8 & 9:30pm Jazz

Conga player and bandleader Ray Barretto is a giant figure in the world of Latin jazz, replacing fellow percussionist Mongo Santamaria in Tito Puente’s band back in the ‘50s. He went on to record with all the major jazz artists of the ‘60s--Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, Cannonball Adderley and Wes Montgomery among them--and has led his own jazz, funk and Latin hybrid bands for more than 40 years. His latest ensemble, New World Spirit, continues his fearless style of music in which jazz and acid jazz meet the heartbeat rhythms of Puerto Rican and Afro-Cuban traditions.

* Ray Barretto, the Jazz Bakery, 3233 Helms Ave., Culver City. 8 and 9:30 p.m. $22. Also Saturday, 8 and 9:30 p.m., and Sunday, 7 and 8:30 p.m. (310) 271-9039.

all day

Festival

Carifest 2000, a three-day celebration of the traditions of Trinidad, Tobago and other Caribbean islands, kicks off with daylong displays by arts, crafts and other exhibitors, evening calypso concerts and dancing under the big top. A colorful, kid-friendly island parade is offered Saturday morning with more concerts Saturday evening and Sunday. Proceeds go to establishing a Caribbean Cultural Center in Los Angeles.

* Carifest 2000, Pavilion Building, Hollywood Park & Casino, 3883 Century Blvd., Inglewood. Friday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-1 a.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. $5 to $35; children under 12,free for Saturday parade, 10 a.m. Concerts begin Friday and Saturday at 8:30 p.m.; Sunday, 4:30 p.m. (800) 340-0347.

8:30pm

Music

The internationally recognized American soprano Carol Vaness, who grew up and began her career in Southern California, returns to sing a mixed-bag program called “Roman Holiday” with John Mauceri and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. Also featured: Bowl Orchestra concertmaster Bruce Dukov.

* John Mauceri conducts the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra in music by Rozsa, Tiomkin, Puccini, Wagner, Zimmer, Morricone and Respighi, among others, at the Hollywood Bowl, 2701 N. Highland Ave. 8:30 p.m. Repeated Saturday at 8:30 p.m. $1 to $83. (323) 850-2050.

7pm

Movies

Those loud, booming sounds reverberating down Hollywood Boulevard are either the giant footsteps of the original “Godzilla” or his hordes of fans descending on the film capital for G-Fest 2000 and the American Cinematheque’s Japanese Science-Fiction & Monster Film Weekend. The 1954 Toho Studios classic opens three days of films with rubber-suited actors wreaking environmentally inspired havoc and destroying scale models of Tokyo in the process. The screenings are held in conjunction with G-Fest, a convention for fans of Japanese monster movies being held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, featuring seminars, special guest appearances, memorabilia dealers’ rooms and more.

* American Cinematheque and G-Fest 2000 Present the Japanese Science-Fiction & Monster Film Weekend, Lloyd E. Rigler Theatre at the Egyptian, 6712 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. (323) 466-FILM. Tonight at 7: “Godzilla” (1954); at 9:30 p.m.: “Makaraga: Moon Over Tao” (1997); Saturday at 5 p.m.: “Son of Godzilla (Gojira No Musuka)” (1967); at 7:30 p.m.: “Godzilla vs. Destroyah” (1995); 10:15 p.m.: “Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey” (2000); Sunday at 5 p.m.: “Ring” (1998); at 7:15 p.m.: “Rebirth of Mothra 3 (Mosura 3)” (1998). $5 to $7. Convention information (614) 470-0108.

9pm

Pop Music

San Antonio-born, Alameda-based Mario Hernandez, who records under the name From Bubblegum to Sky, is half Japanese, which might account for the way he combines his glam-rock influences with dashes of Tokyo pop on records such as the new “Me and Amy and the two French Boys.” The result is status as a cult hero in the indie rock world.

From Bubblegum to Sky, with My Favorite, others, Spaceland, others, 1717 Silver Lake Blvd., 9 p.m. $8. (213) 833-2843.

8pm

Theater

The Lost World theater company presents the world premiere professional production of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Horton Foote’s drama, “The Day Emily Married.” Written in the 1960s and set in 1956, the play about a Texas couple and their headstrong daughter remained in the Foote archives until it was workshopped in Maryland three years ago.

* “The Day Emily Married,” Robinson Theatre, Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts, Whittier College, Painter and Philadelphia streets, Whittier. Fridays and Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. Ends July 30. $15. (562) 907-4203.

8pm

Dance

The annual Dance Kaleidoscope festival of Southland achievement launches at Cal State L.A. with plenty of news to announce: For starters, 14 works will be premiered over five performances, and a related film festival will take place just before the two opening programs. You want more stats? A total of 28 artists and/or companies will participate this year--10 of them new to the series. A very kaleidoscopic, tres L.A. event.

* Dance Kaleidoscope, Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Cal State Los Angeles, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, 8 p.m. Also Saturday, 8 p.m. (different program). $12 (students, seniors) to $18. (323) 343-MOVE. “Dance on Camera Festival Tour,” Maxwell Theatre, Cal State L.A. Friday and Saturday, 6:30 p.m. $5 (students and seniors) to $7. (323) 343-6600.

Freebie

The 20-piece big band Jazzbo swings at the Farmers Market, 3rd Street at Fairfax Avenue. 6:30 to 9 p.m. (323) 933-9211.