World Festival of Sacred Music -- The Americas

SATURDAY

Great Leap multicultural performance group: A daylong celebration, including the bringing together of various spiritual elders, yoga sadhana and the Healing Dance and culminating in a Sacred Music Circle concert. Senshin Buddhist Temple, 1311 W. 37th St., 5 a.m.-10 p.m. (323) 655-TKTS. Full-day Passport, $13.

Barnsdall Art Park Family Day: A pre-Columbian service by Cuauhtemoc Azteca Dance. Various world-music ensembles. Barnsdall Art Park, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, sunrise to sunset. (323) 655-TKTS. Free.

A Day of Drumming: Performances on Japanese, African, Italian, Asian and Yoruba drums, plus drum-making and drum-playing workshops. The culmination is a giant bonfire and jam session. MacArthur Park, 1321 E. Anaheim St., Long Beach, 9 a.m.-midnight. (323) 655-TKTS. Free.

Monks of the Drepung Loseling Monastery (Oct. 9-13 only): Tibetan monks bless the festival by constructing a sand mandala (a circle containing religious images) over five days. UCLA Hammer Museum of Art, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood, daily, from 11 a.m. (310) 443-7000. Free; seating or standing on first-come basis.

John Lennon Birthday Celebration: The Los Angeles Alliance for Survival’s ninth annual gathering commemorates Lennon’s life. John Lennon’s star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, 1750 N. Vine St., Hollywood, noon. (310) 399-1000. Free.

Los Angeles Latvian Choir and Armenian Women’s Chorus: Latvian Lutheran Church. 1927 Riverside Drive, Los Angeles, 1 p.m. (323) 655-TKTS. $8.

Enter the Heart of the Mountain: Indigenous and sacred music, dancing and ceremony above the ocean in Malibu, 2-6 p.m. Carpooling necessary, parking limited. Reservations: (310) 456-8300. $5, to cover event expenses.

Percussion Artists Workshop: A cross-pollination of Afro-Cuban drums and dancing. Japanese-American National Museum, 369 E. 1st St., Little Tokyo, downtown L.A., 2 p.m. (213) 625-0414. $7-$10.

Hindu Devotional Music: Music by P.R. Sarkar, a 20th century philosopher, writer and composer. First Presbyterian Church, 4963 Balboa Blvd., Encino, 7 p.m. (323) 655-TKTS. Free.

Sacred Music of the Labor Movement: Presented by Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, this concert presents music reflecting faith in workers. United University Church, Hoover and Jefferson streets, USC campus, 7:30 p.m. (323) 655-TKTS. Free.

Sitarist Rahul Sakyaputra and the Alchemy Handbell Ensemble: St. James Presbyterian Church, 19414 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana, 7:30 p.m. (323) 655-TKTS. Free.

Founder’s Church Cathedral Choir, Albert McNeil, conductor: The legendary choral conductor leads his 58-voice vocal ensemble in gospel and classic African American spirituals in the intimate “Onion” church, a familiar Valley landmark. Sepulveda Unitarian Universalist Society, 9550 Haskell Ave., North Hills, 8 p.m. (323) 655-TKTS. $5.

Shahram Nazeri and the Dastan Ensemble: Nazeri’s vocalizations of Sufi songs are augmented by the forward-looking virtuosity of the ensemble. Japan America Theatre, 244 S. San Pedro St., Little Tokyo, downtown L.A., 8 p.m. (213) 680-3700. $25-$40.

Prince Diabate, Amara Sanoh and Wozani Ensemble: Music of the Mandingo Griots. Wilshire United Methodist Church, 4350 Wilshire Blvd., 8 p.m. (818) 508-4377. $5.

Kirby Shelstad and Suzanne Sterling: Bhakti: An Evening of Devotional Music and Sacred Poetry. Percussionist-composer Shelstad creates an ambience in homage to Tibetan Buddhism. Dancer Sterling collaborates with an instrumental ensemble in a combination of world-music styles. Yoga Works, 2215 Main St., Santa Monica, 8 p.m. (310) 393-5150. $12.

Gamelan Sekar Jaya and Danse Celeste: Sacred Music and Dance of Cambodia and Bali. Schoenberg Hall, UCLA, 8 p.m. (310) 825-2101. $20.

Shaman’s Dream World Music Ensemble: Zen Dancing. A participatory journey into urban temple dancing. Maha Yoga, 13050 San Vicente Blvd., second floor, Brentwood, 8:30 p.m. (310) 281-7738. $20.

SUNDAY

His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, speaker; Gamelan Sekar Jaya; Ulali Ensemble; Lila Downs, vocalist; Interdenominational Gospel Choir; Los Angeles Philharmonic, Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor; L.A. Master Chorale; vocal soloists; Choir of Tibetan Monks, and others. Hollywood Bowl, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, 4-8 p.m. [323] 850-2000, or:[310] 208-2784). Opening Celebration of Festival. Single seats: $10-$75; boxes of four to six seats: $500-$1,500.