Going North

* New Museum--The public is invited Saturday to the “Preview Celebration” of the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, which is under construction at 327 S. Salinas St. The museum won’t celebrate its grand opening till 2002, but visitors can tour preview exhibitions and have a look at Munger Theatre, the focal point of the museum. The high-tech audiovisual theater is built in the shape of a ship’s hull. Saturday’s event will include tours of the replica brig Pilgrim and the new Coast Guard cutter Blackfin. Free. The museum will open to the public Sunday on a limited basis. Call for viewing hours. 957-4743.

* Opah!--The 27th annual Santa Barbara Greek Festival will return to Oak Park this weekend. Highlights: Greek food, dancing, wine and lots of live entertainment. The festival is presented by Santa Barbara Greek Orthodox Church. Hours: Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. The park is at Junipero Street and Calle Real. Free. 683-4492.

* Concerts--The Santa Barbara Bowl, 1122 Milpas St., will offer a couple of shows that will appeal to different musical tastes:

Saturday, 6:30 p.m.: No Doubt, with special guests Lit and Black-Eyed Peas. All seats, $30.

Aug. 3, 5 p.m.: B.B. King Blues Festival, featuring B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Susan Tedeschi and Tommy Castro. $32-$58.

Tickets are available at the amphitheater and Ticketmaster outlets. 962-7411.

* Museum--UC Santa Barbara’s University Art Museum will open its Summer Exhibition displays Saturday, featuring three new exhibits: “Deborah Kass: The Warhol Project,” large-scale paintings by the New York artist; “European Master Drawings From the Permanent Collection,” 41 works dating from the 16th through 19th centuries; “[Re]Visioning Chapala: Architects Imagine 21st Century Santa Barbara,” design submissions by students from California schools of architecture. All exhibits end Sept. 3. Hours: Tuesday, noon-8 p.m.; Wednesday-Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Free. 893-2951. Internet: https://www.uam.ucsb.edu.

* Culture--The 76th offering of Old Spanish Days Fiesta, a huge compilation of community events and activities, will kick off Wednesday and continue through Aug. 6. The event--inspired by Santa Barbara’s Rancho period from the 1820 to 1860s--aims to celebrate the city’s historic blending of Spanish, Mexican, Californian and Chumash cultures. Highlights: nightly dance performances at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Sunken Gardens; a large equestrian parade Aug. 4; a rodeo event at the Earl Warren show grounds Aug. 3-6; children’s parade Aug. 6; two outdoor mercados with food and entertainment; a carnival; several large public parties; an arts and crafts fair; Fiesta Finale, Aug. 6, 6-9:30 p.m., at the courthouse. For more information, call 962-8101. Internet: https://www.oldspanishdays-fiesta.org.