GOINGS ON : Storytellers Teach Us About Our Lives, History : Solvang gathering will run the gamut from ghost stories to Chinese folk tales to a dog’s observations of America.

Childhood tales told around the campfire. The passing down of bits of cultural history from generations past.

What we’re talking about is the art of storytelling--an art that will be well-represented at the Arts Outreach program’s third annual Flying Leap Storytelling Festival, Friday and Saturday in and around Solvang.

“Storytelling is a way for people to find out about cultures, including their own,” said local storyteller Michael Katz, director of the festival. “It’s a way for people to find out more about themselves. You find out about human behavior. Hopefully you can learn lessons.”

Katz said storytelling, unlike most theater, calls for audience involvement. “In storytelling you’re speaking directly to the audience. Sometimes you go out into the audience. You respond to the audience,” he said. “It’s an art form that touches people.”

The festival will open Friday at 8 p.m. with ghost stories told by Katz and Johnny Moses at the Sidestreet Cafe in Los Olivos. At the same time, Nadja Forest will get the emotions rolling with what is likely to be a funny, politically conscious, improvisational storytelling session at Carey Cellars in Solvang. While you’re there you can partake in some wine tasting.

On Saturday, it’s over to Solvang’s Royal Scandinavian Inn. From 10 to 11:30 a.m. Clara Yen will share Chinese folk tales, Sandra MacLees will tell bittersweet personal anecdotes and David Novak will portray various characters in personal and traditional stories. Also from 10 to 11:30 a.m., Nina Ryne, Katz, Moses, and young storytellers will present a children’s show.

From noon to 1:30 p.m., the public will have a chance to exchange stories in the Swapping Ground at Solvang Park. From 2 to 3:30 p.m.: Oxnard native James Donlan will tell his stories of America through the eyes of a dog riding in the back of a pick-up truck; Sylviana Wood will tell bilingual stories from the barrio and Moses will share Native American legends from the Pacific Northwest.

Rounding out the day: A storytelling workshop with Novak and MacLees, also from 2 to 3:30 p.m.; Cowboy poetry with Jake Copass, bluegrass music by members of the Cache Valley Drifters, and square dancing from 4 to 6 p.m. For the double finale, you can either see the Storytelling Showcase featuring six of the storytellers or hear more dog stories from Donlan and listen to the “folky blues” music of Tom Ball and Kenny Sultan.

Tickets for the Friday night wine-tasting event are $15. An all-day pass for Saturday’s festival is $20 for adults and $10 for children. Admission to either of the final evening shows is $10 adults, $6 children. Tickets for all other individual events (except for the free Swapping Ground) are $6 adults, $4 children. The Scandinavian Inn is located at 400 Alisal Rd. For directions to other venues or to reserve tickets, call 688-9533.

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Grammy Award-winning pianist Alicia de Larrocha and guest conductor Bernard Rubenstein will lead the Santa Barbara Symphony in concert Friday and Saturday at Santa Barbara’s Arlington Theatre.

De Larrocha’s distinguished recording and performance career includes recitals around the world. Last year she appeared with the New York Philharmonic, the San Francisco Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the New York Chamber Orchestra and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra at Carnegie Hall.

Rubenstein has served as associate conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony and as music director for the Tulsa Symphony.

The program will include Falla’s “Night in the Gardens of Spain,” Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G, Berlioz’s Overture to “Beatrice and Benedict,” and Roy Harris’ Symphony No. 3. Show times are Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. Tickets range from $13 to $32 Friday and $10 to $24 Saturday. Call 963-4408. The Arlington is located at 1317 State St.

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Proceeding with its February jazz theme, the White Winds Studio in Montecito will present singer/trumpet player Nate Birkey and the Avant Gardeners, Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 (refreshments included). Call 969-5718 for reservations. The studio is located at 113 Middle Rd.

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One last bit of music news: Canada’s St. Lawrence String Quartet, winners of the 1992 Banff International String Quartet Competition, will perform Wednesday at UC Santa Barbara’s Lotte Lehmann Concert Hall. The program will include Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 1 in E-flat, Op. 12, Bartok’s String Quartet No. 3, and Schumann’s Quartet in A Major, Op. 41, No. 3. The concert will begin at 8 p.m. General admission is $16 and $12. Call 893-3535.