The Hanger will host live music during the run of the OC Fair July 12 – August 11
Summer’s here and in Orange County, we all know that means the OC Fair is right around the corner. With this years theme “Come and Get it” the fair opens on Friday July 12 and runs until August 11.
In addition to the fun games, rides and the annual tradition of eating fried Twinkies, right on the grounds of the fair is the Pacific Amphitheater, who rarely opens their doors outside the fair dates for their Toyota Concert Series featuring 23 nights of music. With acts scheduled to perform such as Weezer, Colbie Caillat, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, Alan Jackson, The Wanted, Bridget Medler, The Go-Go’s and more, the Pacific Amphitheater is to not disappoint this year.
The 8,200 seated Pacific Amphitheater was not always apart of the OC Fair, the amphitheater opened up in the 80s’ and was owned by the Nederlander Organization who also owned the Greek Theater and Pantages but was shut down in the early 90s’ due to noise issues that impacted the surrounding neighborhoods. It stayed dormant for many years.
“When the sound technology changed, it became possible to consolidate the sound within the bowl of the theater itself that the surrounding neighborhood was not as impacted to the same degree,” Entertainment Director for the Orange County Fair, Dan Gaines said. “We were able to open the Pacific Amphitheater again in 2002 and we have been running it concurringly with the fair ever since then.”
Since the re-opening in 2002, the Pacific Amphitheater has maintained one ultimate goal, to put at least one show in the concert series that appeals to everybody and to keep ticket prices as low as possible so the public can enjoy concerts and the fair at the same time.
“We make an effort to not overload it with just country or just alternative or just for the kids,” Gaines said. “ We try to put a scheduled that’s very diverse and appeals to the county as a whole.”
With each concert ticket bought, a fair admission is included so a whole day can be enjoyed at the fair in the daytime and a concert at night. Shows are rarely done outside of the fair dates with the fair only open Wednesdays to Sundays.
Even though the lawn seat tickets are not available anymore at the Pacific Amphitheater, Gaines assures people that the shows do have a more intimate feel and in closure and they will still enjoy the concerts.
Another form of concert entertainment that will be offered at the fair will be the entertainment held in the Hanger, a smaller venue placed in the middle of the fair grounds.
“The name and shape of the construction of the hanger is made to pay an homage to the history of the space because it used to be the Santa Ana Army Air Base,” Gaines said. “It provides the opportunity to put high caliber entertainment but not necessarily something you will see in the Pacific Amphitheater.”
Acts scheduled in the Hanger during the fair will include higher-level tribute acts such as a Salute to the Eagles, a tribute to David Bowie, a Tribute to music of Journey and a Live Rock Tribute to Led Zeppelin. Tickets are between $15-16 and also include fair admission
The Hanger also provides the opportunity for fair goers who do not have ticketed seats and want to enjoy the music from outside the venue to watch through the big screens located on the outside of the entrance of the accordion door opening of the hanger.
Tickets for both the Pacific Amphitheater and the Hanger are available online or at any of the ticket booths at every entrance of the fair.
For the full concert schedule check out our concert calendar at https://concertguidelive.com/concert-calendar.