Free & cheap, Holidays
Free Halloween events in Chicago
Halloween in Chicago is so much more than just trick-or-treating. There are magical nighttime parades, authentic Day of the Dead celebrations, spine-tingling ghost tours, and…
Free and cheap
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap
Chicago Air and Water Show
Aug. 10 – 11, 2024 Free admission • Chicago lakefront Starting in the summer of 1959, the Chicago Air and Water Show has grown to…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap
Chicago’s free summer music festivals
In the summer, Chicago’s downtown and lakefront are filled with the sounds of live music. The city’s iconic festival season brings locals and visitors alike…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
Chicago SummerDance
June 15 – Sept. 8, 2024 Free admission • Grant Park and parks citywide The annual SummerDance festival brings people of all ages and skill…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
Grant Park Music Festival
Free admission • Millennium Park Experience a summer of extraordinary music with dozens of free classical concerts. The Grant Park Music Festival, one of the…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
World Music Festival Chicago
Free admission • Multiple locations The annual World Music Festival is your passport to musical acts from around the globe. This free, city-wide festival features…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
Chicago Gospel Music Festival
Free admission • Millennium Park Gospel music has deep roots in Chicago. The city helped transform the genre, propelling it onto the world stage. The…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
Chicago Blues Festival
Free admission • Millennium Park and beyond A legendary Chicago event since 1984, the Chicago Blues Festival is the world’s largest free blues festival. Each…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
Chicago Jazz Festival
Free admission • Millennium Park The oldest of Chicago’s free lakefront music festivals boasts an incredibly diverse lineup, which includes free neighborhood concerts leading up…
Free & cheap, Museums & art
Free museum days in Chicago
Experience Chicago’s award-winning museums, without spending a dime. Check out our ever-growing list of Chicago free museum days in 2024 and 2025, plus some of…
Free & cheap, Parks & outdoors
Your guide to the Chicago Riverwalk
Located on the south bank of the Chicago River, the award-winning, pedestrian-friendly Chicago Riverwalk stretches 1.25 miles from Lake Michigan to Lake Street. Along the…
Free & cheap, Museums & art
Free things to do at the Chicago Cultural Center
From architecture tours to provocative art shows, the Chicago Cultural Center is a creative epicenter, with no-cost art exhibits, concerts, guided tours, and more. Here are…
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