Noon Festival

The annual Los Angeles Mariachi Festival/Festival del Mariachi de Los Angeles returns to the Donut Shop, Boyle Heights, where mariachis have gathered since the 1940s. Highlights: Ballet Nacional de las Americas, a children’s ballet folkloric company, noon; Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez, 1:45 p.m.; Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles, a female mariachi ensemble, 4:15 p.m.

* Seventh annual Los Angeles Mariachi Festival/Festival del Mariachi de Los Angeles, intersection of 1st Street and Boyle and Pleasant avenues, Boyle Heights. Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Free. (213) 485-2437.

2 pm: Photography

Acclaimed nature photographer Frans Lanting will give a lecture/slide show and discuss his new book, “Eye to Eye: Intimate Encounters with the Natural World,” at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History. Lanting’s coverage of wildlife and conservation issues has carried him to remote, exotic and sometimes dangerous places around the world.

* “Eye to Eye: Intimate Encounters With the Natural World,” Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, museum auditorium, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles. $7, museum members; $9, non-members; $5, students. (213) 763-3534.

7pm: Benefit

Actor Jason Alexander (“Seinfeld”) will perform and emcee at the All Children Great & Small Fund-Raiser to benefit the nonprofit preschool. There will also be entertainment by Jack Lancaster, Wayne Kramer, Tamiya Lynn, John Mendoza and others, as well as refreshments and cocktails. The All Children Great and Small School is a developmentally based preschool located in Los Feliz.

* All Children Great & Small Fund-Raiser, Comedy Store, 8433 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. $25. (213) 666-6154.

2 pm: Music

“Forever Fifties--Vol. II” brings the music of the sock hop era back to the Alex Theatre this weekend with the Four Freshmen (“Route 66”), the Amazing Platters (“Only You”), television’s “Your Hit Parade”-featured performer Gisele MacKenzie and vocalist Tommy Sands, joined by the Nelson Riddle Orchestra.

* “Forever Fifties--Vol. II,” Alex Theatre, 216 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale. $24.50-$29.50. (818) 243-ALEX for information; (800) 233-3123 for tickets.

5 pm: Theater

Beatrice Arthur, Paul Dooley, Robert Mandan and Marian Mercer headline in the West Coast premiere of Anne Meara’s comedy, “After-Play,” revolving around two couples’ dinner conversation at a Manhattan restaurant after a Broadway play.

* “After-Play,” Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave. Regular schedule: Tuesdays-Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 5 and 9 p.m.; Sundays, 2 and 7 p.m., through Dec. 21. $13.50-$42.50. (800) 233-3123.

Noon: Art

A 300-work survey of Kuna art and culture focuses primarily on the brightly colored appliqued panels known as molas in “The Art of Being Kuna: Layers of Meaning Among the Kuna of Panama” opening today at UCLA’s Fowler Museum of Cultural History. In addition to molas, the exhibition will also include gold jewelry, spiritual wooden sculptures known as nuchu, musical instruments and basketry. Kuna artists will be on hand at Sunday’s opening to demonstrate mola-making and discuss their craft from 2-5 p.m.

* “The Art of Being Kuna: Layers of Meaning Among the Kuna of Panama,” UCLA/Fowler Museum of Cultural History, 405 Hilgard Ave., Westwood. Ends April 5. Museum hours: Wednesday-Sunday, noon-5 p.m.; Thursday, noon-8 p.m. Adults, $5; seniors and students, $3; UCLA students, $1; visitors under 17, free. Parking at UCLA: $5. Admission is free to all on Thursdays and Sundays. (310) 825-4361.

*

FREEBIE: “All Things Comedic” performance, 8 p.m., Borders Books and Music, 1415 3rd St., Santa Monica. (213) 960-5799.