Plaza de la Raza to Celebrate the Colorful Life of Vaqueros

Plaza de la Raza holds a weekend “Salute to the Vaquero” with a rodeo, saddle-making demonstrations and rope dancing at its home in Lincoln Park.

Vaquero is Spanish for cowboy, and this is the celebration of Southwest and Mexican cowboy history and trappings. In the gallery, an exhibit celebrates cowboy life in the Old Southwest. Outside, craftspeople will demonstrate their skills in silver, leather and glass, with items for sale.

The children’s game area will include a wheel of fortune, ring toss and other games of chance. Food booths will feature hot dogs, carne asada and soft drinks.

Non-stop entertainment is scheduled today and Sunday during festival hours, noon to 6 p.m.: Tex-Mex bands, mariachis, marimba, children’s ballet folklorico and a special traditional dance performance that incorporates rope jumping. Sunday at 3 p.m., vaqueros will compete in horseback events in a real charreada (Mexican rodeo).

All the activities will radiate from the plaza’s courtyard and museum, spilling onto the broad, flat lawn of Lincoln Park. Everything is free, except for food and games.

The plaza is at 3540 N. Mission Road, Lincoln Heights. Information: (213) 223-2475, after noon.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Can’t wait for the upcoming sequels to “Back to the Future” and “Gremlins”? Console yourself with an afternoon of previews at Sunday’s Los Angeles Comic Book and Science Book Convention, now ensconced (after a few trials elsewhere) at the Pasadena Convention Center, 300 E. Green St. Clips of the films, plus a featurette on the making of “Back to the Future,” begin at 2 p.m. At 1 p.m., there will be a featurette of Disney’s newest animated film, “The Little Mermaid,” with a few of the animators on hand to talk about their work. There will be free buttons from the films (while supply lasts). The show--plenty of old and new comics, toys, baseball cards and more--runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $3. Information: (818) 954-8432.

Joanie Bartels sings to youngsters in her big-band-singer-sort-of voice and seems to know just what children want to hear--”Mairzy Doats,” “The Witch Doctor,” a little bit of the Beatles. She’ll sing songs from several of her best-selling tapes, including her latest (“Bathtime Magic,” designed to coax even the most resistant child into the tub) at a free mini-concert today at 11 a.m. at Pages Books, 18399 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana. She’ll stay afterward for an autograph session. Information: (818) 342-6657.

Craig Taubman will play original, upbeat rock ‘n’ roll at a Sunday concert at Kids Gym, USA, 12526 Riverside Drive, North Hollywood. Taubman, the star of several Disney videos, likes to get his young audience (3 and older) into the act, so he passes out maracas and other instruments to encourage them to join in the fun. Taubman plays the guitar and is backed by a small band. The concert lasts about 40 minutes and is $5 (under 3, free). Information: (818) 985-8200, after noon.

OUTDOORS

The brush at Franklin Canyon is big and overdue for a fire (a cyclic event, rangers say). Because everyone at the park is on fire alert anyway, they’ve decided to spread the word with Sunday’s family-paced walk focusing on fire ecology. Docent Jo-Ann Caudill will talk about the chaparral plants, which can live six months without water and can survive periodic fires. Meet at 10 a.m. at the ranch house. The ranch is north of Beverly Hills. Taped information: (213) 858-3834.