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Food Truck Events Keep the Orange County Fair Spirit Alive Year-Round

While the annual Orange County Fair may wrap up at the end of each summer, the OC Fair & Event Center hosts a variety of unique festivities all year round. In addition to the OC Marketplace and other miscellaneous events that come and go on weekends, the multi-use venue has a few staple happenings that locals can enjoy during the non-summer seasons.

For example, the fairgrounds just began "Food Truck Fare After Dark" on Wednesdays from 5:30-9pm, providing food lovers the opportunity to enjoy an alternating lineup of gourmet food trucks. The trucks offer infinite varieties of cuisine, from BBQ, burgers, Asian fusion, seafood, vegetarian, desserts and more. There is also a cash bar, ample seating, free food vouchers, OC Fair ticket giveaways plus numerous other prizes.

The evening activity compliments the original daytime "Food Truck Fare Thursdays" which takes place Thursday afternoons from 11am-2pm and draws a couple hundred people each week. Guests can also explore the fresh produce at the Farmers Market which is open 9am-1pm each Thursday in the parking lot next to Food Truck Fare. Admission and parking are free.

Food Truck Fare gatherings also serve to spread the word about other upcoming events. The New Year's Eve Block Party will be back December 31 for its second year. The fun, casual event will feature live tribute bands and DJ entertainment by the decade – from the '60s to the '90s, along with an array of food trucks.

The OC Fair & Event Center is located off the 405 and 55 freeways at 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa. Food trucks are located in the parking lot outside the Pacific Amphitheatre Box Office, accessible through Gate 1 off of Fair Drive. You can get the lineup of each week's featured trucks from the website, or on Twitter or Facebook.

Food Truck Fare After Dark
and Food Truck Fare Thursdays

OC Fair & Event Center
88 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa, CA
(714) 708-1500
More Info
OC Fair on Twitter
OC Fair Facebook page

Debbie Miller publishes the website Social Hospitality.

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