OC Fair Draws Near-Record Crowds, Serves Tons of Bacon

The Orange County Fair ended its annual run Sunday, but not before serving 20,000 pounds of bacon, showcasing 1980s icons Duran Duran, and sharing the birth of 27 piglets with nearly 1.4 million fair-goers.

Total attendance fell just shy of last year's record, but was still second-best all-time.

The fair, themed Home Sweet Home, drew 1,357,355 people. Last year's attendance was 1,400,280, which was up 21 percent from the previous record of 1,154,969 set in 2010, OC Fair and Event Center officials said.

The Pacific Amphitheatre drew record attendance at the fair's concerts, with seven sold-out performances, including Earth Wind & Fire, Tears for Fears, Heart, and Duran Duran.

The Hangar, which featured popular cover bands, drew its highest attendance since it started in 2010.

This year's fair included the births of 27 piglets, one Jersey calf and three baby goats, formally known as kids.

Hungry fair-goers bought 20,000 pounds of bacon -- either beer-battered, dipped in chocolate or wrapped around turkey legs.

Fair-goers also donated 43.5 tons of canned food, 59,353 books and 113,310 items of clothes for the needy.

 - City News Service