Whoa, the days really are getting shorter.

When the late, great Marshall Field's sponsored the first free Day of Music in 1997, the public grooved to 24 straight hours of jams at Symphony Center. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra chipped in a classical concert and supporting acts kicked in blues, jazz, flamenco and more.

The times, they are a-changing. By 2000, the around-the-clock marathon was reduced to 12 hours. By 2006, when Macy's assumed sponsorship, it was whittled down to nine. Musicfest 2008, like last year's event, runs eight hours, from 2 to 10 p.m. Saturday at 220 S. Michigan Ave.

Still, free music -- whether it's long-haired (the CSO), indie rock (The Sea and Cake) or family-friendly (Ella Jenkins) -- is always a cause for celebration. So here's the lineup for this year's event. All concerts are free; no tickets are required. FYI: (312) 294-3000 or (800) 223-7114 or visit cso.org/dayofmusic.

SATURDAY

Orchestra Hall Armour Stage

2 p.m.: Chicago Symphony Orchestra

5 p.m.: Civic Orchestra of Chicago

8 p.m.: The Sea and Cake

Buntrock Hall

2:30 p.m.: Ella Jenkins

3:30 p.m.: Tricia Sebastian

4:30 p.m.: Ceres Quartet

5:30 p.m.: Sebastian Quartet

6:30 p.m.: Trinity Irish Dancers

7:30 p.m.: Paulinho Garcia Quartet featuring Greg Fishman

8:45 p.m.: Von Freeman Quintet

Grainger Ballroom

2:15 p.m., 3:30 p.m.: Final Auditions for Lang Lang Master Class

4:45 p.m.: Chicago Opera Theater Young Artists Program

5:45 p.m.: Ian Hobson

6:45 p.m.: Erwin Helfer

7:45 p.m.: Reginald Robinson

9 p.m.: Lonesome Organist

Rotunda

3 p.m.: Percussion Scholarship Group

4 p.m.: Mariachi Perla de Mexico

5 p.m.: Mayco Andes

6 p.m.: John Work Chorale

Postscript

As a bonus, the nearby Art Institute is offering a day of free performances, lectures, book signings and events Saturday. Doors open at 10 a.m. at 111. S. Michigan Ave.

Aftermath

Word is the recent heavy rains devastated attendance at local and Chicago theaters. Patrons were unable to circument flooded roads.

Extra, extra

New faces are needed for Patrick Swayze's cop series, "The Beast." Send a photo and vital stats (Name, contact info, vital stats) to ExtraOrdinary Casting, P.O. Box 18, Westmont, IL 60559. The hotline is (312) 656-6482.

Pumpkin alert

Chicago's favorite on-again, off-again indie band is releasing a double DVD set. "If All Goes Wrong" chronicles the 2007 reunion and 20-year career of the Smashing Pumpkins. Coming Home Media will release the set Nov. 11. Footage includes the band's first sanctioned live concert release, filmed over five of the band's 11-night stint at the Fillmore Auditorium last year.

Grapevine

Spotted:; Actor-director Harold Ramis ("Groundhog Day") noshing at Petterino's in the Loop and rocker Joan Jett dining at Frankie's Scaloppine on the Mag Mile ... The con-man comedy "The Brothers Bloom" kicks off the 44th Chicago International Film Festival on Oct. 16 at the Harris Theatre. Indie director Rian Johnson and Oscar-winnning actress Rachel Weisz ("Constant Gardener") will attend the screening. Also popping up during the fest: Colin Hanks (son of Tom) for new film "The Great Buck Howard" (Oct. 24 at the AMC River East). No word yet whether Jada Pinkett Smith will attend the world premiere of her directorial debut, "The Human Contact" (Oct. 28 at the AMC River East).