Free Things to Do in Chicago!
You don't have to spend a lot of money to have a great time in Chicago! From free neighborhood festivals and art fairs to Chicago's outstanding museums and parks, it's not hard to find FREE activities in Chicago. The listing below will help guide you to some of the best free things to do in Chicago!
| FREE EVENTS IN CHICAGO (2012) | ||||
| Navy Pier's Really Big Halloween Party | Navy Pier  |
Fri's, Sat's, Sun's & Halloween, Oct 19 - 31 | Halloween fun with animal rides, pumpkin carving and entertainment. | |
| Franken Plaza | Daley Plaza |
October 26 - 30 | Halloween activities for the entire family. | |
| Ice Skating at Millennium Park | Millennium Park |
November 16 - mid March | Skate with a stunning city backdrop at the city's most popular ice rink. FREE (skate rentals $10). | |
| The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival | North Michigan Avenue |
November 17, 5:30p | A must see Chicago holiday tradition! | |
| Chicago's Official Christmas Tree Lighting | Daley Plaza |
November 20, 4:30p | Holiday festivities and the ceremonial tree lighting. | |
| Christkindlmarket | Daley Plaza |
November 20 - December 24 | Experience a slice of Germany at this traditional German Christmas market. For the kids, visit Santa Claus at Santa House. | |
| McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade | State Street, Congress to Randolph |
November 22, 8-11am | A great way to spend Thanksgiving morning. | |
| Caroling at Cloud Gate | Millennium Park |
Fridays, November 23 - December 21, 8:00p. | Join other caroling at Cloud Gate (aka "The Bean"). | |
| Zoolights at Lincoln Park Zoo | Lincoln Park Zoo |
Fri, Sat, Sun Nov 23 - Dec 23; Daily Dec 26 - January 6. | The zoo is transformed into a dazzling winter wonderland with two million lights!. | |
| Winter Wonderfest | Navy Pier |
November 30 - January 6 | 170,000 square feet of indoor family holiday fun including an ice rink, rides, slides, entertainment and stunning decorations. FREE, with wristband purchase required for rides and activities. Santa Claus Dec 2 - 24 (Family Pavilion). | |
| New Year's Eve Fireworks | Navy Pier |
December 31, 7:00pm and midnight | Fantastic year-end fireworks display. | |
| FREE EVENTS IN CHICAGO (2013) | ||||
| Snow Days | Gateway Park at Navy Pier |
January 25 - 27 | Snow sculptures, dogsled-racing demonstrations, a snowboard rail jam competition and other activities. | |
| 57th Street Art Fair | 57th Street, Hyde Park | June 1 - 2 | One of the city's finest art fairs. | |
| Chicago Blues Fest | Grant Park |
June 6 - 9 | The largest FREE blues festival in the world and Chicago's largest music festival. | |
| Chicago Tribune Printers Row Lit Fest | South Loop on Dearborn |
June 8 - 9 | 200 booksellers from across the country. | |
| Old Town Art Fair | Menomonee & Wells, Old Town |
June 8 - 9 | Located in quaint residential Old Town. Donation suggested. | |
| Wells Street Art Fair | Wells Street, Old Town |
June 8 - 9 | Art, food, music. Donation suggested. | |
| Grant Park Music Festival | Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park |
Typically Weds & Fridays, 6:30p, Saturdays, 7:30p | Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus | More Info |
| Taste of Randolph | 900 W. Randolph St., West Loop |
TBD | Food from Chicago's outstanding West Loop restaurants. Donation suggested. | |
| Chicago Gospel Music Festival | Various locations, including Chicago Cultural Center |
TBD | A great Chicago tradition! | |
| Chicago Pride Fest | 3700 N. Halsted St. | TBD | Celebrating diversity, culminating with Chicago's Pride Parade. | |
| Gold Coast Art Fair | Grant Park |
TBD | Juried art from around the country. | |
| Chicago Tribune North Michigan Avenue Art Festival | Pioneer Court, 435 N. Michigan |
TBD | Juried art from around the country. | |
| Taste of Chicago | Grant Park |
TBD | The city's most famous food fest. | |
| Taste of Lincoln Avenue | Lincoln Ave, btwn Halsted & Wrightwood | TBD | A fun food and music fest. Donation suggested. | |
| Northalsted Market Days | Halsted Street, Belmont to Addison | TBD | One of the Chicago's largest neighborhood festivals. Donation suggested. | |
| Chicago Air & Water Show | Lakefront at North Avenue |
August 17 - 18 | The nation's largest free air and water show. Outstanding! | |
| Chicago Jazz Festival | Millennium Park & Grant Park |
August 29 - September 1 | The name says it all! Chicago's longest running lakefront music festival. | |
| Lakeview East Festival of the Arts | Belmont and Broadway | TBD | One of the last art festivals of the season. | |
| ENJOY THESE "ALWAYS FREE" CHICAGO ACTIVITIES AND PLACES! | ||||
