North Stonington Fair begins

The summer/fall agricultural fair season draweth nigh - and there are those of us who cannot get enough. If Ray Bradbury's Cooger & Dark's Pandemonium Shadow Show pulled into the region, I'd show up, even though my soul would be in peril.

No such worries at the North Stonington Agricultural Fair taking place today through Sunday. It's a beautiful thing with tractor and animal pulls, food and crafts competitions, the Fair Queen pageant, carnival rides and food - and the return of the immensely popular hay bale toss.

There's a nice lineup of live music, as Warner Brothers recording artist Frankie Ballard, with pending tour openings for Taylor Swift and Bob Seger, headlines Friday. Riley Evans performs Thursday, Branded and Ken Atkins split stage duties on Saturday, and the Rivergods, the Dirt Road Band and Old Time Fiddlers play Sunday.

- RICK KOSTER

North Stonington Agricultural Fair, Faigrounds, Wyassup Road, North Stonington; 5 p.m.-midnight tonight and Fri., 8:30 a.m.-midnight Sat., and 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Sun.; $8 (free kids under 12; seniors $5 on Saturday only); (860) 535-3956, northstoningtonfair.org.