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Pacific Amphitheatre

Bring on the summer music! Pacific Amphitheatre in Costa Mesa features summer concerts and events that take place during the annual Orange County Fair. During that time, admission to the Orange County Fair is included with the purchase of Pacific Amphitheatre concert tickets. The outdoor venue located at the OC Fair & Event Center, seats 7,850 concert-goers.

Pacific Amphitheatre

Pacific Amphitheatre Details

Address: 100 Fair Dr, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Phone Number: 714-708-1500
Box Office Hours: Saturdays & Sundays 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Hours vary throughout the year. Call ahead to confirm hours)
General Parking: Rates vary by event. $12 and up
RV/Limo Parking: $20 and up


Pacific Amphitheatre History

Pacific Amphitheatre originally opened in 1983 with Barry Manilow taking the stage and was the site of Marvin Gaye’s final concert before his death. The Amphitheatre is located in the city of Costa Mesa, with residential communities within close proximity. Due to noise complaints from residents, the Amphitheatre was closed in the early 1990s. The venue reopened in 2003 after making an agreement with local residents to hold concerts only during OC Fair Season. Pacific Amphitheatre was revitalized in 2015.

Seating

Seating at Pacific Amphitheater accommodates approximately 7,850 attendees and is divided into 8 regular sections, plus a pit and a circle section in front of the stage. Wheelchair accessible sections are available in the front portion of section three, at the rear of sections one and three, and at the rear of sections five and seven.

Parking

General parking for Pacific Amphitheatre is available on the grounds of the OC Fair & Event Center. During events, signs will be posted with directions for entry. Once parked, enter the fair and the amphitheater through the Green, Yellow, or Blue gates. During high traffic days, on-site parking fills up quickly and drivers will be directed to nearby offsite parking.

Free Parking: The offsite parking area is located at the Experian Parking Structure on Bristol and is free of charge on Saturdays and Sundays. Shuttle service is available from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. on weekends only to transport guests to the fairgrounds.

Onsite parking during fair season is $10 per car or $20 per bus or limo. Surrounding residential areas require city issued permits for street parking and vehicles without permits may be towed and/or ticketed.

VIP Parking: There is a Pacific Amphitheatre Reserved Parking option that requires advanced purchase. Reserved Parking is closed 24 hours before each event and must be purchased prior to this deadline. Enter through Gate 4 to access Reserved Parking.

You can also take The OC Express Bus for $4 Roundtrip with 9 locations: Anaheim, Fullerton, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Orange Village and Santa Ana.

Driving Directions

From the 5, 22, 73, 91, and 405, connect to the 55 South Newport Freeway and exit Del Mar/Fair Drive.

Concessions

Pacific Amphitheatre is located at the OC Fair & Event center and a variety of concessions and unique fair-food vendors are available within the OC Fairgrounds to purchase food and drinks. Guests will enjoy everything from their favorite beer to gourmet hot dogs, vegetable wraps, roasted corn, donuts and more. There is also food and beverage concessions inside the amphitheater.


Pacific Amphitheatre Tips & Venue Information

  • Check the website for parking information and directions before you go in case there are updates.
  • Uber and Lyft pick up and drop off to avoid parking issues.
  • Bicycle racks are located near all public entrances.
  • Plan to arrive 60 to 90 minutes before the show.
  • There are ample options for food and beverages, so lines are not extremely long.
  • There are plenty of restroom stalls so wait times are not as long as at some venues.
  • Pay attention to signs on the street directing traffic.
  • Purchase food and drinks at the fair and bring it into the venue.
  • Visit the OC Fair before or after the concert (or both) with free fair admission with most concert tickets.
  • Two monitors for viewing performers.
  • Bring jackets, sweaters, or blankets – summer evenings are sometimes cool at this venue.
  • About $9 – $12 for beer and $12 for mixed drinks

What’s Allowed at Pacific Amp

  • Small bags
  • Blankets
  • Binoculars
  • Signs no larger than 28″W by 22″H

What’s Not Allowed

  • Weapons of any kind
  • Backpacks
  • Lawn Chairs
  • Strollers and Wagons
  • Umbrellas
  • Alcohol
  • Cameras – still or video
  • Recorders – audio or video
  • Illegal drugs/substances
  • Glass containers
  • Cans
  • Hard sided/large coolers
  • Laser pointers or pens
  • Animals (except service animals)
  • Fireworks
  • Outside Food

