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Free Events in Chicago
Everything on our Chicago calendar that costs nothing to attend — free museum days, library and museum workshops, park and conservatory programs, and the river cleanups and forest preserve workdays. Where a free event needs a reservation, or is free only for Illinois residents, the card says so.
Lincoln Park Zoo
FreeDAILY · 10 AMFall FestLincoln Park Zoo · North SideFreeDetails →Garfield Park Conservatory
FreeFRIDAYS · 10:00 AMMorning GloriesGarfield Park Conservatory · West Loop & Near WestFreeDetails →Pullman National Historical Park
FreeDAILY · 1:00 PMRanger-Guided TourPullman National Historical Park · South SideFreeDetails →Lincoln Park Zoo
NIGHTLY · 4:30 PMZooLightsLincoln Park Zoo · North Side$7–$12 advance · $20 day of · Free Admission MondaysDetails →Poetry Foundation
FRI, OCT 23Pegasus Awards ReadingPoetry Foundation · Downtown & Near NorthFree · registration encouragedDetails →Chicago Botanic Garden
FRI, OCT 23Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-LanternsChicago Botanic Garden · Evanston & North ShoreAdult $20 member | $24 nonmember; child (3–12) $13 member | $17 nonmember; 2 & under freeDetails →North Branch Restoration Project
SAT, OCT 24Bunker North Flatwoods Restoration WorkdayNorth Branch Restoration Project · Evanston & North ShoreFree (RSVP required)Details →Open Studio Project
SAT, OCT 24Spooky Saturday: Get KraftyOpen Studio Project · Evanston & North ShoreFREE and open to all agesDetails →Women & Children First
SAT, OCT 24Chicago Drag Story HourWomen & Children First · North SideFree · registration requiredDetails →Newberry Library
SAT, OCT 24Guided Tour of the NewberryNewberry Library · Downtown & Near NorthFree and open to allDetails →Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS · 1 PMMonarch Migration Nature WalksPeggy Notebaert Nature Museum · North SideFree with AdmissionDetails →ISAC Museum (Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures)
SATURDAYS · 1:30 PMISAC Discovery ToursISAC Museum (Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures) · South SideFree with museum admissionDetails →North Branch Restoration Project
SUN, OCT 25Harms Woods East Restoration WorkdayNorth Branch Restoration Project · Evanston & North ShoreFree (RSVP required)Details →Smart Museum of Art
SUNDAYS · 11:00 AMSunday Somatics: Healing with YogaSmart Museum of Art · South SideFree; RSVP encouragedDetails →Trailside Museum of Natural History
SUN, OCT 25Costumed Scavenger Hunt WalkTrailside Museum of Natural History · Oak Park & West SuburbsFree; registration requiredDetails →Polish Museum of America
SUN, OCT 25Highlander DayPolish Museum of America · West Loop & Near WestFree admissionDetails →ISAC Museum (Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures)
MON, OCT 26ISAC Brown Bag: Horses, Lions, and Onagers in Assyria and ElamISAC Museum (Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures) · South SideFree per personDetails →Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
FreeTUESDAYS · 7:00 AMSOAR Farmers MarketMuseum of Contemporary Art Chicago · Downtown & Near NorthFreeDetails →Trailside Museum of Natural History
THU, OCT 29Night at the MuseumTrailside Museum of Natural History · Oak Park & West SuburbsFree; registration requiredDetails →Smart Museum of Art
FRI, OCT 30Conversation Piece: On Cosmo Campoli's Birth of DeathSmart Museum of Art · South SideFree; drop-in programDetails →Chicago History Museum
FRI, OCT 30Christian Holder: My Life Is DanceChicago History Museum · Downtown & Near NorthFree; RSVP requestedDetails →North Branch Restoration Project
SAT, OCT 31Somme Woods Restoration WorkdayNorth Branch Restoration Project · Evanston & North ShoreFree (RSVP required)Details →Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
