People are sometimes asked who in history they would like to sit down and talk with. The answers are often wide-ranging, from the likes of Jesus Christ to Mahatma Ghandi to Theodore Roosevelt, and even famous celebrities and sports stars.

Three famous men will visit Bismarck, making the event the No. 1 Best Bet this weekend at the Bismarck State College National Energy Center of Excellence. Abraham Lincoln will appear at 7 tonight, Frederick Douglass at 7 p.m. Saturday and Walt Whitman at 7 p.m. Sunday, with a conversation with all three to follow.

The three will appear at the Everett Albers Chautauqua Program, sponsored by the North Dakota Humanities Council.

Veteran Chautauqua scholar George Frein will portray President Lincoln as part of the "Lincoln, Land and Liberty: The Civil War Era and Beyond" program. D. Jerome Tweton will portray Douglass and Carrol Peterson will portray Whitman.

For more information, go to www.nd-humanities.org or call 255-3360.

Other events of note this weekend include:

n Shade Tree Players present "Disco Knights," 7 p.m. today and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, at Frances Leach High Prairie Arts and Science Complex. Tickets are available at the door, $6 students, $10 adults.

n Sleepy Hollow Summer Theatre presents "Les Miserables," 8:30 p.m. today through Sunday, Sleepy Hollow Arts Park. Info: www.shst.org.

n Cowboy Country USA bareback three-go-round and saddle bronc competition at Neuens Ranch Outdoor Arena, Saturday. Call 667-1850 for information.

n Culture Fest 2008, Knife River Indian Village National Historic Site, Stanton, Saturday and Sunday, demonstrations throughout both days and a variety of crafts, such as flint knapping, bow making, porcupine quillwork, beadwork and basketry. Artisans will be on hand to discuss Lewis and Clark, tribal history and trade goods. American Indian flute music and traditional singing and dancing also will be part of the event. For more information, go to www.nps.gov/knri/planyourvisit/culturefest.htm or call 745-3300.