Chicagoans love celebrations. Spring and summer are the festival seasons, while celebrations move indoors for the winter. The following is a sampling of the many cultural, ethnic, and recreational events in the city. To find out precise dates and details and to ask about any special interests, contact the Chicago Office of Tourism (tel. 312/744-2400 or 800/226-6632) or consult one of Chicago's local events calendars in the "Reader" and "New City," two free weekly newspapers distributed on Thursday in many stores in Hyde Park, the Loop, and the North Side; the Friday section of the "Chicago Tribune"; and the Weekend Plus section of the Friday "Chicago Sun-Times." Winter Early to mid-January: The Chicago Boat, Sports, and RV Show displays more than 900 boats and 300 recreational vehicles at McCormick Place (2300 S. Lake Shore Dr., tel. 312/946-6262). February: African-American Heritage Month celebrations at the Museum of Science and Industry (57th St. and Lake Shore Dr., tel. 773/684-1414), the DuSable Museum (740 E. 56th Pl., tel. 773/947-0600), the South Shore Cultural Center (7059 S. Shore Dr., tel. 312/747-2536), the Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington St., tel. 312/346-3278), the Field Museum (Roosevelt Rd. at Lake Shore Dr., tel. 312/922-9410), the Art Institute of Chicago (Michigan Ave. at Adams St., tel. 312/443-3600), and other Chicago cultural institutions include arts-and-crafts exhibitions and theater, music, and dance performances. Early February: The 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament is the largest indoor event of its kind. Navy Pier, tel. 773/404-0554. The Chicago Auto Show previews the coming year's domestic and imported models at McCormick Place (2301 S. Lake Shore Dr., tel. 312/949-8800). Mid-February: The Azalea and Camellia Show at Lincoln Park Conservatory (2400 N. Stockton Dr., tel. 312/742-7736) and Garfield Park Conservatory (300 N. Central Park Ave., tel. 312/746-5100) provides a welcome early glimpse of spring. Mid-February: Winterbreak Festival (tel. 312/744-3315) is a series of concerts, skating exhibitions, and other entertainment events in various locations; discount packages are available at many hotels. Mid-February-early March: The Medinah Shrine Circus at Medinah Temple (600 N. Wabash Ave., tel. 312/266-5050) delights kids of all ages each year. Spring March 13: The St. Patrick's Day parade (tel. 312/942-9188) turns the city on its head: the Chicago River is dyed green, shamrocks decorate the street, and the center stripe of Dearborn Street is painted the color of the Irish from Wacker Drive to Van Buren Street. Late March-early April: The Spring Flower Show blooms at the Lincoln Park and Garfield Park conservatories. April 9-20: Celebrate Latino culture during the 15th Annual Chicago Latino Film Festival at various locations around the city (tel. 312/663-1600). May 1-October 1: Buckingham Fountain, in Grant Park, flows day and night. Colored lights illuminate it nightly from 9 until 11. May 15: The Wright Plus House Walk (tel. 708/848-1976) gives you a look at masterpieces in suburban Oak Park by Frank Lloyd Wright and other Prairie School architects. Late May-early June: The Printer's Row Book Fair (Dearborn St. between Congress Pkwy. and Polk St., tel. 312/987-9896) is a two-day event in the historic Printer's Row district, with programs and displays on the printer's and binder's arts. Summer Early June: The Chicago Blues Festival (tel. 312/744-3315), in Grant Park, is a popular four-day, three-stage event starring blues greats from Chicago and around the country. Early June: The 57th Street Art Fair, in Hyde Park's Ray School yard (57th St. and Kimbark Ave., tel. 773/493-3247), is the oldest juried art fair in the Midwest, with paintings, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, clothing, and textiles. Early June: The Old Town Art Fair (Lincoln Park W and Orleans Sts., tel. 312/337-1938), one of the top summer art fairs, draws people from around the region to historic Old Town. Early to mid-June: The Chicago Gospel Fest (tel. 312/744-3315) brings its joyful sounds to Grant Park. Mid-June: The Boulevard-Lakefront Bicycle Tour (tel. 312/427-3325) brings 6,000 cyclists to the city's network of boulevards and parks for a 35-mi ride. Mid-June to mid-August: The Grant Park Symphony Orchestra and Chorus (tel. 312/742-7638) gives free concerts Wednesday-Sunday. Mid-June: Summer fun with a Swedish flair can be found at the 34th Annual Andersonville Midsommarfest (tel. 773/348-6784). Late June-early July: Taste of Chicago (Grant Park, Columbus Dr. between Jackson and Randolph Sts., tel. 312/744-3315) dishes out pizza, cheesecake, and other Chicago specialties to 3 1/2 million people over a 10-day period that includes entertainment. Late June-Labor Day: The Ravinia Festival (tel. 847/266-5100), in Highland Park, hosts a variety of jazz, classical, and popular musical artists in a pastoral setting north of the city. All summer: Noontime music and dance performances