African Marketplace

The African Marketplace and Cultural Faire returns for the 13th year beginning Saturday and running three weekends, through Labor Day. What began in 1986 as a backyard event at the William Grant Still Cultural Arts Center now encompasses the 10-acre site of Rancho Cienega Park. Here are some of the events in store for the more than 350,000 visitors expected:

Friday Evening

The calypso sounds of the Trinidad Steel Drum Band, the rhythmic drums of African diaspora musicians and the 1970s funk sounds of Soup’s Ready start the African Marketplace off on the right note at a gala reception at the MTA Gateway Plaza, 6 to 10 p.m. The MTA building was chosen for the kickoff because of its proximity to historic Olvera Street, the site of the founding of Los Angeles. Of the 44 settlers who made the trek from Mexico to found the pueblo in Los Angeles in September 1781, 26 were of African descent. $35 in advance; $50 at door. Food from market vendors will be served. Corner of Cesar Chavez and Vignes avenues, downtown. (323) 734-1164 or (213) 237-1540.

Saturday

The Marketplace gets into full swing Saturday. With more than 350 vendors, six stages of continuous entertainment and numerous attractions, you may need two days to see it all.

Begin at the Fine Arts Pavilion. This year’s exhibition will pay tribute to the works of sculptor and Compton resident Charles Dickson and will showcase other well-known and emerging artists.

Offerings at the Village Gourd and Beverage Oasis will range from the familiar to the exotic, with African American, Cajun, Haitian, Fijian, Native American, Creole, Middle Eastern, Ethiopian, Nigerian and Mexican foods all represented. Entertainment will be just as eclectic, with gospel, funk, jazz, blues, punta, salsa, West Indian, European and American music and dance performances.

Hundreds of arts and crafts booths will feature authentic textiles, dolls, beaded work, percussive instruments and more sold by people who have traveled from their native lands for the festival.

A pint-sized Children’s African Marketplace will offer storytelling, performances and arts and crafts activities especially for kiddies.

Sunday

If you spent too much time in the Village Gourd and Beverage Oasis on Saturday, you may want to get physical today. The Marketplace debuts a “Fit to Hit” family tennis tournament this weekend only on the courts in Rancho Cienega Park. Anyone can participate in the tournament and in free workshops Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

Are you more of a spectator? The Marketplace’s Homeland Soccer Tournament is a round-robin double-elimination event that will feature 28 teams representing 16 countries. Games will be held daily for the three weeks, with the finals to be held on Labor Day.

The Black Inventors Museum is back, showcasing African American inventors who have contributed to elements of the telephone, lawn mower, ironing board and more. The Middle Passage exhibit chronicles the movement of Africans to various continents and their influence on those cultures in the periods before and after the forced migration of the slave trade. There will also be a Health Fair with displays on traditional as well as holistic medical practices and a Technology Pavilion featuring information about the Internet, Web design and breakaway technologies. One-day events include a Seniors’ Pavilion (Saturday), Black College Faire (Aug. 29), Native American Pow-Wow and Dance Contest (Aug. 29), Spoken Word Festival (Aug. 30) and Brazilian Independence Day (Sept. 7).

The village is open daily noon to 6 p.m. through Labor Day in Rancho Cienega Park, 5001 Rodeo Road (at La Brea, half a mile south of the Interstate 10 Freeway). Admission is $3 for adults, $1.50 for seniors, free for children under 10 accompanied by an adult. Parking $3. (323) 732-1164 or (213) 237-1540.