OC PET EXPO Coming soon (Ticket GIVEAWAY)

April 22 - 24 @ OC Fair & Event Center

It's that time again - time for the 27^th  annual America’s Family Pet Expo. The expo returns on Friday, April 22 - Sunday, April 24, 2016 to the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa (88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa 92626). Cats, dogs, miniature farm animals, birds, and exotic reptiles, will come together in this unique event giving show guests the opportunity to experience furry, feathered and scaled friends in a variety of different ways.

“The Pet Expo is excited and proud to once again bring responsible pet care, entertainment, and pet adoptions to Orange County for the 27th year” said Doug Poindexter, President of the World Pet Association, producers of the America’s Family Pet Expo.  “As the years progress, so does the show, with a variety of educational presentations, product launches, amazing pet acts and our popular animal adoptions. The Pet Expo truly is the place for anything pet-related.”

Last year 45,000 guests visited the America’s Family Pet Expo showing a 5% increase from 2014. There were more than 600 animal adoptions including dogs, cats – and even a few guinea pigs –that were adopted into “forever homes” from the Pet Expo’s Southern California animal rescue partner organizations

New to the Pet Expo, is an adorable collection of mini farm animals including mini donkeys, mini cattle, mini sheep, mini dairy goats, chickens, rabbits, and pot belly pigs.  For equine lovers, horses from Camp Rusk Foundation for Retired Horses will make their debut.

Returning fan favorites include Splash Dogs, offering a wet-and-wild canine competition, and the Police Dog & Protection Demonstrations, crime fighting dogs in action showing how they serve and protect our community.  The Free Flight Bird Show, where magnificent birds spread their wings and take flight, will perform throughout the weekend.

Kids can get in on the action by designing and creating a 10-gallon aquarium in the Kids Aquarium Contest.  There will also be pony rides, face paintings, and The Great American Petting Zoo for the whole family to enjoy. 

Pet Adoptions will be handled on site for those looking for that “purrfect” animal addition to the family.  There will be hundreds of animals hoping to find their forever home from local community partner organizations at the Pet Expo.

TICKET INFO:
General Admission, $13.00; seniors 60 and over, $11.00. Children 6-12, $8.00. 5 yrs and under, free. Active and retired military free with ID. 

SHOW INFO:
Friday 10am-6pm; Saturday 10am-7pm; Sunday 10am-6pm.

LOCATION:
OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa 92626. 
Facility charges $7.00 parking. 

** Kindly leave all pets at home**

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GIVEAWAY

One person will win a family 4-pack of tickets to the Pet Expo.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway will end on April 14 @11:59pm (pst).

Winner will be chosen at random using the widget above and notified via email and twitter. Winner has 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Ticket vouchers will be mailed to the winner via USPS and winner is responsible for redeeming them for event tickets at the box office. Tickets are good for any day of the expo.


Disclosure: SoCal Blog was provided with complimentary tickets to the event and tickets for a giveaway in exchange for posting event material/information. SoCal Blog was not monetarily compensated. 

Williams Sonoma - June Free Jr Culinary Technique Classes

Get the little one's up and ready to get their cooking on with Williams-Sonoma fun FREE chef classes.

Never heard of them? Well you're in for a treat with this hour long class that includes a cooking demonstration, generous samples and printed recipes to take home. Your little one's get hands on experience and a tasty treat - yay!

Father's Day Fun with Dad

Saturday, June 20 @ 10 am

Discover some great gift ideas for Dad on Father's Day! You'll learn how to use everything from the latest kitchen gadgets to our favorite ice cream maker, which turn out awesome frozen desserts. Then you can create a delicious treat that Dad and the rest of the family will enjoy.

Class is suitable for ages 5-13.

American Girl Event: Baking with Grace

Saturday, June 27 @ 10 am - 1130 am

Join WIlliams-Sonoma and American Girl for a hands-on baking class inspired by Grace - the 2015 Girl of the Year! Each student will learn Grace's favorite French Madeleine recipe, then finish the pastries with dark chocolate, white chocolate, and a few other toppings. We'll also make and decorate sugar cookies from scratch. Each child will take home a special American Girl goodie bag! $30 per child.

Suitable for ages 8-12 - call your local store to sign up as class size is limited to 12 students.

1st Annual Temecula Valley Family Fair

March 27-29, 2015
Lake Skinner Recreational Park
37701 Warren Rd., Winchester, CA
**Rain or Shine**

Temecula Valley Family Fair (TVFF) announces the launch of the 1st annual regional fair in South West Riverside County. Enjoy all the attractions of a county fair including, live entertainment, performances, carnival rides, games, food concessions and more. This community based event will be held to benefit local charities in the area. The fair will be held at Lake Skinner Recreational Park on March 27, 28 and 29 in 2015.

The Temecula Valley Family Fair invites you to come out and enjoy the Temecula Valley’s 1^stannual regional fair. A place where people will come together, spend time with friends and family and create lifelong memories. Fairgoers will experience a traditional lineup of fair food, festivities, concerts, family fun and all things local to the Temecula Valley at the 2015 Temecula Fair. The fair uses physical tickets - the cost of rides varies. At each ride is a sign indicating how many "tickets" the ride costs (each "ticket" is $1); unlimited ride wristbands will be on sale for $30.

