The Orange County Fair has been an annual event for over 100 years (since 1890).

Since the Los Angeles County Fair is held out in the hill country of Pomona, the Orange County Fair may actually be a shorter drive for many Los Angelenos (especially those living in the Long Beach and South Bay regions). The Orange County Fairground is located just nine miles south of Disneyland (and less than two miles southwest of South Coast Plaza mall) - familiar territory for many locals.

The Orange County Fair begins each year during the second week of July. The admission to this event is only half of what it costs to enter the mammoth Los Angeles County Fair. But perhaps because it's smaller, the Orange County Fair also presents a more genuine, small-town atmosphere than it's gargantuan cousin to the north.

Each year, the Fair offers live concerts by major entertainers. Until 2004, the concerts were free with admission, but more recently the fair concerts were moved to the Pacific Amphithreatre (located just west of the fairgrounds), and they are no longer free. (On the plus side, the quality of the acts booked for the fair has improved now that they are selling tickets to the concerts.)

In 2007, the acts included Bob Dylan, Willy Nelson, The Bangles & Heart, Leann Rimes, Martina McBride, Lynyrd Skyntrd , Blue October & Plain White Tees, Earth Wind & Fire, Tears for Fears, Kenny Rogers & Dave Mason, and others. Tickets prices ranged from $19 to $89, depending on the performer.

In 2008, the Fair runs from Friday, July 11 to Sunday, August 3, 2008 (closed Mondays).

For a full list of this year's concert performers, go to http://www.ocfair.com.

Tickets prices ranged from $19 to $89, depending on the performer.

Performers at the Pacific Amphitheatre during the 2006 Fair included Paul Simon, Bill Cosby, Michael Bolton, The Moody Blues, X, Seal, Linda Ronstadt, Chris Isaak, the Steve Miller Band, and others.

The performers at the Pacific Amphitheatre during the 2005 Fair included The B-52s, The Steve Miller Band, Hootie & the Blowfish, Hilary Duff, Pat Benatar, Berlin, X, the Plimsouls, Heart, Tears for Fears, the Gin Blossoms, Dishwalla, Dana Carvey & Victoria Jackson, Julio Iglesias, Beck, Psychedelic Furs, the Fixx, Howard Jones, Flogging Molly, the Vandals, Leann Rimes and Chris Isaak.

Performers for 2004 included Reba McEntire, Bill Cosby, Jessica Simpson, Jackson Browne, John Fogerty, ZZ Top, The Go-Go's & The Motels, Train, Hootie and the Blowfish, Newsboys and Sugar Ray. (Again, these concerts at the Pacific Amphitheatre are not free.)

You can see the entire Pacific Amphitheatre concert schedule and buy tickets via TicketMaster.com at this link, or on the Fair's own site here.

And for history's sake, here is a rundown on the acts which appeared for free in previous years at the Fair:

In 2003, the bands on stage at the Fair included Billy Bob Thorton, The Bangles, Little River Band, Blue Oyster Cult, Poco, Ziggy Marley, Berlin, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Young Dubliners, The Fab Four and Phil Vassar.

In 2002, the bands on stage at the Fair included Huey Lewis & The News, Linda Ronstadt, Martina McBride, Indigo Girls, The Neville Brothers, The B-52's, The Fab Four, The Guess Who, Styx, Boz Scaggs, Heart and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

In 2001, the acts included Dennis Quaid (and his band, the Sharks), Tanya Tucker, Hall & Oates, Three Dog Night, The Village People, REO Speedwagon, En Vogue, The Isley Brothers, David Clayton-Thomas, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lee Greenwood, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and comedian Gallagher.

In 2000, concert performers included Rick Springfield, The Everly Brothers, "Weird Al'' Yankovich, Charo, Isaac Hayes, Jose Feliciano, Taylor Dayne, Doug Kershaw, Steppenwolf, Poco and Firefall.

In 1999, perfomers included Peter Frampton, Sheena Easton, comic/actor Sinbad, "Ally McBeal" singer Vonda Shepard, Three Dog Night, and The Nelson Brothers.

