Going South

* Comedy--Hillel at Pierce and Valley colleges will present its “Comedy Nite 2000” fund-raiser with a special tribute to film director Arthur Hiller on Saturday at 8 p.m. at Pierce College. Comics Mel Kohl, J. David, Jim Tavares and Harv and Mollie Tretsky will perform and a silent auction will be held. Hiller directed “Silver Streak,” “Love Story,” “The Americanization of Emily” and many other films. The college is at 6201 Winnetka Ave., Woodland Hills. $10-$12. (818) 887-5901.

* Classical--Soprano Kathleen Roland will be the featured soloist when the Pasadena Symphony, under the direction of Jorge Mester, performs Manuel de Falla’s “El Amor Brujo” Saturday at 8 p.m. at Pasadena Civic Auditorium. The program will also include Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 11. Earlier on Saturday, from 8:30 a.m.-noon, the Pasadena Symphony will stage a free musical circus for children 4-10 years old that includes a musical “petting zoo” where youngsters can toot horns, pluck strings and bang drums. The auditorium is at 300 E. Green St. $3-$62. (626) 584-8833.

* Year of the Dragon--The Los Angeles Zoo will ring in the Year of the Dragon this weekend with its second annual Chinese New Year celebration featuring lion dancers, Chinese alligators, ethnic treats and other attractions. Lion dancers from Northern Shaolin Kung Fu will perform 30-minute programs at the zoo’s Eucalyptus Grove. Also performing will be the Southern California Chinese Folk Dance Troupe and the Hwa Yi Chinese Ethnic Dance Company, and a reptile keeper will talk about the zoo’s Chinese alligators and Komodo dragons. Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The zoo is at 5333 Zoo Drive, Griffith Park. $8.25 adults; $5.25 ages 65 and older; $3.25 ages 2-12. (323) 644-4273 or https://www.lazoo.org.