Orange County Honest returns with new sights

COSTA MESA, Calif. (CNS) — The 2023 version of the Orange County Honest will start Friday, that includes its first new exhibit because the pandemic in addition to a return of many longtime favorites.

“We’re very excited about a brand new exhibit,” Orange County Honest CEO Michele Richards advised Metropolis News Service. “It’s a custom-made one for us about the art of music. It will take up one of our entire exhibit buildings and the best way I can describe it is as a walk-through exhibit, nostalgic journey through iconic album art.” 

“The exhibit will feature the original large hand-painted billboards that touted the release of now-iconic albums,” Richards stated.

When the honest returned in 2021 after a pandemic-induced hiatus the main focus was on sustaining the same old stapes of the honest in addition to controlling crowd sizes, Richards stated.

“We were so limited the last two years coming back from the pandemic and we decided we have to get back to that one iconic exhibit feature,” Richards stated. “We labored with this firm earlier than on smaller tasks and they partnered with an organization that purchased up all of these billboards from Hollywood and they approached us truly a few years in the past about doing this exhibit.

“We thought it was such a terrific idea that it would capture our customers’ attention. I’ve been watching it getting built every day and I’m super excited about it.”

Richards stated the corporate that purchased the billboards, which was once displayed on main streets like Sundown Boulevard when the hit albums have been launched, “did a great job of preserving them and they come in in pieces.”

The billboards characteristic works of Madonna, David Bowie, Prince and others, Richards stated.

“There’s one of Tom Jones and the Smashing Pumpkins is in there,” she stated. “The music (featured in the exhibit) goes from the ’40s and ’50s all the way to the present day.”

The crowds will proceed to be managed this 12 months with no on-site tickets accessible. All tickets have to be purchased prematurely of a go to on-line. Honest organizers say the smaller crowds present a extra nice expertise for the purchasers.

“We’re doing it because it works for the guests and the surrounding neighborhoods,” Richards stated. “It’s a much better guest experience when we control our attendance.”

This 12 months the honest — with the “Happy Together” theme — is providing a “super pass” for every single day of the honest, which runs via Aug. 13 besides on Mondays and Tuesdays, Richards stated.

“The cost is $60 and you can come any day you want or every day you want — even when it is sold out,” Richards stated.

One other new perk on the honest is limitless water for free of charge for guests who convey their very own thermos or bottle, Richards stated. Guests can even purchase a memento water bottle and refill it with chillled, filtered water at filling stations all through the fairgrounds, Richards stated.

“We’re on a mission to try to eliminate plastic water bottles at the OC Fair, so starting this year we are supplying four water stations throughout the fairgrounds that will serve up free filtered water for our guests if they bring an empty water bottle,” Richards stated.

The honest will characteristic three new carnival rides.

“One is called Joker 360,” Richards stated. “We also have a brand new roller coaster called Rafter that looks very gnarly. And a ride called the Slingshot… The ride shoots you up the air 70 feet. It literally slings you into the air.”

As for honest meals, Richards stated, “There’s some really good stuff this year. There’s always crazy food at the fair, but we’re really excited about the new stuff because we think it will appeal to a wide range of palettes” 

One is a Maple Bacon Smoothie “for those super bacon fans,” Richards stated.

“There’s a fruit pizza,” she stated. “And deep-fried s’mores. I’m really looking forward to that one.” 

California Grill will serve up all vegan and vegetarian fare, she stated.

“That’s a first time at the fair,” she stated. “Our customers asked for it and we’re delivering it.”

The Pacific Amphitheatre will characteristic live shows from Motown legend Smokey Robinson, nation icon Dwight Yoakam, traditional rockers Low cost Trick, Chicago, Styx and George Thorogood and post-punk pioneers X.

“Beck is coming” Aug. 9, Richards stated. “And we’ll have all those great tribute bands each night (in the Hangar).”

However some outdated favorites are additionally on the best way again, she stated.

“The rodeo is coming back,” she stated. “We haven’t had that in the last few years…. If people have been to the fair the last couple of years they’re going to discover so many new things this year… and all of the favorites are coming back and lots of new stuff so you can discover and rediscover.”