Fairgoers can look forward to the only funnest carnival rides:

• Giant Wheel         • Super Shot (drop tower)         • Zipper         • Bumper Cars

• Tilt-a-Whirl         • Dizzy Dragon         • Flying Cars          • Carousel

• Fun Slide         • Swings

As part of the fairs mission to give back to the community, it will be donating all proceeds to local charities. To support the success of this ambitious event, the Temecula Valley Family Fair is currently in need of sponsors, vendors and volunteers. To help out in any way, click here.

Admission info:
Parking: Cars $5 / Buses, Limos, Rv's $10.00 (CASH ONLY)
General (13-59) $12.50
Military/Senior (60+) $10.00
Children (3-12) $6.00
2 and under FREE
*ticket can be purchased online or at box office.

FAQ's 
Discounts
For updates please follow TVFF on Facebook

Location Info:
Temecula Fair
Lake Skinner Recreational Park
37701 Warren Rd., Winchester, CA

WILLIAMS SONOMA - JULY CULINARY TECHNIQUE CLASSES

Cooking. Food. Yum!

Try something new - that's where Williams-Sonoma comes in. Not only do they carry tons of fantastic kitchen and home supplies but they're now also offering cooking classes and FREE technique classes!

Every month Williams-Sonoma hosts new and fun classes for you to attend and learn something from. Learn about cuisines from around the world - and close to home -from their talented chefs and culinary experts.

Nothing like going home and showing off some new skills in the kitchen. So even though this month's almost over and I'm late in posting this info, you can still participate in their awesome upcoming class for adults and kids:

Fresh From the Farm: Cobblers, Crumbs & Pies
Sunday, July 6 (call local store for time)With farmers’ markets at their everything-is-in-season glory, choosing which fruits to carry home can be the hardest part of shopping. Join us and we’ll celebrate regional picks and create delicious fruit desserts.

Get Inspiralized
Sunday, July 13 (call local store for time)
Join us for a class designed by Ali Maffucci, blogger and founder of Inspiralized.com, the ultimate online resource for cooking with the spiralizer. This class will teach you some of Ali’s favorite recipes and tips. These recipes are perfect for summer, many of them are gluten-free and paleo-friendly as well.

From the Garden
Sunday, July 20 (call local store for time)
Are you ready for your bumper crops? Join us in this class and learn how to make the most of summer’s bounty. Whether you have bushels of tomatoes, corn, zucchini or peaches, learning how to can these favorites is not only practical but a delicious way to enjoy summer’s finest later.

We Love Tomatoes
Sunday, July 27 (call local store for time)
A ripe tomato may just be the perfect piece of summer produce. Join us and learn delicious ways to enjoy tomatoes, tools for preparation and knife skills to make the most of every plump, juicy tomato that passes through your kitchen this summer.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Handheld Fruit Pies
Saturday, July 5 @ 10 amJuicy fruit and a yummy crust – learn how to make delicious personal sized pies. Suitable for ages 8 and up.

Spiralized
Saturday, July 12 @ 10 amBy now you’ve tried our spiralizer, but do you know how many fun things you can spiralize? Join us and we’ll teach you how to get “inspiralized.” Suitable for ages 5 and up.

Spectacular Summer Salads
Sunday, July 9 @ 10 amWhat’s your favorite part of the salad? Join us and we’ll teach you how to prepare a delicious salad filled with vegetables, meats, cheeses and croutons and tossed with a creamy dressing. Suitable for ages 8 and up.

Shakes
Saturday, July 26 at 10 amFrom fruit to chocolate, shakes are fun any time of the day. We’ll teach you how to combine different  flavors – or even swirl in a fruit sauce or add a crunchy topping. Suitable for ages 5 and up.

General Info:

•Each 1½ - to 2 hour class includes a cooking demonstration, generous samples of featured dishes and printed recipes to take home.

• Class fees vary by store location.

• Participants receive a 10% discount on store purchases the day of the class.

• Available at select stores; class dates and times vary by store location.

• Space is limited and reservations are required. Select store only, contact your local store for more details.

Find your local Williams-Sonoma store here.

"Summer Starts Here" OC Fair - Ticket Giveaway

OC Fair Grounds - 88 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa, CA 92626
July 11 - August 10, 2014

Get your tastes buds and walking shoes ready because the OC Fair is back for 2014!

This years fair will include:

• various food vendors (hello, delicious funnel cakes!)

