Summer comes in full swing this weekend as Redwood County plans its annual four-day county fair, featuring the midway carnival, demolition derby, tractor pull, strongman competition and various other events. In Walnut Grove, the Wilder Pageant puts on its second show and fair of the summer, this time with cast members from the series coming by to see the town where their nine-season show was set.

According to the Redwood County Fair website, the fair will be opening its doors at 5 p.m. Merriam’s Midway Carnival Attractions, featuring everything from small roller coasters to “The Zipper” a towering metal structure that wildly shakes around anyone brave enough to get on. Carnival attractions will be open at various times from the beginning of the fair to the end. On Friday, the carnival will have $1 rides from 1-6 p.m.

At 8 p.m. each night, the county fair will host a live concert that will be free to attend with a fair gate pass. The live event will feature a main artist and special guest. On Thursday, Minneapolis-based band Ragtown will play, with special guests T&A Show. On Saturday, Korey Kent will come out with special guest Adam Calvert. On Saturday, Redwood County will have what they call a “Nashville takeover,” featuring Bigg Vinny, Danielle Peck, Love and Theft and Saving Abel’s Jared Weeks. Opening that Saturday will be a special guest the Shallow Lee Band.

Besides live music and carnival rides, the county fair will feature various other events and attractions, including food trucks, first responders coming to show off equipment and K9 unit dogs, bull riding, a demolition derby, speedway racing and various other events. The 4-H program will also have farmers showing off their stock with a ribbon awards ceremony Sunday at 9 a.m.

Walnut Grove will host its second round of performances for the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pageant and village fair this weekend. This year, the pageant titled “Chasing the Dream” covers the Ingalls family as they plan their trip to Burr Oak, all while trying to make it through the hardships of blizzards, fires and sickness. The Wilder Pageant will have its second round of live performances on Friday and Saturday. The gates open at 7 p.m., and the performance begins at 9 p.m.

In conjunction with the Wilder Pageant, Walnut Grove will host its village fair on Saturday. But this week comes with some new additions for fans of Laura Ingalls Wilder. According to the Walnut Grove Village Fair Facebook page, actresses Sidney Robyn Greenbush, Michelle and Jennifer Steffin, who were in the original “Little House on the Prairie” show, will be coming to the Village fair at 12:30 p.m. to discuss their experiences working on the show and answer any questions guests may have.

Other guests include Charlotte Randall-Yerke, the script supervisor for “Little House on the Prairie,”two historians — Laura Ingalls Gunn, a fashion historian and relative of Laura Ingalls Wilder, and Michelle Underwood, who has authored many books about the life of Laura Ingalls will be there with the actresses.

Schedule

Redwood County Fair:

Thursday

5 p.m. Ralph Kolp Exhibit Hall and Midway Opens

6 p.m. 1st Responders and K9 Demonstration

7 p.m. Ragtown with special guests The T&A Show

Friday

8:30 a.m. Daycare Day Check-in

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Central-Bi Free Gate

Noon Music under Welu Shelter

1-5 p.m. Midway with $1 rides

6 p.m. Great Frontier Bull Riding

8 p.m. Corey Kent with special guest Adam Calvert

Saturday

9 a.m. 4-H Ribbon Auction

10 a.m. Baking contest

Noon Century Farms Program

1 p.m. Paw Patrol meet and greet and midway opens

2-3 p.m. Marv Nissel Band

5 p.m. Demolition Derby

8 p.m. Nashville Takeover with special guest: Shalo Lee

Sunday

10:30 a.m. Ecumenical Church Service at Northwoods Church

1 p.m. Midway opens

1:30 p.m. Kids pedal pull

2-5 p.m. The Wendinger Polka Band

5:30 p.m. Redwood Speedway Races

6 p.m. Midway closes

Walnut Grove Village Fair and Wilder Pageant

Friday

7 p.m. Wilder Pageant Gates open

8 p.m. Pageant singers

9 p.m. Pageant performance

Saturday

11 a.m. Fair starts

12:30 p.m. Q&A with Little House on the Prairie cast, crew, and Laura Ingalls Wilder relatives

5 p.m. Fair closes

7 p.m. Wilder Pageant gates open

8 p.m. Pageant singers

9 p.m. Pageant performance