The Orange County Fair is almost as old as Orange County itself, starting with its humble beginnings with agrarian roots 125 years ago.

Now the Orange County Fair is one of the top-10 largest fairs in the United States, complete with everything from spin-around rides that push the envelope of physics to exciting competitions for prepared food and drinks. John Wayne Airport (JWA), Orange County unveiled July 15 its newest art exhibit, Fair Play, presented by the Orange County Fair & Event Center, to celebrate the evolution of the Fair from its small-town roots with events like horse racing to its city-like size today that attracts world-renowned artists like The B-52s. The exhibit, filled with colorful ribbons and vintage pictures, is on display at JWA in the Vi Smith Concourse Gallery, located on the upper level. Ticketed passengers can view the show now through Dec. 2.

Curated and designed by artists Stephen Anderson and Bolton Colburn, Fair Play celebrates in more than 30 cases the Fair’s history, segmented into themes like food and games, as well as rides and competitions, in a series of pictures and written narratives.

The curators spent months researching through archives and online resources to come up with the exhibit. They dove into resources such as digital photos and scrap binders to bring out the history of the OC Fair.

“We wanted the photos to tell the narrative,” said Anderson, who has a graphic design background. “We wanted to keep the exhibit fresh and fun. It’s a visual history of the OC Fair in chapters.”

He added the OC Fair is about bringing together the community and having fun, sharing things everyone is making and putting them on display for everyone to see.

“Fairs are about connection and memory,” said Kathy Kramer, CEO of the OC Fair & Event Center, indicating the exhibit gives viewers a glimpse of the Fair’s ability to connect people together and help make everlasting memories. “The OC Fair unites the community.”

As a result, the exhibit reflects the theme of unity, with pictures of visitors gathering and having fun. In one, a child smiles while holding a bird. In another, a group of children stand up during a competition.

“The OC Fair is a place for family tradition,” said Michele Richards, vice president of business development at the OC Fair & Event Center. “The community comes together.”