Take Five: From Ferris wheels to forward thinking, James Canfield and the magic of the OC Fair
By DIANNE RUSSELL
James Canfield, who was named OC Fair & Event Center’s CEO in June 2025, has a lot to be proud of since he took over the helm. It was recently announced that the OC Fair & Event Center won 22 industry awards from Western Fairs Association. OC Fair is the top fair in California and number nine in North America based on attendance. The 136th annual Fair will run this year from July 17 through August 16.
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Photos courtesy of OC Fair
CEO of the OC Fair, James Canfield
Stu News caught up with Canfield to gather some insights into what he loves about the Fair and its legacy as the winner of over 20 first place honors by the Western Fairs Association.
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A nighttime view of the some of the attractions
Q: What’s your favorite Fair food – and the weirdest thing you’ve ever tried?
A: My favorite food this year was bacon-wrapped pork belly bites. The craziest this year was cotton candy wrapped around a pork belly stick. Just a little too much of a good thing!
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Canfield’s favorite ride is the Titan which takes riders up 170 feet, spins at 4 Gs and gives them a view of the whole city
Q: What’s your go-to Fair ride, and do you still ride it?
A: I am a thrill ride guy. Titan was my favorite this past fair. I’ll definitely ride it again this year!
Q: What is your favorite event to take in at the Action Sports Arena?
A: I love the demolition derby, especially the ones between the cities and police and fire departments. The theming and decor is really fun, and the fans come out to cheer on their favorite cities and departments.
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Demolition Derby in action at the Action Sports Arena
Q: If you could add one completely wild attraction to the Fair (no budget limits), what would it be?
A: I’m thinking hot air balloon rides, especially at night with bright colors of the balloons lighted by the burners flying over the fairgrounds. It would be a great experience.
Q: What’s something most people would never guess about running the OC Fair? What quality do you possess that helps in running the fair?
A: I think it would be that the OC Fair is just part of what we do at the OC Fair and Event Center. Even though our fair is the largest in California and one of the top 10 in North America attracting more attendees than an NBA or NHL team’s entire season, that is just the beginning. In addition, we are a year-round venue that hosts an additional 120 events outside of the fair. We also host a full slate of livestock and agricultural educational programs throughout the year. We are also part of our local and state emergency response and resiliency network, hosting emergency services, evacuations, training and logistical support. We work closely with our partners with Costa Mesa Police and Fire, Orange County Sheriff and Fire, and Cal Fire and Cal OES.
My best quality is recognizing the passion, skills, abilities and commitments of the great team that we have at the OCFEC and believing that there is nothing we can’t accomplish together.
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Lots of fun, food and festivities at the OC Fair
Q: What would you put in a time capsule to represent the OC Fair 2026?
A: I would include a collection of photos of people of all generations showing the looks of joy, wonder, enthusiasm, enjoyment, happiness and excitement from their experiences at the OCFEC.
For more information on the OC Fair, go to www.ocfair.com.
