You Can Have a Whale of a Time at Fiesta Today

Whale toys, whale stories, whale films, sand whales, stained-glass whales--and watermelon. It’s all part of today’s annual Whale Fiesta, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Cabrillo Marine Museum, 3720 Stephen White Drive, San Pedro. Most of the offerings and museum admission are free.

The big event of the day is the 60-foot humpback whale that will rise out of the sand on the beach in front of the museum. Everyone is welcome to help because the huge sand creation must be finished by 2 p.m.--in time for the official picture-taking. There’s watermelon for all helpers.

Back at the museum, youngsters may step up to the arts-and-crafts tables to make whale visors, whale wind socks and origami whales. For 25 cents each, there are educational, carnival-type games: feed the squid to the sperm whale, whale migration and more.

Marine-life experts will be on hand to answer questions. In the auditorium, films on sharks and the Channel Islands will be screened throughout the day.

The entries in the Great Cetacean Creation Sensation will be on exhibit and judged. These are whales done in wood, papier-mache, stained glass, brass and other media, created by children and adult artists.

There will be a how-to-draw-whales workshop at 12:30 p.m., sea chanteys from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a concert by the Black Label Story Band from 1 to 3 p.m.

Food will be available for sale or bring a family picnic and picnic in the nearby park or on the sand, within view of the 60-foot humpback, of course. Information: (213) 548-7562.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Northridge Park’s weekend-long “Salute to Recreation,” a celebration of 100 years of recreation in Los Angeles, is a non-stop, park-packing festival complete with elephant rides, petting zoo, a Hawaiian Village, ethnic dancers, martial-arts demonstrations, Jim Gamble’s Marionettes, a BMX race, chili cook-off, ugliest-boots contest, carnival rides, dunk tank, fireworks--and that’s only a partial list. A street parade (with floats, equestrian units and drill teams) begins at 10 a.m. today. The Family Pentathlon (Frisbee golf, basketball shoot, horseshoe toss, cat-throw board game and high striker) is for ages 6 and up, runs both days and costs 50 cents. The park is at 10058 Reseda Blvd., Northridge. Hours are 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Information: (818) 989-8616.

Today at noon, dentist Sylvia Mitchell will talk about proper brushing, flossing and general tooth care at a dental workshop at the Children’s Museum at La Habra. The workshop is being held in conjunction with the current exhibit, Kid’s Clinic, which attempts to allay youngsters’ fears about doctor, dentist and hospital visits by permitting them to become familiar with the procedures and equipment. The museum is at 301 S. Euclid St., La Habra. Admission is $1.50 for adults, $1 for children ages 3-16. Information: (213) 905-9793.

It’s serial heroes day, Sunday at the L.A. Comic Book and Science Fiction Convention at Shrine Hall, 700 W. 32nd St., Los Angeles. The six-hour marathon of 1940s and ‘50s serials begins at 11 a.m. and includes “Batman and Robin,” “Captain Marvel,” “The Green Hornet,” “Dick Tracy,” “The Shadow” and “The Phantom.” The dealers’ room is lined with booths featuring related comic-book memorabilia. Admission is $3. Information: (818) 954-8432.

OUTDOORS

Alhambra begins this year’s free Summer Concert series at Alhambra Park Sunday with a performance by the Monterey Park Concert Band. The program, a mix of American and Broadway classics, begins at 4 p.m. at the park band shell, 500 N. Palm Ave. Families are encouraged to bring picnic dinners and set up on the bleachers for a close-up view of the band, or on the lawn or nearby picnic tables. Information: (818) 570-3244.

Send items at least two weeks before event (Saturday and Sunday events only) to Family Spots, View section, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053. Phone calls will not be accepted. All items must include date, times, exact address, phone number and ticket prices.