Fear of Losing the Orange County Fair

Taking my children to the Orange County Fair every year has become one of our favorite summer traditions. In the weeks leading up to the fair, we talk about how much fun we had the previous year on the rides, how amazing the performance was by the Peking Acrobats, and how the fried food was good despite our expectations. My daughter admires the bonsai and bamboo plants she has been collecting over the years from her favorite vendor at the fair. We begin to discuss how we will spend our time at this summer's fair.

We volunteer each year at the Heifer International exhibit in Centennial Farm, an organization dedicated to providing a source of income to poor families across the world, handing out brochures, explaining our cause and introducing visitors to Oreo, the glorious goat.

The Pacific Amphitheater is located on the fairgrounds and hosts the best concerts in Orange County. It is where I've seen Bob Dylan in concert twice during the fair. But our incredible memories of the fair may have to remain just that because the fairgrounds future lies in the hands of politicians.

The ongoing political fight began two years ago over the who will own the fairgrounds and what the land will be used for. Just when it seems as if the fight may be over and the fair is safe something else comes along to send the dispute back into the headlines. If the sale of the fairgrounds is not approved by the Costa Mesa City Council as well as the California State Legislature which is expected to change with the fall election then the latest attempt at finalizing a deal may fall through.

The fight over the state owned fairgrounds, where the Orange County Fair is held every year, began at the onset of the recession when the California's leaders realized they did not have any money and began coming up with ideas to cut back and find ways to make money which included selling state owned property like the Orange County fairgrounds. Right away opponents spoke out against a private owner buying the fairgrounds. Many came out to rally for preserving the fair and the fairgrounds to it's historical uses. Some of the private interest in the land was by outlet shopping center developers including Craig Realty Group.

A group was formed called The Orange County Fair Preservation Society which opposes much of what the City of Costa Mesa attempts to do with the sale of the land. They closely monitor each meeting and disclosure made about the sale of the fairgrounds and the future of the fair. Their perseverance through this political and financial fight is really what has kept this fight on the radar.

Measure C was put on the Costa Mesa ballot in June of 2010 which asked residents to vote on keeping the land specifically for the fair. The measure passed by 87%. Any changes to the land would need to be approved by the City of Costa Mesa. The latest deal which the City of Costa Mesa has approved is for $96 million dollars and still needs state approval by the end of August which is when this session adjourns. Opponents to this deal believe that the fairgrounds will be used as a convention center and will not be kept with the history of the fair which is what Measure C was suppose to ensure by the city.

The Orange County Fair has just completed it's 120th anniversary and had record breaking attendance numbers with families such as mine attending, volunteering and becoming part of the tradition. The Orange County Fair has come to symbolize something of importance to those of us who value tradition, history and a strong community. To some the fair is meaningless but how can you argue with 120 years of tradition. Spending a warm summer night at the Orange County Fair with your family after volunteering for a cause you believe is the type of thing that grow children into adults who change the world. Besides a growing plant collection just isn't the same if purchased at a strip mall.

Sources:
Ballot Pedia: Orange County Fairgrounds Measure C
Smart Voter: Measure C: General Plan Orange County Fair and Fairgrounds
Orange County Register
The Orange County Fair Preservation Society
LA Times