FreeSAT, OCT 31Streeterville Dog Halloween PartyMuseum of Contemporary Art Chicago · Downtown & Near NorthFreeDetails →North Branch Restoration Project
SAT, OCT 31Forest Glen Woods Restoration WorkdayNorth Branch Restoration Project · Evanston & North ShoreFree (RSVP required)Details →DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center
SAT, OCT 31The Du Community Halloween BashDuSable Black History Museum and Education Center · South SideFree admission for school-aged children in grades K–12Details →Chicago History MuseumFreeSAT, OCT 31Christian Holder: My Life Is DanceChicago History Museum · Downtown & Near NorthFreeDetails →Intuit Art Museum
SAT, OCT 31IAM HauntingIntuit Art Museum · West Loop & Near West$20 (free with regular Museum admission and for Members)Details →North Branch Restoration Project
SUN, NOV 1Somme Prairie Grove Restoration WorkdayNorth Branch Restoration Project · Evanston & North ShoreFree (RSVP required)Details →Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
SUN, NOV 1Día de los Muertos CelebrationPeggy Notebaert Nature Museum · North SideFree with AdmissionDetails →North Branch Restoration Project
SUN, NOV 1St Paul Woods Restoration WorkdayNorth Branch Restoration Project · Evanston & North ShoreFree (RSVP required)Details →Chicago History Museum
SUN, NOV 1Stories We Wear: Fashion as Visual NarrativeChicago History Museum · Downtown & Near North$15 general admission; free for CHM members and studentsDetails →Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
TUE, NOV 3Cally Spooner: Warm UpMuseum of Contemporary Art Chicago · Downtown & Near NorthFree with museum admissionDetails →Chicago Botanic Garden
FRI, NOV 6Fine Art of FiberChicago Botanic Garden · Evanston & North ShoreFree (nonmembers pay regular parking and Garden admission fees)Details →Museum of Contemporary Art ChicagoSAT, NOV 7Cally Spooner: Warm UpMuseum of Contemporary Art Chicago · Downtown & Near NorthFree with museum admissionDetails →Intuit Art Museum
SAT, NOV 7Artist Talk: Karla WongIntuit Art Museum · West Loop & Near West$20 (free with regular Museum admission and for Members)Details →Intuit Art Museum
SAT, NOV 7ConstelNationIntuit Art Museum · West Loop & Near West$20 (free with Museum admission and for Members)Details →ISAC Museum (Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures)
SAT, NOV 7Treasure Fit for a Queen: Royal Burials from El-Kurru, SudanISAC Museum (Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures) · South SideFree per personDetails →Trailside Museum of Natural History
FreeSUN, NOV 8Bird WalkTrailside Museum of Natural History · Oak Park & West SuburbsFreeDetails →Garfield Park Conservatory
SUN, NOV 8Rooted in Place: Black Land, Memory & the Natural WorldGarfield Park Conservatory · West Loop & Near WestFree with registrationDetails →Museum of Contemporary Art ChicagoSUN, NOV 8Cally Spooner: Warm UpMuseum of Contemporary Art Chicago · Downtown & Near NorthFree with museum admissionDetails →Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
SUN, NOV 8The Sparks Fly Upward: A Kristallnacht CommemorationIllinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center · Evanston & North ShoreFree · reservations requiredDetails →Museum of Contemporary Art ChicagoTUE, NOV 10Cally Spooner: Warm UpMuseum of Contemporary Art Chicago · Downtown & Near NorthFree with museum admissionDetails →Smart Museum of Art
SAT, NOV 14Family Day: Seeing the Invisible World to Build a New OneSmart Museum of Art · South SideFree; drop-in, registration encouragedDetails →Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
FreeSAT, NOV 14Family Day: Knock on WoodMuseum of Contemporary Art Chicago · Downtown & Near NorthFreeDetails →Intuit Art Museum
