Orange County Fair

The Orange County Fairgrounds was placed on the auction block Thursday in an attempt to cut into the state deficit. The state Department of General Services issued a request for proposals for the 150-acre property in Costa Mesa, giving bidders until Jan. 8 to make offers. Earlier this year, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed liquidating state properties -- including the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, San Quentin State Prison and three state-owned fairgrounds -- to raise cash to help balance the state budget.

Warned repeatedly by the state to alter its practice of handing out free tickets to some of the summer's hottest concerts, the Orange County Fair Board on Thursday adopted a more conservative policy that will limit each board member to 10 complimentary tickets for each of the concerts at the Pacific Amphitheatre.

He's the Shaquille O'Neal of horses. No . . . bigger. Weighing 3,030 pounds and standing 19.5 hands high (6 feet 6 at the withers), Hercules the Giant Horse is the Yao Ming of the county fair circuit. But he doesn't dunk or rebound; Hercules patiently stands in a makeshift barn that's barely big enough to contain him. He blinks his massive eyelids as he calmly receives a steady stream of visitors. Parents pry their children off the railing, teenagers gawk and everyone pulls out a camera.

Orange County transit officials and the union representing bus drivers broke from a marathon 25-hour negotiating session late Tuesday with no agreement to end a strike that has crippled bus service in Orange County since Saturday. The talks began at 1 p.m. Monday and continued through the night and into Tuesday afternoon. Talks are to resume today.

The 2007 Orange County Fair opens Friday with an offer of free admission for those who arrive early (before 1 p.m.) and a fireworks display for those who stay late. With the theme of "Cowabunga! The Year of Herefords, Surfers and Sand," the fair will have all the usual carnival rides, games, food, cultural exhibits, local entertainment acts and agricultural competitions.

The 2007 Orange County Fair kicks off its three weeks today with free parking and free admission for the first hour, and the fair's first-ever opening-day fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. This year's theme honors two things close to the heritage of Southern California: cows and sand. "Every year we try to pick a theme that salutes our past as well as something about our current culture," fair spokesman Steve Beazley said of the theme, "Cowabunga: The Year of Herefords, Surfers & Sand."

Hours: 10 a.m. to midnight Location: 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa More information: www.ocfair.com or (714) 708-3247 11 a.m.: Gems of Polynesia 1 p.m.: Boys & Berries square dancing 2 p.m.: Assn. of Surfing Professionals of North America autographing session (until 3 p.m.) 2 p.m.: Pressed-flower projects by Kate Chur (material fee required) 3:30 p.m. : Chili contest 4 p.m.: "What to Do With Herbs" by Kathleen Jones of the Orange County Herb Society 6 p.m.: All-American Boys Chorus 7 p.m.

Hours: Noon-midnight Location: 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa Children 12 and under are admitted free of charge. $20 unlimited-ride wristband is sold until 5 p.m. Ride until 8 p.m. Information: www.ocfair.com or (714) 708-3247 Noon: Orange County Polymer Clay Guild 1 p.m.: Echoes sign language to music 2 p.m.: Cookie Party to Go -- Chef Allyson Ames of Wonderland Bakery 3 p.m: Juggler Greg Bennick 4 p.m.: Dusty Toes belly dancers 5 p.m.: Anthony Skillman Show 6 p.m.: Westminster Performing Arts 7 p.

Hours: Noon to midnight. Location: 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa. $1 Ride tickets sold until 5 p.m. Ride until 8 p.m. $4 Admission for Seniors (60+). Free Ferris wheel and merry-go-round rides. More information: www.ocfair.com or (714) 708-3247 Noon: California China Painters Art Assn. 1 p.m.: Floral and agricultural demonstrations. 2 p.m.: Drapers & Damons fashion show. 3 p.m.: California Native Plant Society. 4 p.m.: California Elite Exhibition. 5 p.m.: Family fun: games and activities. 6:30 p.m.

Hours: Noon to midnight Location: 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa $1 rides sold until 5 p.m. Ride until 8 p.m. Information: www.ocfair.com or (714) 708-3247 - All day: Giant sandbox 1 p.m.: Orange County Music Academy 2 p.m.: Tea Time with Tea and Teacups 3 p.m.: Dawn Marie's School of Dance 4 p.m.: Sprinkler systems by the Mesa Consolidated Water District 4:30 p.m.: Orange County Scroll Saw Assn. 6 p.m.: Art demonstration 7 p.m.: Blue October/Plain White T's concert (extra fee is required) 8 p.m.