Folklife festival's cultural cornucopia

The Northwest Folklife Festival takes place from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. today through Monday at Seattle Center.

Admission to the event is free, though a donation of $5 per person, per day, is requested.

There is an admission charge for a benefit concert at 8 p.m. today in McCaw Hall, featuring the Savoy Family Cajun Band.

Here are some of today's festival highlights:

Fiddle Showcase, Washington fiddlers Marty Dahlgren, Cathie Whitesides, Jim Evans, Floyd Engstrom, Carthy Sisco, plus Paul Dahlin (Minneapolis), Kevin Carr (Quebec), Brandon Vance (Scotland), Jamie Fox (Metis/Montana), Joel Savoy (Cajun/Louisiana). Intiman Theatre, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Chinese Rod Puppetry, master puppeteers Yuqin Wang and Zhengli Xu. Family Stage, Folklife Commons, 11:20 a.m.-12:05 p.m.

Joe Hickerson, one of the great folk singer/songwriters. Nesholm Family Lecture Hall (McCaw Hall), 11:40 a.m.-12:05 p.m.

Oinkari Dancers: Basque dancers from Idaho. Mural Amphitheatre, 12:40-1:40 p.m.

Traditional Masters, Paraguayan harpist Antonio Centurion, Korean dancer Ji Yeon Cheh, Bosnian guitarist/singer Tino Sakota, bajo sexto master Juan Barco, accordionist Andres Gonzalez and harpist Salvador Baldovinos. Nesholm Family Lecture Hall (McCaw Hall), 12:20-3:30 p.m.

West African Griot Traditions, Lagni Sussu and Naby Camara (West African balafon); Mapathe Diop and Mame N'gala (Senegal); and Yeke Yeke and Taranga with Souleymane N'Diaye (Senegal). Fountain Lawn, 12:30-3:40 p.m.

Classical Traditions of Asia, Wu Ziying, Chinese guqin (zither), and K. Sridihar, sarod. Intiman Theatre, 3-5 p.m.

Traditional Masters, Chinese Puppets, Hmong Ceremony and Persian Music. Chinese puppetry with Yuqin Wang and Zhengli Xu, Hmong bamboo reed "harmonica" master Boua Xou Moua, Persian tar player Dariush Dolatshahi and drummer Faramarz Mehrdadfar. Nesholm Family Lecture Hall (McCaw Hall), 4:15- 6:30 p.m.

Basque Traditional Music, Dan Ansotegui, Sean Aucutt, Nick Ansotegui. Narrative Stage, 6-6:50 p.m.

Masters of Northern Asia, Vladivostok Balalaika Trio, Mr. Libo (Mongolian horse-head fiddle), p'ansori artist (folk opera) Yoojin Chung and epic storytelling by the World Music Gallery. Intiman Theatre, 6:30-10 p.m.

Northwest Folklife Benefit Concert: The Savoy Family Cajun Band plays dance music from the Louisiana bayou. McCaw Hall, 8-10 p.m. ($15; 206-628-0888; no service charge for tickets purchased at Seattle Center outlets).