all day: Festival

This weekend’s Watts Towers Jazz and Arts Festival combines two of Los Angeles’ oldest and most respected music series: the 17th Annual Day of the Drum Festival, with Ndugu Chancler presiding over an all-percussion lineup Saturday, and the 22nd Annual Watts Towers Jazz Festival, hosted by blues impresario Bubba Jackson, on Sunday. Both festivals present continuous lineups of music and dance. An art and food fair runs both days, featuring African American art and cuisine, art workshops for children and an exhibition of photographs by Donald Bernard.

* Watts Towers Jazz and Arts Festival’, Watts Towers Arts Center, 1727 E. 107th St., Los Angeles. Continuous music and dance, noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Festival grounds, arts fair and food court open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free admission. (213) 847-4646.

8 & 10pm: Magic

Magicopolis, L.A.’s newest magic venue, a 350-person-capacity two-theater showplace on 4th Street in Santa Monica, pulls the cloak back on its first production this weekend. In “Nothing’s Impossible,” Nicholas Night transforms painted canvas into flesh and blood, while Bob Sheets presents his own version of magi-comedy.

* “Nothing’s Impossible,” Magicopolis, 1418 4th St., Santa Monica. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 8 and 10 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m. Ends Nov. 1. $20. (310) 451-2241.

7pm: Latin Jazz

The bass supplies the heartbeat pulse of Latin jazz, and this year’s edition of the Los Angeles Latin Jazz Festival, “Con Ritmo y Sabor,” focuses on the bottom-hugging instrument with legendary Cuban bassist Israel “Cachao” Lopez and his orchestra and the Bass Summit with Al McKibbon, Andy Gonzalez and others paying tribute to Lopez. Also on tap: Airto Moreira and Flora Purim, Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band with flutist Hubert Laws and the All City Latin Jazz Ensemble.

* Los Angeles Latin Jazz Festival, Universal Amphitheatre, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City. $37.50-$107.50. (818) 622-4440.

8pm: Pop Music

“Version 2.0,” the second album from Garbage, hasn’t racked up the blockbuster numbers of its predecessor, but with the charismatic Shirley Manson out front, the band can still turn up the heat at the box office.

* Garbage, with Girls Against Boys, Hollywood Palladium, 6215 Sunset Blvd. Saturday, sold out; Monday, $22.50. (323) 962-7600.

7pm: Music

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra begins the 1998-99 season at the new Royce Hall at UCLA. Music director Jeffrey Kahane, starting his second year at the helm of the ensemble, conducts this important beginning with a program that reflects his seriousness and versatility: Mozart, Barber, Beethoven and Ginastera. Soloists are pianist Kahane and soprano Maria Jette.

* L.A. Chamber Orchestra, Royce Hall, UCLA. $13-$45. (213) 622-7001, Ext. 215.

7pm: Pop Music

A strong rock en espan~ol bill is headlined by Mexico’s Maldita Vecindad and will afford a chance to see Colombia’s Aterciopelados play music from its impressive new album, “Caribe Atomico.”

* Maldita Vecindad, Aterciopelados, King Chango, Greek Theatre, 2700 Vermont Canyon Road. $10-$40. (323) 480-3232.

FREEBIE: Fitness Hike at Wildwood Canyon Park, Burbank, 8 a.m. (818) 238-5378.