| Navy Pier | 600 E. Grand Ave |
Always Free! | Don't miss Illinois' most popular tourist and leisure destination. Year -round fun for all ages! |
More Info |
| Navy Pier Fireworks | 600 E. Grand Ave, Navy Pier |
Generally Wednesday and Saturday nights during the summer, plus July 4 and New Year's Eve. Always Free! | Spend a beautiful fall evening on the lake! | More Info |
| Millennium Park | 201 E. Randolph |
Always Free! | This outstanding 24.5 acre park is a must see! | More Info |
| Lincoln Park Zoo | 2200 N. Canon Drive | Always Free! | This zoo, located in the heart of Lincoln Park, is one of the best in the country. | More Info |
| Lincoln Park Conservatory | 2391 N. Stockton Dr. | Always Free! | Located next to Lincoln Park Zoo, this Victorian-style conservatory houses plants from around the world. | |
| Lakefront / Beaches | Various locations | Always Free! | Whether you stroll the paved lakefront path or spend the day at the beach, don't miss Chicago's sparkling lakefront. | |
| Grant Park / Buckingham Fountain | Grant Park |
Always Free! | Don't miss Grant Park's wonderful gardens and beautiful Buckingham Fountain and its colorful nightime water display. | |
| Chicago Cultural Center | 78 E. Washington St., Loop |
Always Free | The Chicago Cultural Center is home to numerous free activities, performances, rotating exhibits and notable interior spaces, | |
| FREE MUSEUM DAYS IN CHICAGO (2012/2013) - DATES MAY CHANGE! PLEASE CHECK INDIVIDUAL MUSEUM WEBSITES. | ||||
| Adler Planetarium | Museum Campus |
Free general admission for Illinois residents: Nov 6, 7, 13, 14 (2012) | Numerous exhibits and state-of-the-art theaters make this an unforgettable space science experience. | More Info |
| The Art Institute of Chicago | 111 S. Michigan Ave |
Free general admission for Illinois residents: First and second Wednesdays of the month. | Home to one of the world's finest art collections. | More Info |
| Chicago Children's Museum | Navy Pier |
Free general admission: Thursdays, 5p - 8p | Hands-on exhibits for kids. | More Info |
| Chicago History Museum | 1601 N. Clark Street |
Free general admission for Illinois residents: Jan 21; Feb 4 - 28; Mar 4 (2013) | Chicago's history told through fun and interesting exhibits. | More Info |
| The Field Museum | Museum Campus |
Free general admission for Illinois residents: Check museum website. | The museum has 4.6 billion years of natural history under one roof, including SUE, the largest, most complete and best preserved T-Rex ever discovered | More Info |
| Loyola University Museum of Art (LUMA) | 820 North Michigan Avenue |
Free general admission for all on Tuesdays. Closed Mondays. | This hidden gem highlights the university's medieval, Renaissance and Baroque collections. | More Info |
| Museum of Contemporary Art | 220 E. Chicago Ave |
Free general admission for Illinois residents on Tuesdays | One of the nation's largest facilities devoted to the art of our time, offering thought-provoking art created since 1945. | More Info |
| Museum of Contemporary Photography | 600 South Michigan Avenue | Always Free! | Part of Columbia College, this is the only museum in the Midwest with an exclusive commitment to the medium of photography. | More Info |
| The Museum of Science & Industry | 57th and Lake Shore Drive | Free general admission for Illinois residents: Oct 1, 2, 3; Nov 5; Dec 3 (2012) | MSI is one of the largest science museums in the world, with more than 35,000 artifacts and nearly 14 acres of hands-on exhibits. | More Info |
| Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum | 2430 N. Cannon Dr. | Free general admission for Illinois residents on Thursdays (donations welcomed). | Just north of Lincoln Park Zoo. Don't miss the year-round butterfly garden with 75 different species of butterflies. | More Info |
| Shedd Aquarium | Museum Campus |
Free general admission for Illinois residents: Oct 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, 30; Nov 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 (2012) | This incredible indoor aquarium has numerous galleries with outstanding habitats, Beluga whales, dolphins and great shows. | More Info |
| Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows | Navy Pier |
Always Free! | See beautiful stained glass windows of varying styles from around the world. | |
| Spertus Museum | 610 S. Michigan Ave. | Free, closed Tuesday and Saturdays. Purchase of program tickets may be required for exhibits, lectures, etc. | Spertus is a center for Jewish learning and culture that invites people of all backgrounds to explore the multifaceted Jewish experience. | More Info |