FreeSAT, NOV 14Community Day: IAM a CollectorIntuit Art Museum · West Loop & Near WestFreeDetails →Museum of Contemporary Art ChicagoSAT, NOV 14Cally Spooner: Warm UpMuseum of Contemporary Art Chicago · Downtown & Near NorthFree with museum admissionDetails →Elmhurst Art Museum
SAT, NOV 14Create With Us: Eric PerezElmhurst Art Museum · Oak Park & West SuburbsIncluded with museum admission. Members are free.Details →Trailside Museum of Natural History
SUN, NOV 15Restoration WorkdayTrailside Museum of Natural History · Oak Park & West SuburbsFree; registration requiredDetails →Museum of Contemporary Art ChicagoSUN, NOV 15Cally Spooner: Warm UpMuseum of Contemporary Art Chicago · Downtown & Near NorthFree with museum admissionDetails →Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center
SUN, NOV 15Exhibition Opening Program: Hollywood on Trial: The Blacklist and the Red ScareIllinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center · Evanston & North ShoreFree · reservations requiredDetails →Open Studio Project
TUE, NOV 17Community Art Happy HourOpen Studio Project · Evanston & North ShoreFREE EVENT open to adults onlyDetails →Smart Museum of Art
THU, NOV 19Anjan Chatterjee & Judith Schaechter on NeuroaestheticsSmart Museum of Art · South SideFree; registration encouragedDetails →Intuit Art Museum
THU, NOV 19Monumental Conversations: Rebecca ZorachIntuit Art Museum · West Loop & Near West$20; free with Museum admission and for MembersDetails →Oak Park Art League
THU, NOV 19Gallery After Dark: Meet the Micro Artists and Curator Elaine LutherOak Park Art League · Oak Park & West SuburbsFree, but please RSVPDetails →Lincoln Park Zoo
3RD FRIDAY · 10:15 AMMemory EnrichmentLincoln Park Zoo · North SideFree · registration requiredDetails →Smart Museum of Art
FreeFRI, NOV 20Bedtime Stories with Chicago Public LibrarySmart Museum of Art · South SideFreeDetails →Trailside Museum of Natural History
FreeSAT, NOV 21Bone AppetitTrailside Museum of Natural History · Oak Park & West SuburbsFreeDetails →Trailside Museum of Natural History
FRI, NOV 27Annual Turkey Trot HikeTrailside Museum of Natural History · Oak Park & West SuburbsFree; registration requiredDetails →Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
SAT, NOV 28Sustainable Holiday Makers' MarketPeggy Notebaert Nature Museum · North SideFree with AdmissionDetails →Open Studio Project
SAT, NOV 28Handmade Holiday Greeting CardsOpen Studio Project · Evanston & North ShoreFREE EVENT open to all ages!Details →Trailside Museum of Natural HistorySUN, NOV 29Crisp Air, Calm Forest WalkTrailside Museum of Natural History · Oak Park & West SuburbsFree; registration requiredDetails →Smart Museum of Art
FreeTUE, DEC 1Dipesh Chakrabarty, Christine Laquet, Jennifer Pitts & Zachary Cahill on the Climate CrisisSmart Museum of Art · South SideFreeDetails →Smart Museum of Art
FreeSUN, DEC 6Sunday Somatics: Healing with MeditationSmart Museum of Art · South SideFreeDetails →Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
FreeSAT, DEC 12Family Day: Hibernate, MeditateMuseum of Contemporary Art Chicago · Downtown & Near NorthFreeDetails →Open Studio Project
SAT, DEC 12Holiday Cheer: Mini Market & Cookie DecoratingOpen Studio Project · Evanston & North ShoreFREE EVENT - Open to all agesDetails →
