Happening Wednesday

EVENTS

Kern County Fair This old-fashioned fair kicks off 12 days of shows, contests, carnival rides, auctions and children’s activities. The petting zoo is back by popular demand, and new attractions include a blacksmith show, Wool Riders, Eurobobbies and the Kinect/Xbox Mobile Tour. Through Oct. 2. Kern County Fairgrounds, 1142 S. P St., Bakersfield. 3-10 p.m. $8. (661) 833-4900; https://www.kerncountyfair.com.

BOOKS

Calvin Trillin with Kevin Nealon Not many writers have as much range of tone as Trillin. His New Yorker pieces have run the gamut from food criticism to political satire to sorrowful, bittersweet yearnings for his late wife, Alice. His writings have been collected in a new book, “Quite Enough of Calvin Trillin: Forty Years of Funny Stuff,” which the author will discuss with fellow humorist Kevin Nealon, who recently wrote, “Yes, You’re Pregnant, but What About Me?” Writers Guild Theater, 135 S. Doheny Drive, Beverly Hills. 7:30 p.m. $20. reservations@writersblocpresents.com.

Eric Schmitt The veteran Pentagon correspondent for the New York Times discusses his groundbreaking book “Counterstrike: The Untold Story of America’s Secret Campaign Against Al Qaeda.” Schmitt and co-author Thom Shanker have unearthed stories revealing how a group of analysts within the military, at spy agencies and in law enforcement have fashioned an innovative and effective new strategy to fight terrorism. Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 7 p.m. Free. (310) 443-7000. Hammer.ucla.edu.

MUSIC

Watkins Family Largo’s first family of folk returns to the Coronet stage, as Sean and Sara Watkins are joined by guests Jackson Browne and Joe Purdy. Largo at the Coronet, 366 N. La Cienega Blvd., L.A. 9 p.m. $25. (310) 855-0350. largo-la.com.