COSTA MESA The OC Fair & Event Center will close the weekend of March 25-26, canceling several events, over concerns about a planned pro-President Donald Trump rally and counter protest near the property, fair officials said Thursday.

The Make America Great Again Nationwide March is scheduled for noon to 3 p.m. March 25 near Fair Drive and Fairview Road, according to a Southern California MAGA March Facebook page.

“We are marching for our President, Vice President, Military, and First Responders,” the MAGA March Facebook page states. “We are the silent majority and we are ready for a real change.”

Event Center officials said they had safety concerns about the march, especially in the wake of an pro-Trump campaign rally at the Pacific Amphitheatre in April that turned violent after Trump supporters and anti-Trump protestors scuffled outside following the event.

“Safety is our utmost concern,” said OC Fair CEO Kathy Kramer. “We will work with promoters and organizers to make every effort to reschedule the canceled events. Orange County Market Place will resume its schedule the following week.”

Events canceled include the Orange County Wine Society’s Wine Extraordinaire, Crossroads of the West Gun Show and the weekly Orange County Market Place. The Heroes Hall veterans museum, Centennial Farm and the equestrian center will be closed and the farm’s food preservation class is also canceled.

Rally organizers declined to comment Friday.

At the April 28 rally, several heated confrontations between pro-Trump groups and protesters ensued as the rally let out, and 17 people were arrested. Demonstrators blocked traffic and damaged several police cars, jumping on top of them and smashing windows.

In July, the Costa Mesa Police Department received a $15,655 payment from the Trump campaign to cover the costs for police services at the event.

The city spent another $47,000, but didn’t bill the campaign for outside police agencies and several damaged police cars since the chaos occurred after the rally.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department sought a nearly $130,000 payment from the Fair & Event Center for its services related to the April rally.

The department submitted an invoice to the fairgrounds in June. In October, the ageny decided to not pursue the payment.

The Event Center has repeatedly sought payment from the Trump administration, but has not received a response, officials said.

Information on rescheduled events is available at ocfair.com.

Contact the writer: 714-796-2478 or lcasiano@scng.com