Aside from the nearly nonstop competition, here are a few things to look for:
Dressage judge Robin Brueckmann and her Danish warmblood, Bordeaux, performing freestyle without a bridle (tonight at 8).
The Thorncroft Mainstreamers, a team of 10 handicapped and nonhandicapped riders, demonstrating the intricate movements of the quadrille (Saturday at 10:15 a.m. and 5:15 p.m.).
Lendon Gray, a two-time Olympian, performing and narrating dressage movements (Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at 2:40 p.m.).
A mounted color guard from Valley Forge Military Academy opening Saturday night's events (7:45 p.m.).
Special activities for children are planned Saturday and Sunday, including crafts and games.
And here's one other thing to look for: Keep a close eye on the horse's mouth. See a bit of foam around the lips? It's a sign that the horse is in tune with the rider.
Dressage at Devon at the Devon Horse Show grounds, Route 30, Devon, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission: $6; under 12 free. Phone: 610-293-1057.
VIDEO-GAME MADNESS. How many times have you sighed when you heard about the big electronics trade shows, knowing you couldn't get in because you're not an insider?
Electronic Gaming Monthly, a magazine, is leading some of the world's hottest electronic-game companies on a tour, and they stop at Oxford Valley Mall this weekend.
Just get in line at a kiosk, and play and watch for free. Most of the games are either brand-new or will be out soon. Get a peek at the much anticipated Sony PlayStation, which just came out, as well as Time Warner Interactive's Primal Rage and Viacom New Media's ZOOP.
Catapult Entertainment will have the coolest thing: its XBand modem, which allows people to play video games over the phone line.
Other companies and products: Atari with White Men Can't Jump, Super Burnout, Ultra Vortek and Raymen; Mindscape with CyberSpeed; and Williams Entertainment with Mortal Kombat 3 and DOOM for SNEF.
Interested in something else that's cool? Electronic Gaming Monthly puts out Hero Illustrated, a magazine on the Internet. The address is:
http://www.nuke.com
EGM Super Tour '95 at Oxford Valley Mall, Oxford Valley Road near I-95, Langhorne, from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Free. Phone: 215-752-0221.
JUGGLING. "It's really quite easy," said my friend Ken over Labor Day weekend as he was teaching the neighborhood kiddies to juggle tennis balls. A couple of them (the kids, not the tennis balls) seemed to be getting the hang of it.
All the grown-ups stood and watched, declining Ken's offer of instruction. Drop a ball in front of a child? Nah.
But this weekend is different: It's a time for unabashed juggling. Drop a ball? No big deal. You won't be the biggest klutz there.
The Philadelphia Jugglers' Club is having its annual fall festival at Drexel Hill Middle School in Upper Darby. There will be continuous workshops for all skill levels, and beginners are welcome to learn without ridicule. (Just ignore the showoffs who juggle while riding unicycles.)
Can't make the festival? You'll want to drop everything to see the Saturday night show.
Philadelphia Jugglers' Club Fall Festival at Drexel Hill Middle School, 3001 State Rd., Upper Darby, from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. (Show at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.) Free. Phone: 610-383-8898.
MONSTER TRUCKS. Ah, the beach in fall. You and me and the gulls and the buoys and the waves lapping the shore and - HOLEY MOLEY! WHAT'S THAT ROARING NOISE???
It's Thunder Beach, a monster-truck show in Wildwood, sponsored by the New Jersey Hot Rod Association. More than a dozen teams will race on the sand (mostly in the afternoons) through Sunday.
If you've ever been curious about what it feels like to ride high, drop by and take a ride on the Grave Digger and three other monster trucks. Rides start at 9 a.m. and are $5 per ride.
Saturday afternoon, Rob Dawson will attempt to break a world record by jumping 15 monster trucks at once. (No, you can't ride with him.)
If they can stop shaking, drivers will sign autographs, and you'll be able to peruse motor-sport exhibits. Vendors will be set up in the Civic Center. And check out the four-by-fours, which will be in a parade starting at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
If you need even more thrills, the Wildwood amusement piers will be open tonight and all day Saturday and Sunday.
Thunder on the Beach, between Schellenger and Young Avenues, Wildwood,
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today through Sunday. Free. Phone: 609-691-5912.
FOOD FESTIVALS. Sunday's Indian Summer Feast in Manayunk will feature nibblings from the area's restaurants, plus the International Wine and Spirits Tasting Tent ($7). Check out the clothes from Main Street's boutiques.
For children, there will be a scarecrow workshop, pumpkin painting, games, costume dress-ups, a magician, storyteller and a puppet theater.
If you can't make it, or are curious about Manayunk, get on the Internet and check out this address:
http://www.gim.net
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Bananas are 69 cents a pound where I shop, so Sunday's Banana Split Day at Cooper River Park in Cherry Hill sounds like a good deal. You get an individual banana split (banana, two scoops of ice cream, chocolate sauce, whipped topping and cherry) - plus you get to indulge in family activities, such as face-painting, bubble-blowing, clowns, puppet making, a clergy relay race, pie-eating contests (right!) and crafts. A zoo on wheels will show up, too, and so will musical entertainment.
Banana Split Day benefits the many projects of the Interfaith Homeless Outreach Council.
* Indian Summer Feast, along Main Street in Manayunk, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Shuttle buses from Buten Paints (5000 Ridge Ave., off Main); 401 City Avenue (at Monument Road); Ivy Ridge Train Station (Umbria Street); and Domino Lane Shopping Center (off Ridge). Phone: 215-482-9565.
* Banana Split Day, Cooper River Park (North Park Drive between Cuthbert Boulevard and Route 130), Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. (Rain date: Oct. 8.) Admission: $3 plus one can of food. Phone: 609-778-0435.