• carnival rides

• competitions

• concerts and action sports events

• free entertainment

• exhibits (centennial farm, wine competition, explorium & more) 

DISCOUNT Days

• Opening Day (July 11) - FREE admission & parking (noon - 1pm)
• Military & Veterans  -FREE active military & veteran admission w/ID. 
• Read & Ride - Read 2 books for 3 carnival rides (ages 5-11). Submit book reports to the information booth @Centennial Farm for FREE ride tickets. (valid July 11 - Aug 10)
• EVERY Wednesday - $30 Unlimited carnival ride wristband (sold until 5pm & valid until 8pm - plus 2 FREE games)
• We Care Wednesday - FREE admission and 1 carnival ride per person every Wednesday w/donation (donations change weekly. click link above to view donations)
• July 16 (noon - 3pm) - Food Drive: FREE admission w/donation of 5 cans of food.
• July 23 (noon - 3pm) - Children's Book Drive: FREE admission w/donation of 1 new children's book or 3 gently used children's books.
• July 30 (noon - 3pm) - Clothing Drive: FREE admission with donation of 5 new or gently used clothing items.
• August 6 (noon - 3pm) - School Supply Drive: FREE admission w/donation of NEW school supplies valued at $5 or more. Receipt required. Accepted items: pens/pencils/crayons, notebooks/notebook paper, school backpacks.
• EVERY Thursday - $30 Unlimited carnival ride wristband. (sold until 5pm and valid until 8pm - plus 2 FREE games)
• EVERY Thursday - Kids Day: Children 12 & under are FREE all day.
• EVERY Friday - Seniors Day (60+): $2 off senior admission. FREE Ferris wheel and merry-go-round rides all day.
• EVERY Friday (noon - 4pm) - $2 Taste of Food Fair
• EVERY Saturday & Sunday - Rise & Shine: $3 general admission (10am -11am). Discounted tickets are sold until 11am and must be used by noon on the same day.

Fair Info 

OC Fair Grounds - 88 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa, CA 92626
July 11 - August 10, 2014 (Open Wednesday - Sunday)
              Wednesday - Friday: Noon - Midnight
              Saturday & Sunday: 10am - Midnight

Admission::
General (13-59) - $12
Senior (60+) - $7
Youth (6 - 12) - $7
Children 5 and under are FREE

Super Pass:
Buy the exclusive Super Pass and enjoy admission to the 2014 OC Fair for all 23 days! Must be purchased in person at OC Fair box office or online. Includes: admission all 23 days, express entry at all gates, 2-for-1 tickets for select Pacific Amphitheater/Hanger and Action Sports Arena concerts, 20% off OC Fair merchandise, and carnival value book.
General admission: $35
Senior: $28
Youth: $28

Parking Rates:
General parking passenger cars: $10
General parking buses & limos: $20
Pacific Amphitheater VIP: $30
*Parking is CASH ONLY. There is no in-and-out parking privileges.

Purchase tickets at the OC Fair box office, ticketmaster or call 800-745-3000.

GIVEAWAY

One lucky person will win a family 4-pack of general admission tickets!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway will end on Monday, July 7 @11:59 pm (pst). 

Winner will be notified via email and must respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be chosen. Tickets will be delivered to the winner by OC Fair and/or held at will call.

Disclosure: Giveaway is hosted by OC Fair. SoCal Blog was provide with complimentary tickets to the OC Fair. 

2nd Annual IE Cupcake Fair

Sunday, May 4  @Riverside Convention Center

Did someone say "cupcake"? Count me in...whatever it is!

The Second Annual Inland Empire Cupcake Fair is set for Sunday, May 4, 2014, at the Riverside Convention Center.  The fair has cupcake tastings, judging, giveaways, cake decoration demonstrations by California Cake Decorations & Supply Co., live entertainment, free massages, Kids Zone provided by Seeking Sitters Inland Empire, Craft Corner and lots of shopping!

“The Inland Empire Cupcake Fair is back for more delicious fun! We’ve learned a few things since last year’s Premiere event and we’re excited to say this year is going to be bigger and better,” said Su Pak event creator and founder of IEShineOn.com.

Last year’s bakers included not only the best bakers in the Inland Empire but also the best cupcake baker in the United States! Desiree Massei from [desi]gn Cakes & Cupcakes, a three time Cupcake Wars winner and Casey’s Cupcakes also a Cupcake Wars winner.

This year, Su has partnered with some great community organizations like Riverside Downtown Partnership, the Riverside Center and Dameron Communications and best of all, this year's proceeds will benefit Community Connect and California Riverside Ballet. Nothing like giving back to your community.

The IE Cupcake Fair is a family event with cupcake tastings, professional and amateur baking competition, live entertainment, a spa zone with free massages, a kid’s zone with professional babysitters from Seeking Sitters Inland Empire and a free photo booth hosted by Shutter Cubby.

Event info:
Location - Riverside Convention Center: 3637 5th St. Riverside, CA 92501
Time: 12 - 4 pm (VIP enters at 11 am)

Ticket info:

Tickets are now on sale and if you act fast you can catch the "early bird" sale (ends 4/9/14).

"Early Bird" General Admission: $15

"Early Bird" VIP General Admission: $30

General admission: $28

VIP: $35

VIP vs General Admission:

VIP Receives:

• Early Entrance at 11 a.m. (General admission starts at 12 p.m.)
• Goodie bag with local discounts, T-shirt and more goodies!
• 6 tasting tickets PLUS 1 additional tasting ticket

General Admission Receives:

• 6 tasting tickets
• Admission starts at 12 p.m.

** Kids 3 and under are free (tasting tickets will need to be purchased separately)**

_____________________________________________________________________