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Arts & Entertainment

Knowledgeable Rabbits, Celebrity Mules and Human Bands, Oh My!

4-H Fair Opens This Weekend in Somers, Olof and Friends Show New Art in Stafford, Last of the Band Shell Season in Manchester, Free Films All Over

Time to get something solid on the soles of your boots. Kick off the local fair season this weekend, Aug. 19-21, with the 4-H Fair at the Four Town Fairgrounds in Somers.

Watch your favorite farm animals act naturally. See what's up at the rabbit knowledge competition in the Hospitality Tent. Catch Mr. K and his balloon art at 1 p.m. Saturday. Witness the celebrity mule show at 4 p.m. Saturday and the horse show at 9 a.m. Sunday.

Go on fair rides and visit the milk shake booth, just this once. Cheer for your favorite group in the Battle of the Bands competition at 6 p.m. on Friday and hear Gale County's country/classic rock on Saturday night and Bobby Carlson & The Stones River Band on the last day, Sunday, at 12:30 p.m.

Find out what's happening in Mansfield-Storrswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The fairgrounds are at 56 Egypt Road in Somers. For information, visit the 4-H Fair Web site.

Olof and Friends at the Middle Ground Cafe

Find out what's happening in Mansfield-Storrswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Stafford's indoor/outdoor artist Olof Aspelin and friends will showcase new artworks Friday, Aug. 19, at the Middle Ground Cafe on Main Street, Stafford Springs. Aspelin's work has recently been seen at Gallery 46 in Vernon, North End Artists Collective in Middletown and the Pump House Gallery in Hartford's Bushnell Park. He is also creating an art installation in rented space next door to the Middle Ground.

The art opening goes from 6 to 9 p.m. and features music from DJ Meatsock of WHUS 91.7 FM and body paint on live models. That alone should nudge you to go there, but the Middle Ground has great food and drink. And there's the art by Olof and friends.

For more information, call 860-851-8900 or visit the Middle Ground's Facebook page.

Final Notes of Season at Manchester Band Shell

You've been putting it off, even though you recall the 30-plus years of free concerts under starry summer skies at the Manchester Bicentennial Band Shell. It's the end of the season and the last week of concerts calling out to you: South Windsor Community Band on Friday, Aug. 19; Sharades (doo-wop group from New Britain) on Sunday, Aug. 21, or Heartbeat Dixieland Jazz Band on Wednesday, Aug. 24.

Concerts start at 7 p.m. at the band shell on the grounds of Manchester Community College, 60 Bidwell St., Manchester. Admission is free, but donations and volunteered help are welcome. Bring your picnic, blanket and/or lawn chairs. For information, visit the band shell Web site.

Midweek Farmers Market

Also at the band shell in Manchester, perk up your dietary week by hitting a Wednesday Farmers Market from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 24. Venders include Shayna B's Bakery, featuring gluten-free goods, Olivia's Garden, Beckett Farms, Sweet Pea Cheese, Bottomland Farms, Thompson Street Farm, LaBrioche Bakery, Mayflower Soaps, Claudia's Florals, and Naked Baking Ladies with their grilled pizza and veggie sliders.

Music and children's attractions, such as Lutz Children's Museum programs, pony rides and face painting, will be featured.

The Wednesday farmers market goes through Oct. 19. For information visit the MCC market's site.

Free Films for Young and Older

You think things are tough at work? Get a little perspective and see the ultimate backstabbing classic “All About Eve” in the free Tuesday night film series 6 p.m. Aug. 23 at Rockville Public Library. Bette Davis, as Margo Channing, is the established but aging stage actress undermined by fawning fan Eve Harrington, played by Anne Baxter. George Sanders is the critic; Celeste Holm, Margo's friend; Gary Merrill, the boyfriend; Thelma Ritter, the maid who doesn't miss a trick, and a mostly unknown Marilyn Monroe in a smaller role. This is the one film that can boast four actress nominations for Academy Awards – Davis and Baxter for best actress, Holm and Ritter for supporting.

The inflatable screen will be blown up Friday, Aug. 19, to show “Toy Story 3” in Rockville Bank Park at Evergreen Walk. Enjoy kid-friendly events starting at 6:30 p.m. The show starts at sundown, about 8:30.

In its salute to films with travel adventures, Hall Memorial Library in Ellington will show “Under the Tuscan Sun,” starring Diane Lane as a just-divorced writer, on Friday, Aug. 19, at 2 p.m. Free popcorn.

For “All About Eve” in Rockville, call 860-875-5892, ext. 21. For “Toy Story 3,” call 860-432-3398 or visit the Evergreen Walk Web site. For “Under the Tuscan Sun” in Ellington, visit the library Web site.

Puppet Show in Ellington

No strings attached. There's a free puppet show for children Thursday, Aug. 18, at Hall Memorial Library in Ellington. The show starts at 1 p.m. and finishes in under an hour. For information and tickets, call 860-870-3160.

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