Hey, West Coast friends! The 2012 OC Fair kicks off Friday, July 13 in beautiful Southern California. The festival, themed “Home Sweet Home”, will last 23 days from July 13-August 12 (open Wednesday-Sunday).

The festival features thrilling carnival rides, games, live demonstrations by celebrity chefs, live entertainment by many hot acts, contests and tasteful fried treats. Some of the new yummy food items to look out for are The Big Rib, deep-fried cereal and a Bacon A-Fair.

Attendees visiting the fair on July 13 can enjoy free admission and parking during the opening hour at Noon. Fairgoers can also sample their favorite food during the $2 Taste of Fair Food event every Friday from Noon-4 p.m.

Helping kick off a summer of music and comedy at the 2012 Fair is Willie Nelson & Family performing in the Pacific Amphitheatre at 8 p.m. as part of the Toyota Summer Concert Series. Tribute band Journey Unauthorized will perform at 8:30 p.m. to start off the concert series in The Hangar and X-Treme Freestyle Moto-X starts off the season of adrenaline in the Action Sports Arena at 8 p.m.

Pacific Amphitheatre and The Hangar concert tickets and Action Sports Arena reserved seats include free Fair admission for the same day, so concert-goers and action sports junkies are invited to come enjoy the Fair before their show or hang-out afterward for some food and fun.

Additional events for the first weekend of the 2012 OC Fair (July 13-15) include:

Friday, July 13 (Open Noon-Midnight)

• Seniors Day-$6 admission for guests 60 and older plus free Ferris wheel and merry-go-round rides all day
• $2 Rides & Games (Until 4 p.m.)

Saturday, July 14 (Open 10 a.m.-Midnight)

• Happy Together Tour in the Pacific Amphitheatre (8 p.m.)
• “Led Zeppelin Live” Starring Heartbreaker in The Hangar (8:30 p.m.)
• 38th Annual Speedway Fair Derby in the Action Sports Arena (8 p.m.)
• Rise & Shine – $2 admission (10 a.m.-11 a.m.)
• Free Parking & Shuttle Service from the Experian parking structure located off the Bristol St. exit of the northbound I-405 and the Avenue of the Arts exit of the southbound I-405. Hours of operation: 10 a.m.-Midnight.
• OC Fair Express – Receive a coupon for $2 Fair admission for that day when using special route directly from 7 different OCTA transit locations. $1.50 for one-way and $3 for round-trip. Visit octa.com/ocfairexpress for transit locations and times.

Sunday, July 15 (Open 10 a.m.-Midnight)

• Matisyahu / Katchafire in the Pacific Amphitheatre (7 p.m.)
• TNT – Paying Tribute to AC/DC in The Hangar (8:30 p.m.)
• OC Fair Kart Racing Challenge in the Action Sports Arena (6 p.m.)
• Rise & Shine – $2 admission (10 a.m.-11 a.m.)

Miscellaneous: 

Free Parking & Shuttle Service from the Experian parking structure located off the Bristol St. exit of the northbound I-405 and the Avenue of the Arts exit of the southbound I-405. Hours of operation: 10 a.m.-Midnight.

OC Fair Express – Receive a coupon for $2 Fair admission for that day when using special route directly from 7 different OCTA transit locations. $1.50 for one-way and $3 for round-trip. Visit octa.com/ocfairexpress for transit locations and times.

Free Exhibits and Events: Chocolate Unwrapped: Beans, Bars & Bon Bons in the Exhibit Promenade; all-day Let Freedom Ring Exhibit in Park Plaza & daily Salute to Heroes presentation in The Hangar at 8:20 p.m.; Museum of Neon Art in the Visual Arts Gallery; Girl Scouts: From Cookie Pro to CEO – 100 Years of Building Leaders exhibit in Memorial Gardens; and Karaoke Rockstarz 7-10 p.m. on Meadows Stage. All free with Fair admission.

Free admission for active duty military and veterans with I.D.

Have a smartphone? Download the free OC Fair app (available for iPhone and Android phones) to make your fair experience even better by simply browsing the food booths and events.

Check out the fair on Facebook and Twitter.

Read the full press release here.