A worker helps assemble the Fun Factory at the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Workers push a giant lemon in to place in front of the Le Grande Wheel XL, the tallest transportable observation wheel in the Western Hemisphere, at the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Lee Maloney stocks prizes in a game booth as workers prepare for the opening of the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Levi Villa holds on to a G as he waits for a welder to repair the Galaxy Rollercoaster sign at the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Violet, a 2-year old yorkshire mix pig, is expected to give birth on July 25 – during the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Edgar Silva washes signs from Bacon-A-Fair as he gets ready for the opening of the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California, on Tuesday, July 11, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Oscar Vasquez makes sure spikes are deep enough to hold a tent in the kids area of the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California, on Tuesday, July 11, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

George Casasola works to clean the marry-go-round at the before the opening of the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California, on Tuesday, July 11, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Judges attach results to artwork at an exhibit hall at the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Heroes Hall at the Orange County Fairground in Costa Mesa, California, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. Current exhibits include ‘The Things They Carried,’ which offers a glimpse of the veterans personal war experience through the objects carried into combat. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Jose Guillen attaches red, white and blue lights to the outside of Heroes Hall at the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. This veterans museum is the only one in Orange County. It is located on the fairgrounds and will be open throughout the fair. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A baby goat awaits the crowds of people expected to visit the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California, on Tuesday, July 11, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Rick Keeler mounts tikis at the Fremont Products booth as he prepares for the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California, on Tuesday, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

John Dailey, of SkyRiver Butterflies, checks on his insects as he prepares for the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. Dailey, grabbing a Blue Morpho butterfly from Costa Rica, said his collection is the first traveling exotic butterfly exhibit on the West Coast. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

John Dailey, of SkyRiver Butterflies, checks on his insects as he prepares for the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. Dailey, grabbing a Blue Morpho butterfly from Costa Rica, said his collection is the first traveling exotic butterfly exhibit on the West Coast. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Workers help guide the final piece of the Wild River ride in to place at the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Enrique Luna, left, and Roberto Olloa guide the final piece of the Wild River ride in to place at the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Workers clean the Le Grande Wheel XL, the tallest transportable observation wheel in the Western Hemisphere, sits at the eastern edge of the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. The ride is 164 feet tall. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Heroes Hall at the Orange County Fairground in Costa Mesa, California, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. Current exhibits is ‘The Things They Carried,’ which includes this flag that flew for three months in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Le Grande Wheel XL, the tallest transportable observation wheel in the Western Hemisphere, sits at the eastern edge of the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. The ride is 164 feet tall. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Workers clean the Crazy Coaster as they prepare for the opening of the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A portion of the Galaxy Rollercoaster sign hangs near the ride at the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A worker assembles the Galaxy Rollercoaster at the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Levi Villa holds on to a G as he waits for a welder to repair the Galaxy Rollercoaster sign at the Orange County Fair in Costa Mesa, California, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

There’s no shortage of fun activities at the OC Fair.

Guests can indulge in a variety of experiences over the course of the 23-day event. It’s deciding how to prioritize them that can be difficult.

And as additions are made each year, the list of must-see attractions grows even longer.

So here’s a list compiled by the Register of some great things to do on Day 1, Friday, July 14.

Free for all – Who doesn’t like free? Guests arriving during the first three hours of opening day — noon to 3 p.m. — will get free admission and parking.

In past years, lines have been notoriously long during the promotion. So get there early.

La Grande Wheel XL – The over-sized Ferris wheel equipped with 500,000 LED lights and 36 air-conditioned cabins is making its OC Fair debut.

At 130 feet tall and 616,000 pounds, it’s one of the largest traveling observation wheels in the Western Hemisphere — and a great way to beat the heat for a while.

It takes about three and a half minutes for the wheel to make a full circle.

ll at the Orange County Fairground in Costa Mesa, California, Tuesday, July 11, 2017. Current exhibits include ‘The Things They Carried,’ which offers a glimpse of the veterans personal war experience through the objects carried into combat. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Heroes Hall – This veterans museum — the only one of its kind in Orange County — opened in February on the fairgrounds.

Check out the exhibit, “The Things They Carried,” which offers a glimpse of veterans’ personal war experiences through the objects they took into combat.

Another exhibit tells the history of the Santa Ana Army Air Base, the land on which the fairgrounds sits.

A Humvee will be stationed outside the building, and postcards will be available for guests to write to veterans and troops.

Exhibitions – Follow the crowds to the various exhibition halls on opening day. That’s when the locals find out if they won the prized blue ribbon for their decorated cakes, fruit preserves, photography or paintings.

Share the joy with the winners and then browse through the halls to enjoy their handiworks.

For exhibit locations, go here: ocfair.com.

Food sculptures – If your idea of a good time is watching a giant watermelon being carved into a bouquet, then head over to the O.C. Promenade where Chef Ray Duey creates centerpieces out of fruits and vegetables.

Duey will show off his creations from noon-8 p.m.