GOINGS ON / SANTA BARBARA : Cymbidium Boom Bah : Fans of the orchid gather this weekend in Santa Barbara at the peak of the tropical flowering plant’s bloom season.

An orchid is an orchid is an orchid?

Don’t suggest that if you happen to be at the Earl Warren Showgrounds, where orchid lovers from around the world will gather this weekend for the 48th annual Santa Barbara International Orchid Show. Thousands of orchids, representing hundreds of different species, will be on display during the three-day event.

An orchid is not an orchid.

“The show is for all orchids, but this is the peak of the cymbidium season, so it’s primarily a cymbidium show,” said Grant Cole, who will be exhibiting his flowers with other members of the San Gabriel branch of the Cymbidium Society.

“Cymbidiums have tall, long, arching spikes. They range in color--whites, yellows, greens, browns, reds,” he said. “But they never occur in blue. There are very few orchids in blue.”

Cole said some orchids grow in cool climates, some in warm, tropical climates. Cymbidiums, he said, like the climate of the coastal areas of Southern California.

“Orchids like a lot of air circulation and they like it damp--not wet, but damp,” he said. “They don’t like to totally dry out, generally.”

Gallup and Stribling Orchids Inc., a major grower in Carpinteria, will be participating in the show, as will the Orchid Park, a grower in Oxnard, and the Ventura Orchid Society.

The show will run 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $6 (general) and $3 (senior citizens and students). Children under 12 will be admitted free if accompanied by an adult. The showgrounds are at the Los Positas Road exit off U. S. 101. For information, call 967-6331.

And don’t forget: If you’d like to beat the crowd, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art is holding a benefit gala preview of the orchid show from 5:30 to 8:30 tonight at the showgrounds. Accompanying the flora exhibition will be dancing, food and wine. Tickets are $25, with proceeds benefiting the museum. For information, call 964-2229, 688-1401 or 965-1067.

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Just when you thought that it was safe to go back in the auditorium. . . . The Marine Mammal Center of Santa Barbara will present “Shark Night” on Friday at the Museum of Natural History’s Fleischmann Auditorium.

The multimedia presentation will feature talks by shark-attack researcher Ralph Collier and underwater documentary filmmaker Eddie Paul. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m., with the program starting at 7:30 p.m. General admission is $5 at the door. The museum is at 2559 Puesta del Sol Road.

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The Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera has added two shows to its production of “Brigadoon,” now being performed at the Granada Theatre. The extra shows will be at 8 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15 to $29.50. Call (800) 549-1922. The theater is at 1216 State St.

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In celebration of Johann Sebastian Bach’s 308th birthday Sunday, Valencia-based Cantori Domino will present the composer’s work, “The Passion According to Saint John.” The presentation, at the Old Mission in Santa Barbara, will feature choir, orchestra and soloists. It will begin at 4:30 p.m. A donation of $5 is requested. The mission is at 2201 Upper Laguna St.

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Don’t cry for me, Santa Barbara.

The Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera has announced its 1993-94 season of Broadway musical revivals at the company’s new location, the Granada Theatre.

“Oklahoma!” (Oct.1-24) will celebrate the 50th anniversary of this first Rodgers & Hammerstein collaboration--the show that started it all.

“Peter Pan” (Nov. 23-Dec. 19) will take advantage of the Granada’s expanded stage and fly space for (what else?) flying.

“No, No, Nanette!” (Feb. 16-March 13) will mark the Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera return of director-choreographer Jon Engstrom (“42nd Street,” “Singin’ in the Rain”).

“Evita” (April 27-May 22) will be a return engagement for one of the Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera’s most popular shows, reprising its 1987 staging using sets from the Hal Prince original.

Season subscription tickets, ranging from $82.50 to $95 per person, will go on sale beginning April 5. For further information, call 966-2324.