10 am: Tour

Visit South L.A.’s and West Adams’ onetime synagogues and other Jewish sites during a historic bus tour co-sponsored by the University of Judaism and the Jewish Historical Society of Southern California. Participants will visit several former synagogue buildings--most with Stars of David still visible in the masonry--that are now churches. Two historic temples in Venice--Mishkan Tefilo and the Pacific Jewish Center--will also be included on the route.

* University of Judaism/Jewish Historical Society of Southern California Bus Tour, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tour leaves from University of Judaism, 15600 Mulholland Drive, Bel-Air. $30. (818) 994-0213 to register.

4 pm: Music

Long Beach Opera has turned over “The Indian Queen,” the 1695 Purcell/Dryden opera, to performance artist Guillermo Gomez-Pen~a for rethinking. In its second production this season, LBO takes on Old World notions of New World identity and mixes Restoration drama with lowriders, Carmen Miranda look-alikes and Valley girl accents.

* “The Indian Queen,” Carpenter Performing Arts Center at Cal State Long Beach, 6200 Atherton St. Also June 20 at 8 p.m. $30-$70. (562) 985-7000.

10 am: Nature

The Madagascar hissing cockroach, the giant walking stick and African millipede--they’ll all be there. In fact, everything “buggy,” from beetle jewelry to chocolate-covered insect treats, can be found at the Insect Fair at the Natural History Museum in Exposition Park this weekend. There will also be lectures on how to control garden and household pests, prepare an insect collection and more. Outside the museum, festivities include a butterfly house filled with species native to Southern California, face-painting for kids and live critters from “Creative Features Traveling Insect Zoo.”

* 12th annual Insect Fair, Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., Exposition Park. Fair included with museum admission: Adults, $8; seniors, students, $5.50; children (5-12), $2. (213) 763-3558.

2 pm: Poetry

The Junior Arts Center’s “Sunday Open Sunday” program presents a poetry workshop for families. Poet Sister Shiree Sarana will use the theme of gospel music to show how words can be structured in various forms to express ideas and feelings.

* Poetry Workshop, 2-4 p.m. Farmers Market Art Gallery, second Floor, 3rd Street and Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles. Free. (213) 933-9211.

11 am: Sports

Professional athletes will demonstrate gravity-defying in-line skating, bicycle riding and skateboarding stunts during this weekend’s “ESPN X Games Xperience” on the parking lot of the Santa Monica Pier. “Everyday” athletes can also join the fun on a 20-foot rock-climbing wall and a bungee jump simulator. Those who bring their own blades, bikes or boards can show off on a street course filled with boxes and launch ramps.

* “ESPN X Games Xperience,” Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. 1550 Santa Monica Pier. Free. (800) 489-9444.

Noon: Photography

A selection of scenic works, photographs, props and photo albums demonstrates the cultural significance behind backdrops used in portrait photography in “From the Background to the Foreground: The Photo Backdrop and Cultural Expression,” opening this weekend at the California Museum of Photography at UC Riverside.

* “From the Background to the Foreground: The Photo Backdrop and Cultural Expression,” UCR/California Museum of Photography, 3824 Main St., Riverside. Saturday-Aug. 16. Museum hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Admission: Adults, $2; seniors and students, $1; children 12 and under, free. (909) 784-FOTO.

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Freebie: Calabasas Summer “Pops” Concert, Calabasas Tennis & Swim Center, 6 p.m. (818) 222-2782.