Although it seems like fun and games, the Orange County Fair has a massive effect on the regional economy, bolstering employment, tourism and revenue to the tune of nearly $331 million per year during its three-week lifespan.
That was the finding of an economic impact report considered this week by officials with the Orange County Fair & Event Center, which organizes the annual celebration and other year-round events on the Costa Mesa fairgrounds.
Published by Johnson Consulting, a hospitality and real estate consultant that provides analysis for the International Assn. of Fairs and Expositions, the report looked at the number of hotel stays, local taxes and jobs generated in 2024.
It found that in addition to attracting 1.05 million visitors to Costa Mesa, the spectacle led to the booking of more than 13,000 hotel room nights, which created $384,600 in transient occupancy tax revenue…