2023 Pacific Amphitheatre Events at the OC Fair

2023 OC Fair DatesPacific Amphitheatre Event
Saturday, July 1 *Pre-fair ShowStephen Marley with Fortunate Youth and Arise Roots
Saturday, July 8 *Pre-fair ShowThe Green with Hirie, Mike Love, Jesse Royal and Common Sense
Friday, July 14ABBA LA and Bee Gees Gold
Saturday, July 153 Doors Down with Candlebox
Sunday, July 16Happy Together Tour
Wednesday, July 19Smokey Robinson
Thursday, July 20Dwight Yoakam/ Asleep at the Wheel
Friday, July 21Yung Gravy & BBNOS
Saturday, July 22Midland
Sunday, July 23Gerardo Ortiz
Wednesday, July 26Ramon Ayala/Fidel Rueda
Thursday, July 27Styx
Friday, July 28George Thorogood & The Destroyers with The Robert Cray Band
Saturday, July 29Sweet & Tender Hooligans / The Cured / The Happy Haus
Sunday, July 30~X~ / English Beat / Save Ferris
Wednesday, August 2AJR & EM Beihold
Thursday, August 3Ziggy Marley / Wailing Souls
Friday, August 4Ne-Yo / Robin Thicke / Mario
Saturday, August 5The Fab Four
Saturday, August 6War The Rascals The Family Stone
Monday, August 7Cheap Trick / The Tubes
Wednesday, August 9Beck with Phoenix
Thursday, August 10Jeff Dunham
August 11-13Rebelution Iration/The Expendables
Friday, August 18Los Tucanes de Tijuana / La Original Banda El Limon
Sunday, August 20Chicago
Sunday, August 27Gabriel Iglesias
Saturday, September 2Common Kings / Fiji / Sammy J /
Jakob’s Castle / Western Conference

Additional 2023 events to be announced.

2022 Events at Pacific Amphitheatre

Kool & The Gang with Sister SledgeFriday, July 15, 2022
Trevor NoahSaturday, July 16, 2022
Happy Together TourSunday, July 17, 2022
Live To Rock Tour: Skid Row, Warrant, & MoreWednesday, July 20, 2022
Lindsey StirlingThursday, July 21, 2022
Frankie Valli & The Four SeasonsFriday, July 22, 2022
Abba LA and Bee Gees GoldSaturday, July 23, 2022
Island Empire FestivalSunday, July 24, 2022
Counting CrowsWednesday, July 27, 2022
The Offspring with Agent Orange & Love CanalThursday, July 28, 2022
Brett EldredgeFriday, July 29, 2022
CNCO with Maria JoseSaturday, July 30, 2022
J Boog/The GreenSunday, July 31, 2022
Three Dog Night & The Grass RootsWednesday, August 3, 2022
Jim Gaffigan: The Fun TourThursday, August 4, 2022
Rebelution with Steel Pulse/DenmFriday, August 5 & Saturday, August 6, 2022
Sweet & Tender Hooligans w/ Devotional / SubstanceSunday, August 7, 2022
The Band Perry w/ Lindsay Ell/The Joy ReunionWednesday, August 10, 2022
MaxwellThursday, August 11, 2022
Smokey RobinsonFriday, August 12, 2022
The Fab FourSaturday, August 13, 2022
The Psychedelic Furs w/ -X-Sunday, August 14, 2022
Boy George & Culture ClubThursday, August 18, 2022
Cole Swindell w/ Honey CountyFriday, August 19, 2022
Steve Miller BandThursday, August 25, 2022
Ramon Ayala w/ Conjunto PrimaveraSunday, August 28, 2022
Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo + Ann Wilson of HeartWednesday, August 31, 2022
Halestorm with The StrutsThursday, September 1, 2022
Jackson BrowneSaturday, September 3, 2022

2021 Events at Pacific Amphitheatre

OC Brew Hee Haw – The 90s SessionFriday, July 23, 2021
OC Brew Hee Haw – The Classic Rock SessionSaturday, July 24, 2021
OC Brew Hee Haw – The 80s Prom Party SessionSaturday, July 24, 2021
Brantley GilbertThursday, July 29, 2021
Pepper, Pacific Dub, & Common SenseSaturday, July 31, 2021
X & Los Lobos with The BlastersSunday, August 1, 2021
Cole Swindell with Honey CountyWednesday, August 4, 2021
War & The CommodoresThursday, August 5, 2021
Rebelution with Steel Pulse and The GreenAugust 6 & 7, 2021
The Fab Four 55th Anniversary of RevolverSunday, August 8, 2021 5:00PM
The Fab Four 50th Anniversary of Let It BeSunday, August 8, 2021 8:00PM
Cheap Trick & Blue Oyster CultWednesday, August 11, 2021
Dwight Yoakam with Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite BoysFriday, August 13, 2021
The Aquabats, The English Beat & Dead Man’s PartySaturday, August 14, 2021
Jo Koy & FriendsSunday, August 15, 2021
Colbie Caillat, Natasha Bedingfield, & Diana DemuthFriday, August 20, 2021
“Toy Story” With The Pacific SymphonySaturday, August 21, 2021
Ramon Ayala & Enigma NortenoSunday, August 22, 2021
Goo Goo Dolls with Sister HazelWednesday, August 25, 2021
The Flaming Lips with GreerThursday, August 26, 2021
Chase Rice with BrelandThursday, September 2, 2021
Pacific Symphony: Tchaikovsky SpectacularSaturday, September 11, 2021
Hank Williams, Jr.Thursday, September 23, 2021

For a complete and updated list of events visit Pacific Amphitheater Events.

Live Music Venues In Orange County
Orange County Fair
OC Fair & Event Center

FivePoint AmphitheatreLive Music Venues in Orange County
Fairs & Festivals in Orange CountySummer Concert Series’ in Orange County
Orange County Fair & Event CenterThe Orange County Fair

Heidi Deal
Heidi Deal is the author of the Newcomers Handbook to Living In Los Angeles & Orange County, and a children’s book author specializing in history and human rights. When she's not writing you can find her solo hiking and going on new adventures with her kids and pup. They love music, dancing, books, nature, fossils, and animals.