OC Fair: Streamlining has worked

The lines at the Orange County Fair appear to be getting smaller, thanks to the strategic planning of last year’s OC Fair Board of Directors.

Last year, they decided to expand the duration of the fair by four days in order to combat long lines and overcrowded attractions.

Although it’s still early to draw conclusions, the plan appears to be working, said communications director Robin Wachner.

“It looks like we’re on track for what we anticipated last year,” she said.

According to Wachner, last year’s high attendance rates were significant enough to warrant a change in schedule.

“The reason we extended the fair is because last year, we had as many as 70,000 people here in one day,” Wachner said. “When you have that many people, the fair experience is diminished by longer lines.”

The OC Fair has always attracted a large number of people, said Becky Bailey-Findley, former chief executive of the OC Fair.

“The OC fairgrounds are unique for the amount of fair attendance. But the physical acreage is small. So there came a point in our history where the fair became saturated.”

Last year, the fair’s board of directors unanimously voted to extend the fair from 17 to 21 days.

Although the plan appears to have worked, officials prefer to hold off until the fair ends before making any definitive conclusions.

“It would be premature to talk about the numbers now,” said Steven Beazley, the fair’s current chief executive.

If the changes have been effective, though, Wachner thinks they made for a better fair.

“It’s definitely a more pleasant experience with less lines,” she said.