Best Bets: Sat 9/5

8 pm: Theater

“Rent” star Neil Patrick Harris and Emily Bergl headline as the tragic young lovers in an under-the-stars production of Shakespeare’s passionate, poetic classic, “Romeo and Juliet,” directed by Daniel Sullivan in a darker Renaissance setting than usual--rough and earthy images, a la Brueghel or Bosch.

* “Romeo and Juliet,” Old Globe Theatre’s outdoor Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, Simon Edison Centre for the Performing Arts, San Diego. Tuesdays-Sundays, 8 p.m. Ends Oct. 10. $23-$39. (619) 239-2255.

All day: Photography

In 1956, photojournalist Jacques Lowe was assigned to photograph an up-and-coming politician by the name of Robert F. Kennedy. The Kennedy family was so happy with his photos, they asked him to photograph JFK as well. Lowe subsequently became the preferred photographer of the Kennedy administration. He spent five years amassing 40,000 candid photos of Kennedy and his family. A selection of these photographs will be displayed in “Jacques Lowe: JFK Remembered,” opening Saturday at Peter Fetterman Gallery along with “O. Winston Link: Classic Images From the ‘50s,” a selection of photographs by Link including images from his famous series on steam locomotives.

* “Jacques Lowe: JFK Remembered” and “O. Winston Link: Classic Images From the ‘50s.” Peter Fetterman Gallery, 2525 Michigan Ave., A-7, Santa Monica. Ends Oct. 18. Gallery hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Admission free. (310) 453-6463.

10 am: Festival

Be among the first 100 visitors each day to the Labor Day Family Funfest at the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace in Yorba Linda and you’ll get free apple pie. The event, which continues through Monday, includes music from country to Cajun, sand sculpting, face painting, a petting zoo and dog Frisbee exhibitions.

* Labor Day Family Funfest, Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace, 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda. Saturday, Sunday, Monday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free with regular admission: $5.95; children 8-11, $2; seniors, $3.95; active military, $4.95. ($1 extra for petting zoo, face painting.) (714) 993-5075.

10 am: Racing

The streets around Exposition Park will be closed this weekend to make room for the three-day Ford L.A. Street Race. Drivers who will hit the 1.4-mile, six-turn, NASCAR-sanctioned course will include M.K. Kanke, Willie T. Ribbs, Ken Schrader, Chad Little, Ron Hornaday and Mark Martin. And there’s plenty to do between races, with a motoring and lifestyle expo at the Sports Arena and the nearby California Science Center, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the California African-American Museum.

*Ford L.A. Street Race, Exposition Park. Practice and qualifying rounds begin at 10 a.m. and racing at 3 p.m. Saturday. Sunday practice and qualifying rounds begin at 9 a.m., with racing at 4 p.m. Monday practice and qualifying rounds begin at 8 a.m., with racing at noon. Tickets: $5-$17 Saturday, $5-$20 Sunday; $10-$30 Monday. Two- and three-day passes also available. (310) 444-5544 or https://www.lastreetrace.com for information; (800) 690-RACE for tickets.

All day: Blues

The three-day Long Beach Blues Festival opens in a party mood Saturday with the Blues Brothers, Roomful of Blues, Ronnie Earl, Wilson Pickett and others, continues Sunday with a “British Blues Reunion” featuring John Mayall, one-time Rolling Stone Mick Taylor, Fleetwood Mac’s Peter Green and members of the Yardbirds. Monday rocks out with Taj Mahal, Duke Robillard, Tracy Nelson and others. (More on Peter Green, Page TK.)

* Long Beach Blues Festival, Cal State Long Beach Athletic Field, Atherton Street at Palo Verde Avenue. Gates open 9 a.m. Saturday. Also Sunday-Monday. $27 advance, $30 at the door. Three-day pass, $70. (562) 498-8888.

7 pm: Pop Music

“Viva El Mariachi ‘98” is the closing note of another big summer of mariachi music in Southern California. Vikki Carr, Jose Hernandez and his Mariachi Sol de Mexico, and the all-female Mariachi Reyna perform, and mariachi memorabilia will be on display.

“Viva El Mariachi ‘98,” Greek Theatre, 2700 Vermont Canyon Road, Griffith Park. $17.75-$65.. (323) 480-3232.

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FREEBIE: Alice Coltrane, Billy Higgins honored at Vision Theater, Liemert Park, 2 p.m. (213) 960-1625.