Highland Park’s Dina Lydia Johnson – “The Costume Goddess” – is wearing many hats (and veils), including vendor and photographer, at this weekend’s Mediterranean Fantasy Festival at Hiawatha Community Center, and already having a blast when we saw her less than an hour into Day 1. You might call it a belly-dancing convention – performances by, and merchandise for, practitioners of the Mediterranean dancing arts. It’s grown to two stages, inside the community center…

… as well as out on the east lawn (here’s the full schedule of performances):

And even if you’re not in the market for exotic adornments and apparel, the booths are nonetheless a feast for the eyes (scroll down this page for the map and list of vendors):

Performances continue till 9 pm tonight, and are scheduled between 11 am and 6 pm tomorrow (here again is the schedule). Admission’s free.