‘Night in Fullerton’ Promises a Spirited Time : The arts: Even without the nude portrait of John Lennon, 25,000 people are expected to sample the music, drama and more.

Controversy over the Muckenthaler Cultural Center’s decision to remove a nude portrait of John Lennon from an exhibit may have stolen the headlines, but organizers say it hasn’t dampened the spirit of “A Night in Fullerton,” the city’s annual salute to the arts taking place tonight from 7 to 11.

Free sampler-size bites of music, dance, drama and visual arts will be offered at various locations throughout the city. Now in its 26th year, the event is expected to draw as many as 25,000 people, who will take in everything from puppet plays and flamenco dancing to Dixieland jazz and drawing demonstrations.

Buses will provide free transportation to and from all locations, departing every 15 minutes from the corner of Harbor Boulevard and Wilshire Avenue in downtown Fullerton, where volunteers will distribute detailed maps and program guides. Free transportation for the handicapped can be obtained by calling (714) 738-6545 by noon today.

With or without Lennon, the Muckenthaler’s “Heroes, Heroines, Idols and Icons” exhibit will still be held at 1201 W. Malvern Ave. The Fullerton Museum Center, 301 N. Pomona Ave., is offering “Television Off the Air and Behind the Screen,” an examination of TV’s history, technology and social impact.

The Eileen Kremen Gallery, 619 N. Harbor Blvd., is showing works in glass, clay, wood, handmade paper and neon by 14 artists, and Gallery 57, 204 N. Harbor Blvd., features an exhibit of self-portraits by gallery associates. Cal State Fullerton, 800 N. State College Blvd., is featuring exhibitions by faculty and student artists and an exhibit of narrative cast paper work by Pamela Coley.

Other sites offering art exhibits are Pacific Christian College, 2500 E. Nutwood Ave.; the Fullerton Public Library, 353 W. Commonwealth Ave.; the Hunt Branch Library, 201 S. Basque Ave., and Fullerton College, 321 E. Chapman Ave.

Flamenco music enthusiasts can wet their beaks at the Fullerton Museum Center where the seven-member guitar and dance troupe Desplante will perform at intervals throughout the evening. More flamenco will be on tap at Patrick’s Musician, 1969 Sunny Crest Drive, where guitarist Joel Kabakov will play for a bevy of dancers. Patrick’s also is featuring pianist Ann Patrick; jazz by George Ports, Steve Moshier and Bill McAuliffe; classical selections by Aimee Grodsky, Kevin McGuire and John Dorch; original piano compositions by Priscilla Monion; mezzo soprano Elizabeth Makino; country music by Mark Switzer and classical guitar by Mike Grodsky.

At 8:30 p.m., the Fullerton Public Library will present jazz by the Ron Kobayashi trio. Fullerton College is offering a song-and-dance troupe called Bravo performing selections from “Les Miserables” at 8 and 9 p.m. The college’s jazz combo will play at 8:30 and 9:30.

The First Christian Church of Fullerton, 109 E. Wilshire Ave., will offer a program of American music by the 65-member Fullerton Community Band, which will alternate throughout the evening with the Orange Empire Chorus barbershop singers.

Ballet folklorico Relampago del Cielo will perform Mexican folk dance at 9 p.m. at the Hunt Branch Library, followed at 10 by rock music from the Gathering.

Special presentations for children are also on the lineup. The Kaleidoscope Players will present “A Stone That Sings,” an interactive children’s play, at 7 p.m. at Cal State Fullerton. The Hunt Branch Library is featuring storyteller-puppeteer Janine Jacobs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Teatro de Los Puppets (Theater of the Puppets) performs at 7 and 7:45 p.m. at the Fullerton Public Library.

For information on other events, call (714) 738-6317.