* Send DATEBOOK items to the Huntington...

* Send DATEBOOK items to the Huntington Beach Independent, 18682

Beach Blvd., Suite 160, Huntington Beach, CA 92648; fax to (714)

965-7174; call (714) 965-7176 or e-mail hbindy@latimes.com.

Submissions must be received two weeks before publication. A complete

listing may be found at www.hbindy.com.

FRIDAY

The Huntington Beach

Playhouse will present William Inge’s the modern classic “Picnic”

at the Central Library Theater through Sept. 28. Information: (714)

375-0696.

SATURDAY

The 33rd annual Summer

Surf Contest, sponsored by the city of Huntington Beach and

Huntington Surf and Sport, will start at 8 a.m. Sept. 13 and 14 on

the south side of the pier. The freestyle surfing competition

includes trophies for the top six winners in nine divisions: seniors

ages 35 to 44; masters ages 25 to 34; men ages 18 to 24; junior ages

15 to 17; boys ages 10 to 14; women ages 10 and older; menehune ages

9 and under; grand masters ages 45 to 54; and super grand master ages

55 and older. Information: (714) 536-5486.

The sixth annual Chili

Cook-off will have a live band, a beer garden and raffles from 8

a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sunset Beach Fire Station on 12th Street. The day will also include a Ms. Sunset Beach Hot Chili Contest

Information: (714) 592-0091.

Saturday Sunrise Car

Cruisers, billed as the best free car show in the world, is a

15-year tradition that brings classic and hot rod car collectors,

known as the Donut Derelicts, to the parking lot near 9025 Adams

Ave., every Saturday from 6 to 9 a.m. Admission is free. Information:

Rodding Around at (714) 963-2928. www.river-road.net/oldcars.

The National Scholastic

Surfing Assn. Explorer Division Competition will be held near

Pacific Coast Highway and 9th Street Sept. 13 and 14, featuring the

rising stars of surfing. Attendance is free. The location is subject

to change. Information: (714) 536-0445.

SUNDAY

Old World Village, a replica

of a Bavarian town, sponsors its annual Oktoberfest through Oct.

26. The event features food, fun, drink and an oompah-pa band from

Germany plays every Wednesday through Sunday. Admission is free on

Wednesdays and Thursdays from 5 to 10 p.m. and on Fridays before 7

p.m., then $10 per person after 7 p.m. Open Fridays from 5 p.m. to 1

a.m. and Saturdays from 6:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. -- must be 21 or older

and have valid identification. Sunday is Family Day with kids’ game

booths and a bouncy house from 2 to 7:30 p.m. General admission is

$4; children under 12 are free. Information: (714) 895-8020.

The Pier Plaza Art A-Faire

Weekend will run from 10 a.m. to sunset Saturday and Sunday at the

outdoor Pier Plaza adjacent to the Huntington Beach Pier. The craft

fair features more than 50 vendors selling unique, handmade gifts and

crafts at Pacific Coast Highway at Main Street. Free admission.

Information: (714) 536-2213.

WEDNESDAY

Jazz singer Soraya Shaw

will appear with the Mark Massey Trio from 7:30 to 11 p.m. at

Kikuya, 8052 Adams Ave. The performance will feature cuts from Shaw’s

new album, “Daydreams.” Attendees must spend at least $15.

Information: (714) 536-6665.

SEPT. 20

“(Un)Taped” at the

Huntington Beach Art Gallery will feature the works of Karl

Benjamin and Mark Emerson. The gallery is open from noon to 6 p.m.

Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; noon to 8 p.m. Thursday; and noon to

4 p.m. Sunday. The exhibit is free. The gallery is at 538 Main St.

Information: (714) 374-1650.

SEPT. 21

A sandcastle building class will be held from noon to 3 p.m. on

the south side of the Huntington Beach pier. Using plywood and

plastic forms, the class will include form construction, sand/water

mixing, carving techniques, design tips, beach safety and a review of

the Sand Castle Festival contest rules to prepare prospective teams

to enter the Huntington Beach Sand Castle Festival Contest on Oct. 4.

All tools and equipment to create sand castles and sculptures at the

class (shovels, buckets, trowels, carving tools, straws, spray

bottles and rakes) will be provided. The cost is $20 per team (no

limit on team size). Information: (562) 799-0179.

Surfin’ Sundays presents

the Fabulous Nomads and Cocktail Preachers at the Huntington Beach

International Surfing Museum, 411 Olive St. The free concert will run

from 1 to 3 p.m. Information: (714) 960-3483.

The Russian duo of

soprano Alina Artemova and pianist Leonid Levistky will perform a

collection of works by Bach, Mozart, Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky, Barber

and Bernstein at Golden West College’s Mainstage Theater. Admission

is $14, or $1 for students, seniors and children under 12.

Information: (714) 895-8150.

SEPT. 26

Poets Suzanne Lummis and

Brenda Yeates will appear as part of a special Tebot Bach poetry

night at 8 p.m. in the Golden West College Community Room 102. Tebot

Bach is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the

community, promoting literacy and broadening the audience for poetry

through community outreach programs and publishing. Open reading

sign-up begins at 7:30 p.m. Parking is free. Information:

info@tebotbach.org

Pianist and vocalist Floyd Dixon will play R&B; and jump blues

tunes from his Alligator Records release. The show will be from 7:30

to 10 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Huntington Beach Art Center, 538 Main St.

Cost is $20. Information: (714) 374-1650.

SEPT. 27

The Surf City Art Show and Business Expo Sept. 27 and 28 will

feature a juried art show, business displays from local companies and

entertainment for the entire family with live music, face painting,

balloons and fun for the kids. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 5

p.m. both days at the Pier Plaza, next to the Huntington Beach pier.

Admission is free. Information: (714) 536-8888.