DATE: Friday, March 21, 1997                TAG: 9703200125

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E3   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   46 lines

PREVIEW

HANG ON FOR THE TALLEST (195 feet) and fastest (67 mph) inverted roller coaster in the world. The Alpengeist roars into Busch Gardens Williamsburg as this year's major addition. Although the park opens Saturday for weekend fun, you'll have to hang on a little longer if you want to ride the Alpengeist. The new coaster doesn't start streaking until April 11. But don't worry, the Big Bad Wolf, Drachen Fire and Loch Ness Monster will be up and running. Also new at the Gardens this year: ``Rockin' the Boat,'' a musical theater presentation which takes guests on a 30-minute round-the-world cruise filled with dancing and music. This weekend's hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission: $31.50, $24.50 for children 3-6. (757) 253-3350.

- Roy Bahls

SATURDAY

EVERYONE IS WISHING FOR WINDY WEATHER on Saturday for ``Flight Fair '97'' at Virginia Beach's Mount Trashmore Park. There'll be stunt kite demonstrations, model aircraft, bubble making, boomerang demonstrations, a hang glider simulator and a kite flying contest. A Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter is even scheduled to drop in for an appearance. Bring your own kite or buy one for $2 at the Fair. Everything will be up and flying from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free as the Spring wind. 471-5884.

- Roy Bahls

SUNDAY

HERE'S A CHANCE TO SEE your favorite area artists on exhibit at the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia (formerly the Virginia Beach Center for the Arts): Sunday at 2 p.m., ``CommonWealth Collects: An Exhibition of Regional Artwork'' opens with a free, public reception.

On view will be more than 300 works by 68 artists from Virginia, North Carolina and Washington, D.C., including at least 30 photographers, painters, sculptors and printmakers from South Hampton Roads. It's also the first chance for the new director, Dr. Barbara J. Bloemink, to meet the general public.

The show remains up through April 20 at the center, 2200 Parks Ave. It's open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 'til 4 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Free. 425-0000.

- Teresa Annas ILLUSTRATION: Color photos

BILL TIERNAN/The Virginian-Pilot

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