the flower booth in the garden section,” she said, and she knows all the shady retreats from hot weather.
She also typically stops by the fair several times during its run.
“I love the fair,” Mangerson said. “I will be coming back.”
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