by tony reverditto –
For the first time ever, Orange County Fair is hosting “Out at the Fair” (OATF ) at this year’s festivities on Sunday, July 28.
What started as a Facebook post gathering a group of friends at the San Diego County Fair has turned into a summer highlight at multiple fairs across the state with new Fair sites added each year throughout California and beyond. OATF’s current festival locations include: San Diego County Fair, Alameda County Fair, Marin County Fair, California State Fair, Orange County Fair, Santa Clara County Fair, Sonoma County Fair and out-of-state’s New Mexico State Fair.
The Rage Monthly caught up with Will Zakrajshek, Out at the Fair’s founder, to learn a little about his and the event’s background.
Before moving to San Diego, Zakrajshek went to college for horticulture and after a car accident, decided to pursue his dreams of living out in California. Soon after moving to SoCal, he met DJ Nikno who after showing him the ropes, quickly learned he had an ear for hip hop/Top 40 music and asked Will to open for him as a DJ. Success followed fast and his DJ career has brought him to Minneapolis Pride, San Jose, Long Beach, and stints sharing his music on Spanish and American radio.
When asked how he got from DJ to successfully implementing the “Out at the Fair” concept, he reflected and shared, “Out at the Fair was created by accident while trying to get the community to come out to the [S.D. County] Fair in 2011. With a group of friends, including Daniel Castaneda, my partner Caleb Wilkins and I checked into Facebook calling it an ‘Unofficial Gay Day.’ Much to our surprise there were check-ins beyond our own.”
“Then in 2012, I got a Facebook message from a random person asking if we were planning on doing the ‘Gay Day’ again at the Fair. At the time in May 2012, we were not planning on another event but decided to make a Facebook event and go. As soon as that Facebook event was made, our life changed because the San Diego County Fair found it and reached out to welcome us. This was also our first year featuring a group photo at the main gate, with all 15 of us attending.”
Staging Out at the Fair is a monumental accomplishment and Zakrajshek went on to explain how it was implemented. “Out at the Fair was able to gain momentum by winning awards from the Western Fair Association in 2014, for ‘Best New Community Outreach Program.’ In 2016 we won first place for ‘Outstanding Mobile Campaign’ for our OATF app and in 2018 WZ Productions, LLC was the first LGBTQ+ owned business to win the ‘Barham Award,’ the highest business award, which recognizes innovation, quality and leadership in the Fair Industry,” he shared.
“None of this would be possible if we didn’t attend the Western Fair Association (WFA) conferences, building relationships and always put ‘family-friendly first’ when it comes to Out at the Fair content and branding.”
2019 brings OATF to the O.C. Fair for the first time. Zakrajshek talked about what special events and activities will take place that day. “OATF will be in ‘Club O.C.’ near the Green Gate Entrance. Being our first official time at the O.C. Fair, we will be inviting community partners; Laguna Beach Pride, O.C. Pride, The LGBTQ Center Long Beach and The LGBT Center O.C. and Santa Ana (CO4) to showcase their non-profits inside ‘Club O.C.,’” he shared.
“The official Out at the Fair step and repeat will be coming to the Orange County Fair with Dabby the Unicorn and they can pick up some OATF merchandise to show support. There will be family-friendly entertainment under the tent, giveaways, special guest speakers and our communities place to rest their feet, grab something to eat/drink and cool off in the shade.”
As to the best reasons for attending this landmark O.C. event, Zakrajshek shared, “The Orange County Fair raised a rainbow flag this year at the administration building, showing everyone that we are welcome to attend the Fair. The flag will be flying not just during Pride Month, but year around! There is a fair in everyone’s backyard and it should be celebrated by everyone,”he said. “By showing up and showing their support and with the help of the LGBTQ community, we will grow OATF into a large production like the San Diego County Fair!”
Out at the Fair takes place Sunday, July 28 at the Orange County Fairgrounds. For tickets and more information, download the free OATF app or go to outatthefair.com.