Going out

        DamFest: Your kids will love this if for no other reason that they can say the name without you washing their mouth out with soap. Check out the two-day family festival along the banks of the Great Miami River in Hamilton (don't forget that exclamation point!). Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

        CAC: The Contemporary Arts Center opens three new exhibits today: Work by Alabama architect Samuel Mockbee, an offbeat installation of ideas by Rob Pruittand paintings and sculpture by Brazilian artist Iran do Espirito Santo. 115 E. Fifth St., downtown. 721-0390.

        Sade: The smooth operator brings her mid-tempo jazz-soul favorites to Riverbend on her “Lovers Rock Tour.” The bluesey singer-songwriter India.Arieopens the show 7:30 p.m. today. $24.50-$67.50. 562-4949.

        Hispanic festival: Get empenadas, ceviche and tamales at the pan-American food court, enjoy many forms of folkloric dancing and hear salsa and mariachi at Festival Hispano, noon-10 p.m. today at St. Charles Borromeo Church, 115 W. Seymour Ave., Carthage. Continues Sunday. 761-1588.

        Barney: Every child's favorite purple dinosaur is at the Cincinnati Zoo performing sing-a-longs from his new video Barney, Let's Go to the Zoo, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. today, 3400 Vine St., Avondale. Free with park admission. 281-4700.

Staying in

        TV picks: TV's new Ben Cartwright (Daniel Hugh Kelly) and the cast of Pax TV's new Ponderosa host a Bonanza marathon, 4 p.m.-midnight on Pax. Ponderosa premieres Sunday (9-11 p.m., Pax).

        • Critic John Kiesewetter also says Showtime starts a Stargate SG-1 marathon at 12:30 p.m., building up to its 100th episode at 8 p.m.

Planning Ahead

        24 hours out: Kathy Wade and the Queen City Jazz All Stars join the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra (formerly the Northern Kentucky Symphony) and the Newport Ragtime Band for a free concert, 6:30-9 p.m. Sunday, Procter & Gamble Pavilion, Sawyer Point. 242-6028.

        48 hours out: The edgy young pop act 3 Doors Downbrings its act to Riverbend with Nickelback and Seven Channels, 7:30 p.m. Monday. $13.25-$23.25. 562-4949.

        72 hours out: The uber-fest and celebration of all things German, Oktoberfest-Zinzinnati, gets started 11 a.m.-midnight next Saturday along Fifth Street, downtown. 579-3191.

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