photo by: Journal-World File

A young girl cools off in the South Park wading pool in Lawrence.

FRIDAY

• The Vinland Fair, held every summer for more than a century, kicked off Thursday and continues through Saturday. Friday’s events include races, children’s activities, an antique tractor pull, live music and homemade food, including a chicken noodle dinner (Friday only). See vinlandfair.com for details and directions, or GPS your way to 1736 North 700 Road.

• Want to learn how to make bierocks? You’re in luck. Volunteers are invited to the St. John’s church basement, 1234 Kentucky St., at 5 p.m., to help chop the cabbage for the meat filling. On Saturday and Sunday, starting at 9 a.m., cooks will start making the dough and baking the bierocks. The tasty results will be sold at the St. John’s Oktoberfest in September.

• Clinton Marina will host Float Local Friday: “Dawg Days of Summer,” 5:30-9 p.m. The event will feature food and cold beverages available for purchase, live music and an inflatable obstacle course for the children. The Lawrence Humane Society will be accepting donations of soft dog treats or dry dog or cat food. The marina is at 1329 East 800 Road.

SATURDAY

• The final day of the Vinland Fair, 1736 North 700 Road, includes the livestock judging, pet parade, turtle race, pedal tractor and lawn tractor pulls, live music and the annual ice cream contest. See vinlandfair.com for a detailed schedule.

• As of this writing, tickets are still available for the “Downtown Through the Decades” walking tour presented by the Watkins Museum of History. Join tour leader and history teacher Andrew Morris at 8 a.m. for this one-hour tour focusing on the evolution of architecture in Lawrence’s downtown. Pre-registration required; see watkinsmuseum.org for prices and other information.

• Presented by the City of Lawrence, the Parks and Recreation Department and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the Back to School Safety Fair, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at South Park, will feature activities, bicycle safety games, information booths, a school-supplies drive and more. See lawrenceks.org/safety-fair or social media for more details.

• The grassy lot just south of the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St., will be the site of a concert by the 312th Army Band. Bring your lunch and a lawn chair and enjoy the free performance beginning at 12:30 p.m.

• Runners, nature-lovers and photographers will enjoy author-artist Steve Pierce’s presentation of selected readings from his new book, “Running Douglas County,” at 5 p.m. at S&S Artisan Pub & Coffeehouse.

• The Sunrise Project will host Field Day Festival, 6-8 p.m., at Dad Perry Park West Shelter, 200 Monterey Way. This free all-ages event will offer grilled food and side dishes, cold drinks and plenty of games.

• Conor Hennessey, from Salem, Massachusetts, is the featured artist in the Songwriters Series at the Vintage Church Auditorium, 1501 New Hampshire St. The concert starts at 7 p.m. See eventbrite.com or social media for ticket prices and other information.

SUNDAY

• The Restoring Our Landscapes Community Group meets 11 a.m.-noon in Meeting Room A at the Lawrence Public Library, 707 Vermont St. Daniel Lassman will lead the community-based discussion on restoration ecology, native plants and ecosystem resources. Open to the public.

• The monthly Open Mic at the Sunrise Project will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Live music, poetry readings, storytelling, comedy and other performing arts are welcome, 1501 Learnard Ave., Suite E.

• Bring your lawn chairs or blankets to relax on Campanile Hill on the KU campus, 5-6 p.m., for a free concert by university carillonist Elizabeth Berghout.

MONDAY

• The City of Lawrence and the Parks and Recreation Department invite the public to the 75th Year Celebration of South Park’s wading pool from 1 to 3 p.m. The pool, opened in 1948 and renovated in 2001, has closed for the summer season, but will be open again for this event. Children 6 and under are welcome if accompanied by an adult. Free ice cream will be served.