Centennial Farm Costa Mesa Day Trip

If you’re interested in food and livestock farming, Centennial Farm at the OC Fair & Event Center is the perfect place to visit. Admission and parking are free unless there’s an event. During the month-long Orange County Fair, you can also check out the farm. Here, children can witness firsthand how food and animals are raised on a farm, which is an excellent learning opportunity for school groups. Hundreds of kids come to see the farm animals and learn about food production.

Along with crops, the farm has various animals, including pigs, chickens, cattle, and goats. While most animals are adults, early summers produce a fresh crop of youngsters. Chicks, calves, and little piglets can be viewed around the time of the Orange County Fair; cows are always on hand and get milked daily.

Much of the yield of fruits and vegetables grown at the farm goes to area food banks and other charitable groups. There is also a table where you can pick up a sample of the crop that is being harvested. The farm produces tomatoes and strawberries: carrots and corn. There is a milking barn and pens of livestock outside.

Signs are numerous, so you will still have a good idea of each crop if you don’t visit a school group. You can also download a free farm map and scavenger hunt worksheet.

Centennial Farms is open throughout the year and welcomes visitors at the appropriate time. Children can enjoy guided tours led by docents during the school year, while the general public can visit seven days a week during specific hours.

At one time, the Costa Mesa fairgrounds’ land was a vast military training base. In 1945, the base was used as an internment camp for Japanese awaiting deportation to Japan. In the late1950s, the land was declared surplus, and sections were used for housing, two colleges, and the home of the Orange County Fair.

Centennial Farm History

The red barn building was moved from the Newport Beach Buffalo Ranch, a tourist attraction at Jamboree and MacArthur Blvd.

The Buffalo Ranch had a few rides and gift shops, but by the late 1960s, they had all closed, and by the late 1970s, the ranch, and a few buffalo were removed to make way for development. While no buffalo is displayed at Centennial Farms, you can see a little of Orange County history.

Every month the farm puts on a Discovery Day, where you can see a milking demonstration and learn about plants and animals from farm docents stationed around the farm. Discovery Days are available to all grade levels and the general public. Reservations are required.

A visit to Centennial Farm will only take about an hour, two at the most, but it’s definitely a fun, family-friendly, and free activity. School tours can be arranged for kindergarten through third grade. You can also visit the farm during the Orange County Fair.

Centennial Farm Orange County Fairgrounds, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. Website.

Please visit the farm’s website for current times of operation or to book a tour.

 Fun Things To Do In Orange County

Fun activities to keep children engaged.

Goat Hill Junction Train Rides