The OC Fair kicks off Friday for 23 days of thrill rides and carnival games, racing pigs and demolition derby, and gnawing on a turkey leg while you decide how to treat your sweet tooth.

The fair, which runs through Aug. 14 in Costa Mesa, is closer to its pre-pandemic self this year, but there are still some important things to know and some highlights to watch out for. So here is our guide to help you make the most of the 2022 fair:

More thrills, more room at 2022 OC Fair

Fair officials put a cap on attendance last year because of the pandemic, but found the feedback on the extra elbow room and reduced impact on the neighborhood positive so will limit tickets to 45,000 a day again this year.

“Bigger is not always better,” OC Fair and Event Center CEO Michele Richards. “It was a drain on our resources and a bother to our neighbors.”

Several days did sell out last year, so plan ahead if you have specific dates you want to attend.

This year’s fair will ratchet the adrenaline up several notches over 2021 with the return of events in the Action Sports Arena, including the monster trucks and Speedway.

The Sea Ray, a giant swinging pirate ship, will be new to the midway, and fans will be happy to ride the  La Grande XL again, with its birds-eye-view of the fun below.

The OC Fair opens July 15. Here’s what you need to know

The basics of the OC Fair: What can you bring into the fairgrounds? How much is parking? Basically, here is what you need to know to park, pay and get inside.

What’s on the menu: Fair food has never been one to follow culinary rules, so check out these six outrageous foods being sold this year, and find out what Cap’n Crunch has to do with a chicken sandwich or Hot Cheetos with a float.

Go hungry: In addition to attention-grabbing new items, vendors will be serving a wide range of fair favorites. Read more on grubbing at the fair here.

Music in the air: The fairgrounds boast several stages that are scheduled full of free entertainment – along with a number of local bands there are hypnotist acts, the Peking Acrobats and more.

And there are the nightly concerts at The Hangar and Pacific Amphitheatre. Tickets to those shows include admission to the fair.

OC Fair 2022: The lineup of concerts coming to The Hangar, plus how to get tickets

OC Fair 2022: What’s coming to Pacific Amphitheater in Costa Mesa and how to get tickets

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