Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Chicago's Average Temperatures & Precipitation
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
June
July
Aug
Sept
Oct
Nov
Dec
High °F
20
34
44
59
70
79
85
82
76
64
48
35
Low °F
14
18
28
39
48
58
63
62
54
42
31
20
High °C
-7
1
7
15
21
26
29
28
24
18
9
2
Low °C
-10
-8
-2
4
9
14
17
17
12
6
-1
-7
Rainfall (in.)
1.60
1.31
2.59
3.66
3.15
4.08
3.63
3.53
3.35
2.28
2.06
2.10
CHICAGO CALENDAR
OF EVENTS
The best way to stay on top of the city's cur-
rent crop of special events is to ask the
Chicago Office of Tourism
(
&
312/744-
2400;
www.ci.chi.il.us/tourism) or the
Illi-
nois Bureau of Tourism
(
&
800/2CON-
NECT;
www.enjoyillinois.com) to mail you a
copy of Chicago Calendar of Events, an
excellent quarterly publication that surveys
special events, including parades and street
festivals, concerts and theatrical produc-
tions, and museum exhibitions. Also ask to
be sent the latest materials produced by the
Mayor's Office of Special Events
(
&
312/
744-3315,
or call the Special Events Hot Line
at
&
312/744-3315, TTY 312/744-2964;
www.cityofchicago.org/specialevents), which
keeps current with citywide and neighbor-
hood festivals. The one thing you can count
on, whether or not you research the topic in
advance, is that you'll be able to choose from
a slew of happenings, regardless of what
month you visit Chicago.
Of the annual events, the most lively and
unpredictable tend to revolve around the
national parades and the street celebrations
staged by many of Chicago's numerous eth-
nic groups. In addition, food, music, art, and
flower fairs have their special niches in the
city's yearly schedule.
Remember that new events might be
added every year, and occasionally special
events are discontinued or rescheduled. So,
to avoid disappointment, be sure to tele-
phone in advance to the sponsoring organi-
zation or check out the Mayor's Office of
Special Events website to verify dates,
times, and locations.
January
Chicago Boat, RV & Outdoor
Show,
McCormick Place, 23rd
Street and Lake Shore Drive
(
&
312/946-6200;
www.chicago
boatshow.com). All the latest boats
and recreational vehicles are on dis-
play, plus trout fishing, a climbing
wall, boating safety seminars, and
big-time entertainment. January 19
to January 23.
February
Chinese New Year Parade,
Went-
worth and Cermak streets (
&
312/
326-5320
). Join in as the sacred
dragon whirls down the boulevard
and restaurateurs pass out small
envelopes of money to their regular
customers. Call to verify the date,
which varies from year to year.
Chicago Auto Show,
McCormick
Place, 23rd Street and Lake Shore
Drive (
&
630/495-2282
). More
than a thousand cars and trucks,
domestic and foreign, current and
futuristic, are on display. The event
draws nearly a million visitors.
Look for special weekend packages
at area hotels that include show
tickets. February 11 to February 20.
March
St. Patrick's Day Parade.
In a city
with a strong Irish heritage (and a
mayor of Irish descent), this holiday
is a big deal. The Chicago River is
even dyed green for the occasion.
The parade route is along Dearborn
Street from Wacker Drive to Van
Buren; the best place to view it is
around Wacker and Dearborn. Sat-
urday closest to March 17. A second,
more neighborhood-like parade is
held on the South Side on the Sun-
day immediately following the
Saturday parade, on Western Avenue
from 103rd to 115th streets.
April
Opening Day.
For the Cubs, call
&
773/404-CUBS;
for the White
Sox, call
&
312/674-1000.
Make
