BEST BETS Saturday 6/16

11am

Celebrations

Six local Tuskegee Airmen, highly awarded black fighter pilots who fought in World War II, will speak at the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art as part of the third-annual Juneteenth celebration hosted by the museum’s African Cultural Arts Council. Juneteenth is the oldest celebration of the ending of slavery, dating to 1865. Festivities will include performances by two gospel choirs, Southern food and ethnic costumes. Two other programs are scheduled to mark the day. Los Angeles’ William Grant Still Arts Center program includes musical performances by jazz and blues artist Curtis Kirk Blues Quintet and vocalist Dwight Tribble. Spoken-word performances by members of the International Black Writers & Artists, comedy, clowns, magic, hip-hop and quilt-and doll-making workshops will also contribute to this event. Live blues, jazz, gospel and reggae will help highlight a Juneteenth celebration at Virginia Avenue Park in Santa Monica. Visitors will also be able to enjoy African arts and crafts, an Egyptian fashion show and a dance performance.

* “Juneteenth” celebration, Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana. Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. $7 per person, $20 for family of four. (714) 543-7379. * Juneteenth Celebration, William Grant Still Arts Center, 2520 S. West View St., Los Angeles. Noon-8 p.m. Free admission. (323) 734-1164.* Juneteenth Celebration, Virginia Avenue Park, 2200 Virginia Ave., Santa Monica. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free admission. (310) 434-4445.

7:30pm

Pop Music

Dido would have been pop’s most notable new arrival of last year even if her song “Thank You” hadn’t been sampled in Eminem’s hit “Stan.” The English singer teams with the touted Travis in a bill of contenders for preeminence in the coming decade.* Dido, with Travis and Emiliana Torrini, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, 8808 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine. 7:30 p.m. $25 to $48. (949) 855-2863.

all day

Festival

“NoHo Theatre & Arts Festival 2001” features performances at 14 theaters in the North Hollywood arts district, music and dance, children’s activities, visual arts, arts and crafts, food booths and more.* “NoHo Theatre & Arts Festival 2001,” NoHo Arts District, Lankershim Boulevard between Cumpston Street and Magnolia Boulevard, North Hollywood. Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Free. (818) 508-5155.

7pm

Performance Art

Those not put off by the frightening term “audience participation” won’t want to miss an opportunity to attack artist Martin Durazo in a padded suit, throw balls at Lilli Muller in a Velcro dress, or cut a piece from Jessica Buege’s costume a la Yoko Ono in “Trust: A Night of Performance” at the Andrew-Shire Gallery. The catch? You have to pay for the right to hit, throw and tear at will under the premise that it will affect how you look at art. Is art subjective when money is involved? Bring your wallet and find out on Saturday.* “Trust: A Night of Performance,” Andrew-Shire Gallery, 3850 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 107, L.A. 7 p.m. Tickets, balls and scissors will be available for purchase during the show. (213) 389-2601.

8pm

Pop Music

The odd conglomeration of British and American rockers paying tribute to the Beatles in “A Walk Down Abbey Road” at the Sun Theatre should make for intriguing evenings on Saturday and Sunday. Alan Parsons, Heart’s Ann Wilson, the Who’s John Entwistle and Todd Rundgren also will draw from their repertoires in addition to Fab Four numbers.

* “A Walk Down Abbey Road,” Sun Theatre, 2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim. 8 p.m. $72. Also Sunday. (714) 712-2750.

8pm

Pop Music

Dig around for an import copy of Juana Molina’s current album, “Segundo,” and you might find a Latin Suzanne Vega, an introspective Argentine with an instinct for blending electronic touches into her acoustic pop.* Juana Molina, McCabe’s, 3101 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. 8 p.m. $15. (310) 828-4497.

8pm

Theater

Reprising her high-energy, one-woman spectacular, Debbie Reynolds performs as a benefit for the VNA Care/Hospice in the Home of Glendale, serving up songs from her movies, a Judy Garland medley, personal stories, impressions and even some movie blooper clips.* “Debbie Reynolds,” Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. 8 p.m., $25 to $45; VIP seating with pre-show and post-show receptions, $150. (800) 233-3123; VIP tickets, (818) 956-1860, Ext. 107.

10:30am & 1:30pm

Family

California Artists Radio Theatre offers a bang-up tribute to the Fourth of July with its live radio theater production of “Yankee Doodle Dandies.” The mix of comedy, history and live, authentic American folk music will feature veterans of stage and screen Richard Crenna, Leslie Easterbrook, Louis Nye, William Windom, Linda Henning, Ian Abercrombie, Rene Auberjonois, Marty Maguire, and John Harlan as announcer. Diane Ketchie and Gregory Newton, professors of music at Cal State Northridge, will perform folks songs from the 16th to the 20th century.* “Yankee Doodle Dandies,” Cinegrill, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, 7000 Hollywood Blvd. 10:30 a.m. (dress rehearsal); 1:30 p.m. (final performance). $15, adults; $7.50, children. Recorded for later broadcast on National Public Radio. (213) 683-3422.