L.A. County Fair tickets will be given to blood donors Sept. 21

Donating blood can lead to a free day of fun at the L.A. County Fair.

The fair and the American Red Cross have partnered to sponsor a blood drive from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Sheraton Suites Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave.

Those who give blood will receive a free ticket to the fair. The ticket will be good for admission on any weekday during the run of the fair, according to a statement from the fair.

In addition to the fair ticket, donors will receive a $10 gift card to Mimi's restaurant courtesy of the American Red Cross.

The fair will be closed on the day of the blood drive.

Blood donation appointments can be made by going to www.givelife.org and entering the sponsor name Fairplex.

Blood donation guidelines are available on the American Red Cross Web site at www.redcross.org.

Donating blood takes about an hour with the actual blood collection process taking about 10 minutes, the statement said.