PASSES, SPECIAL DAYS, EARLY DISCOUNTS: A fair is a fair is a fair, with its ride-packed midway and tempting games and sweet animals and all of those edibles that arrive on a stick and/or encased in a swath of fried dough. But what isn't the same every day are the deals of a county fair, and giveback events, and donation drives, and all of the occasions that mark the calendar along the way. The Orange County Fair is one of the largest around, and it holds a multitude of notable deals and donation days during its month-long run. That run is coming up -- July 15 through Aug. 14 are the 2016 dates, Wednesdays through Sundays -- and the roster of daily discounts is available for perusing and, moreover...
PLANNING: With just under two dozen days to choose from, you'll need to pick your fair days if you want them to coincide with the $2 Taste of Fair Food (a Thursday to-do that's on from noon to 4 p.m.) or $2 Rides and Games, which is every Friday from noon to 4 o'clock. We Care Wednesday returns, with the call to bring an item to donate, depending on the theme of that Wednesday (a food drive, a children's book drive, a clothing drive, and a school supply day make up the four Wednesdays of the 2016 fair). And a Rise & Shine deal on Saturdays and Sundays shaves three bucks off your admission if you get to the Costa Mesa bash between 10 and 11 o'clock in the morning. There's more to choose from, too, so best find your fair fun (and savings) before it revs up for another year.