In 1998, one show featured the "Teen Idols Tour," featuring three former teen hearthrobs from the 60's and 70's in concert: Davy Jones (of The Monkees), Peter Noone ('Herman' of Herman's Hermits), and Bobby Sherman. Other 1998 performers included Rick Springfield ("Jessie's Girl"), Joan Jett & The Blackhearts ("I Love Rock & Roll"), Restless Heart ("When She Cries"), Jan & Dean ("Dead Man's Curve"), Charlie Daniels Band ("The Devil Went Down to Georgia"), Rock Hall of Famer Bo Diddley, Sister Sledge ("Sister Sledge"), Chubby Checker ("The Twist"), the Bellamy Brothers ("Let Your Love You"), Jose Feliciano ("Light My Fire"), KC & The Sunshine Band ("Shake Your Booty"), David Gates (formerly of Bread), the popular cowboy trio Riders In The Sky, and comedian Carrot Top.

1997 saw these performers in concert at the Fair: Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers ("All The Gold In California," the Grass Roots ("Midnight Confessions"), Pat Boone ("No More Mr. Nice Guy"), MC Lyte ("Cha Cha Cha"), Eddie Money ("Two Tickets to Paradise"), Cosmo's Factory (featuring original members of Creedence Clearwater Revival), Ben Vereen (Broadway Show Tunes), Emilio ("I Love You To Love Me"), John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band ("On The Dark Side"), Diamond Rio ("Meet Me In The Middle"), Jars Of Clay ("Flood"), The Gap Band ("Burn Rubber"), and Chris LeDoux ("Eight Second Ride").

In 1995-1996, performers included Little Richard ("Tutti Frutti"), Steven Stills ("Love The One You're With"), country band The Kentucky Headhunters, The Rembrandts ("I'll Be There For You"), Michael McDonald (former lead singer for the Doobie Brothers), Three Dog Night ("Joy to the World"), Color Me Badd ("I Wanna Sex You Up"), Ben E. King ("Stand By Me"), John Tesh (from "Entertainment Tonight"), Loverboy ("Loving Every Minute of It"), Crystal Gayle ("Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue"), rap artist Queen Latifah, Melissa Manchester, Lou Rawls, Kool & the Gang, Paul Revere & the Raiders, The Temptations, The Association, Ricky Van Shelton, Vikki Carr, and The Neville Brothers. Performers in previous years have included Donny Osmond, Air Supply, The Jets, and The Commodores.

In addition to the free concerts, the Fair features livestock shows, a rodeo, high diving demonstrations, blue ribbon judging, a horse show, arts & crafts, a daily parade, a model farm, numerous displays, a vast selection of food, and a large major carnival midway.

(If you want the best possible seats at these (otherwise) free concerts, it's possible to buy reserved seat tickets in advance to the "Orange Circle" section for $10 each, beginning in early June. Otherwise, concert seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.)

The Fair draws big crowds; almost a million people last year. The smallest daily crowds (around 20,000) arrive on opening day. The largest crowds (over 75,000) show up on Saturdays and Sundays.

Parking: Large paid lots. $5 parking fee. (Preferred parking $10.)

Admission Price: (Some concert shows are free with general Fair admission.).

Adults: $9
Seniors (55+): $7
Children (6-12) $5
Kids 6 and under free.
(Carnival rides are extra.).

For ticket information, call (714) 708-1928.

Hours: The Orange County Fair begins each year in the second week of July. In 2008, the Fair dates will be July 11 to August 3 (closed Mondays). Fair Hours: Tuesday-Friday: 12 noon - 12 midnight; Saturday-Sunday: 10 a.m. - 12 midnight. (Phone for this year's exact dates and hours.)

 Getting there: The Fair is held at the Costa Mesa Fairgrounds. The city of Costa Mesa is bounded by the cities of Huntington Beach on the west, Irvine on the east, Santa Ana on the north, and Newport Beach on the south. The Orange County Fairgrounds are located just off the Costa Mesa (56) Freeway, at Fairview Road & Fair Drive. It is bounded by Fairview Road (on the west), Arlington Drive (on the north), Fair Drive (on the south), and the Costa Mesa Freeway (on the southeast). / From west Los Angeles, take the San Diego (405) Freeway south (about 45 miles) to the Fairview Road exit, then head south on Fairview (about one mile) to Fair Drive. Turn left (east) on Fair Drive to the Fair's main entrance, on your left (north) side. / From Disneyland, take Harbor Boulevard south (about nine and a half miles) to Fair Drive, turn left (east) on Fair Drive, and go less than a mile to the Fairgrounds.