are held outdoors weekdays at the Daley Center Plaza (Washington St. between Dearborn and Clark Sts.) and at the First National Bank of Chicago Plaza (Dearborn St. at Madison St.). July 3: Fireworks along the lakefront draw a crowd at dusk; bring a blanket and a portable radio to listen to the 1812 Overture from Grant Park (tel. 312/744-3315). Mid-July: The Chicago to Mackinac Island Boat Race originates at Belmont Harbor (tel. 312/861-7777). Mid-July: The World's Largest Block Party, at Old St. Pat's Church (Madison and Des Plaines Sts., tel. 312/648-1021), has nationally recognized bands, food, drinks, and swarms of people. Late July: The Newberry Library Book Fair (60 W. Walton St., tel. 312/255-3510) sells thousands of good used books at low prices; the park across the street holds the Bughouse Square Debates the same weekend. Late July: Venetian Night (Monroe St. Harbor, Grant Park, tel. 312/744-3315) features fireworks and boats festooned with lights. Late August: The Air and Water Show (tel. 312/744-3315) along North Avenue Beach thrills viewers with precision flying teams and antique and high-tech aircraft going through their paces. Late August: Chicago Triathlon (tel. 773/404-2372) participants plunge in at Ohio Street on the lakefront for a 1-mi swim, followed by a 25-mi bike race on Lake Shore Drive, and a 10-km run in the world's largest triathlon. Late August: The Chicago Jazz Festival (tel. 312/744-3315) holds sway for four days during Labor Day weekend at the Petrillo Music Shell in Grant Park. Late August-early September: You'll get more than food at Taste of Polonia (Lawrence and Milwaukee Aves., tel. 773/777-8898), which also features carnival games, polka bands, and Polish handicrafts. Autumn Early September: The Around the Coyote (tel. 773/342-6777) festival in Wicker Park and Bucktown features theater performances, poetry and fiction readings, dance, film, and a gallery walk that begins at the intersection of Milwaukee, North, and Damen avenues. September: The Dia de los Muertos celebration at the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum (1852 W. 19th St., tel. 312/738-1503) displays the work of Mexican and Mexican-American artists. Early to mid-September: Viva Chicago (tel. 312/744-3315) is a festival of Latin music in Grant Park. Mid-September-early October: Oktoberfest brings out the best in beer and German specialties at the Berghoff Restaurant (17 W. Adams St., tel. 312/427-3170) and Chicago area pubs. Mid-October: The Chicago Marathon (tel. 312/243-3274) starts in Grant Park at Columbus and Balbo streets and follows a course through the city. Mid-October: The Columbus Day Parade follows Dearborn Street from Wacker Drive to Congress Parkway. Mid-October: The Chicago International Film Festival (tel. 312/425-9400) brings new American and foreign films to various Chicago theaters. Saturday before Thanksgiving: The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival (tel. 312/642-3570) kicks off the holiday season with a block-by-block illumination of hundreds of thousands of tiny white lights along Michigan Avenue and Oak Street. Thanksgiving weekend: The lighting of Chicago's Christmas tree takes place on Friday in the Daley Center Plaza (Washington St. between Dearborn and Clark Sts.); the Christmas Parade, with balloons, floats, and Santa, travels down Michigan Avenue on Saturday. Mid-November-December: The Goodman Theatre (200 S. Columbus Dr., tel. 312/443-3800) presents "A Christmas Carol," and "The Nutcracker" is performed at the Arie Crown Theatre at McCormick Place (2301 S. Lake Shore Dr., tel. 312/791-6190). Late November: The Chrysanthemum Show holds center stage at the Lincoln Park and Garfield Park conservatories. Late November-December: The Christmas Around the World display at the Museum of Science and Industry (57th St. and Lake Shore Dr., tel. 773/684-1414) brings together trees decorated in the traditional styles of more than 40 countries. Late November-March: Skate on State (State Street between Washington and Randolph Sts., tel. 312/744-3315) is a free outdoor ice-skating rink in the heart of the Loop. November 27-January 1: Zoo Lights Festival at the Lincoln Park Zoo (2200 N. Cannon Dr., tel. 312/742-2000) shows off zoo animals, dinosaurs, and holiday themes with more than 100,000 lights. Mid- to late December: At the South Shore Cultural Center (7059 S. Shore Dr., tel. 312/747-2536), the city's largest Pre-Kwanzaa Celebration, a two-day family-oriented event, with performances, workshops, crafts and food, is held in advance of the African-American cultural holiday Kwanzaa, which runs from December 26 to January 1; other Kwanzaa-related events are held at the New Regal Theatre (1645 E. 79th St., tel. 773/721-9301), DuSable Museum of African-American History, Chicago Cultural Center, Art Institute of Chicago, and other cultural institutions in the city. Late December-early January: The Winter Festival Flower Show at the Lincoln Park and Garfield Park conservatories provides welcome color.