HAVANA -- A playful Fidel Castro entertained hundreds of foreign cigar aficionados at a black-tie dinner and auction, joking with his guests and modeling a popular Cuban musician's little white sombrero before it was sold to the highest bidder.

"I'm not going to give a speech -- which is lucky for you!" Castro told the 600 guests, including some 60 Americans, who traveled to Cuba for the annual Habanos Festival celebrating the communist island's tobacco. The Cuban leader's political speeches often last several hours.

Castro, 75 and in power for 42 years, appeared relaxed and happy after a two-day standoff at the Mexican Embassy in Havana was resolved. Early Friday morning, Cuban authorities acting at Mexico's request evicted 21 men who had crashed through the embassy gates in a stolen bus.

Castro traditionally attends the dinner at the festival.