EVENTS : FOODSTOCK : 3 Days of Music--and Pizza and Sushi and Tacos and Cheesecake . . .

Food has long been king at the Taste of Orange County.

Not this year.

That’s because they’ve got the man who would be king, in most any lineup. Blues legend B. B. King headlines Friday’s kickoff of the three-day festival at the Irvine Spectrum.

And even the Taste’s own Kristin Brief believes the best thing about this year’s event is “the extensive music lineup at the economical price. For $6, you can see 10 to 20 bands in one day. There are about 50 throughout the weekend.” That said, however, the culinary minded need not worry. There will still be plenty of stuff to eat, tailored to strolling and sampling.

“Portions are appetizer size, and most people do three to five dishes,” Brief said. “Lots of people share with their companion--it’s always good to share, so you can try everything. Stay for some music, and you’ll get the munchies again!”

(Brief didn’t say what her position was, but the phone receptionist said, “She is the Taste of Orange County.” Brief demurred: “There is a little bit of Taste of Orange County in all of us. And there are six of us here.”)

Roughly 50 musical acts on four outdoor stages include Booker T. and the MGs and a Sunday brunch concert with the Saddleback Symphony Orchestra. Throughout the festival, 35 local restaurants will offer more than 100 food items, ranging in cost from one to five tickets ($1 to $5) each.

Beyond food and music, though, there’s plenty more to see and do. An annual highlight is the fireworks display; it’s on Sunday beginning at 9:30 p.m. New this year is the Improv’s Comedy Showcase, with performances by funny people, including Anthony Griffin, Todd Glass, Gerry Swallow, Sean Morey, Rick Rockwell, Lynn Shore and Jim Hope. New for kids 6 and under is the Discovery Toys Pavilion.

Radio AAHS Kids’ Stage entertainment on Kids’ Street includes singers Janet & Judy, “Jest in Time” Clown Theater and “Curtain Time Kids,” as well as gymnastics and trampoline exhibitions by students of the Orange County Acro Center.

Kids’ interactive activities include riding pedal cars and getting a driver’s license, complete with photo. The Bowers’ Kidseum will be there with ethnic musical instruments from around the world. The party jump room is one ticket, but everything else on Kids’ Street is free.

The festival benefits Times Fund children’s charities.

The focus at the Times Fund Pavilion is arts and crafts. At The Times Orange County booth on Saturday and Sunday, you can play one-on-one or shoot the hoops with members of the Los Angeles Clippers; you can have your picture taken with them if you bring your own camera.

But back to food: In the Chefs Pavilion will be hourly cooking demonstrations by such culinary notables as John McLaughlin of J.W.’s in Anaheim and Tim Goodell of Aubergine in Newport Beach. Aubergine is one of 11 restaurants new to the festival this year.

“Aubergine is actually closing down for the weekend in order to direct all their efforts toward the event and really come out strong,” Brief said. “Of course,” she added with a chuckle, “a lot of our restaurants say they’re empty on Taste weekend anyway.”

* ROCK AND STROLL: A map of the festival site, plus entertainment schedules and a list of restaurants and dishes, is on Page 9.