Garden Grove had its day in the sun at the Orange County Fair last week, which proclaimed Aug. 4 "Garden Grove Day."
The Orange County Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa is celebrating its 125th anniversary with food, fun and unique tastes, culinary competitions and exhibits.
As part of the Fair's celebration, cities in Orange County are being honored each day in the main hangar, beginning with the National Anthem by various groups of musicians.
Garden Grove had its day in the sun at the Orange County Fair last week, which proclaimed Aug. 4 "Garden Grove Day."
The Orange County Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa is celebrating its 125th anniversary with food, fun and unique tastes, culinary competitions and exhibits.
As part of the Fair's celebration, cities in Orange County are being honored each day in the main hangar, beginning with the National Anthem by various groups of musicians.
On hand for the festivities was Garden Grove Mayor Bao Nguyen and City of Garden Grove representatives Allan Roeder and Scott Stiles, along with Garden Grove Unified School District Trustees Lan Quoc Nguyen, Bob Harden and Teri Roceo.
The National Anthem was sung by a stupendous group of young musicians who perform as the Wimberley Bluegrass Band, "Keeping good old fashioned bluegrass music alive."
Mayor Nguyen also serves on the Fair's board of directors.
"Garden Grove has a rich agricultural heritage in Orange County and we are an important part of this year's 125th year of the Orange County Fair," he said during opening ceremonies.
There are so many food choices at the Fair, not to mention the Centennial Farm that is open all year long and vegetable exhibits by various groups and individuals and baby animals that include piglets, calves, goats and baby chicks.
It's simply an amazing array of sights and sounds and entertainment and vendors with unique items not available elsewhere.
Also on hand for the opening ceremonies were the Boys & Girls Club of Garden Grove, Pacifica High School's Cheer & Dance Team and the Garden Grove High School Girls Soccer Team.
Leather working is taught inside the Millennium Barn where youngsters can chose to make a bookmark, key ring or bracelet for a small fee.
For the avid gardener, there have been opportunities to showcase a "green thumb" in the weekly Garden and Floral Competitions and participants received complimentary admission to the Fair.
Adult categories included fruit and vegetables, cut flowers, floral arrangements and container plant competitions and there were dry and silk floral arrangements, amateur live floral design and open live floral design contests.
And don't miss the Ice Museum, if you can stand the 5-degree temperature. It's exquisite and quite cooling on a hot day.
For information about the Orange County Fair, there's a free Fair APP, visit www.ocfair.com or call 714-708-1500.
