all day: Books

Nowadays book collectors don’t have to leave the comfort of their computer room, thanks to the ease of book-finding search engines. But to a book lover, there’s nothing quite like holding a rare book in your hands. That opportunity happens in spades this weekend with the Santa Monica Book Fair. More than 115 dealers of rare, collectible and out-of-print books will be exhibiting and selling books. Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Olen Butler (“A Good Scent From a Strange Mountain”) will be signing books Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m.

* Santa Monica Book Fair, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1855 Main St., Santa Monica. Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. $6 admission; no charge for children under 12. (888) 820-0043.

all day: Festival

While Parisians celebrate the French Revolution 8,000 miles away, Californians revel in the sights, sounds and foods of France at Santa Barbara’s annual French Festival at Oak Park. The two-day Bastille Day celebration will feature dozens of French chefs preparing French food. Continuous free entertainment will take place on three stages and will include French rock ‘n’ roll, accordion players, mimes, jugglers, Cajun bands, tributes to Edith Piaf and Maurice Chevalier, the Femmes Fatales Drag Revue and more. Puppet shows, storytellers, arts and crafts and a poodle parade are some of the other scheduled activities.

* French Festival, Oak Park, Mission Street exit from Highway 101, Santa Barbara. Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Free admission. (805) 564-PARIS or https://www.frenchfestival.com.

8:15 pm: Pop Music

Stylish Colombian singer Charlie Zaa has helped spearhead the retro en espan~ol phenomenon, reviving romantic bolero ballads from the ‘60s and serving them up to a new generation that can’t seem to get enough of them.

* Charlie Zaa, Universal Amphitheatre, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City. 8:15 p.m. $39 to $63. (818) 622-4440.

8 pm: Theater

A sensitive doctor guides four women out of addiction to self-realization in “Julia Cameron’s Four Roses,” by the author of “The Artist’s Way” and “The Right to Write.” Anne Curry plays Dr. Rose until Aug. 5, when Mariette Hartley takes over the role; Domenica Cameron-Scorsese--yes, she’s the daughter of Cameron and filmmaker Martin Scorsese--is also featured.

* “Julia Cameron’s Four Roses,” Century City Playhouse, 10508 W. Pico Blvd., Thursdays-Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 7 p.m. Ends Aug. 22. $20. (323) 665-8587; (800) 660-8587.

1 pm: Festival

The Pacific Museum celebrates the culture of Japan with a Japanese Tanabata festival. Traditional Japanese dance and instrumental performances, including a taiko drum presentation, will take place. A highlight will be a presentation and workshop by Takahashi Shozan, a professional artist who works in the Otsu-e folk painting tradition.

* Tanabata festival, Pacific Asia Museum, 46 N. Robles Ave., Pasadena. 1-4 p.m. Free admission. (626) 449-2742.

6:30 pm: Swing Music

Is there a more attractive spot for a dance concert than a bandstand shaded by jacaranda trees facing a garden courtyard and fountain, all enclosed by the historic wall of an old mission? Saxophonist-vocalist Tex Beneke, a veteran of the Glenn Miller Band (that’s him singing with the Modernaires on the recording of “Chattanooga Choo Choo”), leads his orchestra in hits from the ‘40s and ‘50s for this sunset, star-lit event at Old Mission San Juan Capistrano.

* Tex Beneke & His Orchestra, Old Mission San Juan Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 6:30 p.m. $10; seniors and children, $9. (949) 248-2048.

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FREEBIES:

Festival of India, UCLA Hammer Museum of Art and Cultural Center, 10899 Wilshire Blvd., Westwood. 11 a.m. (310) 443-7000.

Anifest ’99 is a festival of animation with events for families and industry professionals, Westfield Shoppingtown, 2700 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock. Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. (323) 256-2147.