FreeDAILY · 10 AMFall FestLincoln Park Zoo · North SideFreeDetails →Garfield Park ConservatoryFreeFRIDAYS · 10:00 AMMorning GloriesGarfield Park Conservatory · West Loop & Near WestFreeDetails →Pullman National Historical ParkFreeDAILY · 1:00 PMRanger-Guided TourPullman National Historical Park · South SideFreeDetails →Lincoln Park ZooNIGHTLY · 4:30 PMZooLightsLincoln Park Zoo · North Side$7–$12 advance · $20 day of · Free Admission MondaysDetails →Poetry FoundationFRI, OCT 23Pegasus Awards ReadingPoetry Foundation · Downtown & Near NorthFree · registration encouragedDetails →Chicago Botanic GardenFRI, OCT 23Night of 1,000 Jack-o'-LanternsChicago Botanic Garden · Evanston & North ShoreAdult $20 member | $24 nonmember; child (3–12) $13 member | $17 nonmember; 2 & under freeDetails →North Branch Restoration ProjectSAT, OCT 24Bunker North Flatwoods Restoration WorkdayNorth Branch Restoration Project · Evanston & North ShoreFree (RSVP required)Details →Open Studio ProjectSAT, OCT 24Spooky Saturday: Get KraftyOpen Studio Project · Evanston & North ShoreFREE and open to all agesDetails →Women & Children FirstSAT, OCT 24Chicago Drag Story HourWomen & Children First · North SideFree · registration requiredDetails →Newberry LibrarySAT, OCT 24Guided Tour of the NewberryNewberry Library · Downtown & Near NorthFree and open to allDetails →Peggy Notebaert Nature MuseumSATURDAYS & SUNDAYS · 1 PMMonarch Migration Nature WalksPeggy Notebaert Nature Museum · North SideFree with AdmissionDetails →ISAC Museum (Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures)SATURDAYS · 1:30 PMISAC Discovery ToursISAC Museum (Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures) · South SideFree with museum admissionDetails →North Branch Restoration ProjectSUN, OCT 25Harms Woods East Restoration WorkdayNorth Branch Restoration Project · Evanston & North ShoreFree (RSVP required)Details →Smart Museum of ArtSUNDAYS · 11:00 AMSunday Somatics: Healing with YogaSmart Museum of Art · South SideFree; RSVP encouragedDetails →Trailside Museum of Natural HistorySUN, OCT 25Costumed Scavenger Hunt WalkTrailside Museum of Natural History · Oak Park & West SuburbsFree; registration requiredDetails →Polish Museum of AmericaSUN, OCT 25Highlander DayPolish Museum of America · West Loop & Near WestFree admissionDetails →ISAC Museum (Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures)MON, OCT 26ISAC Brown Bag: Horses, Lions, and Onagers in Assyria and ElamISAC Museum (Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures) · South SideFree per personDetails →Museum of Contemporary Art ChicagoFreeTUESDAYS · 7:00 AMSOAR Farmers MarketMuseum of Contemporary Art Chicago · Downtown & Near NorthFreeDetails →Trailside Museum of Natural HistoryTHU, OCT 29Night at the MuseumTrailside Museum of Natural History · Oak Park & West SuburbsFree; registration requiredDetails →Smart Museum of ArtFRI, OCT 30Conversation Piece: On Cosmo Campoli's Birth of DeathSmart Museum of Art · South SideFree; drop-in programDetails →Chicago History MuseumFRI, OCT 30Christian Holder: My Life Is DanceChicago History Museum · Downtown & Near NorthFree; RSVP requestedDetails →North Branch Restoration ProjectSAT, OCT 31Somme Woods Restoration WorkdayNorth Branch Restoration Project · Evanston & North ShoreFree (RSVP required)Details →Museum of Contemporary Art ChicagoFreeSAT, OCT 31Streeterville Dog Halloween PartyMuseum of Contemporary Art Chicago · Downtown & Near NorthFreeDetails →North Branch Restoration ProjectSAT, OCT 31Forest Glen Woods Restoration WorkdayNorth Branch Restoration Project · Evanston & North ShoreFree (RSVP required)Details →DuSable Black History Museum and Education CenterSAT, OCT 31The Du Community Halloween BashDuSable Black History Museum and Education Center · South SideFree admission for school-aged children in grades K–12Details →Chicago History MuseumFreeSAT, OCT 31Christian Holder: My Life Is DanceChicago History Museum · Downtown & Near NorthFreeDetails →Intuit Art MuseumSAT, OCT 31IAM HauntingIntuit Art Museum · West Loop & Near West$20 (free with regular Museum admission and for Members)Details →North Branch Restoration ProjectSUN, NOV 1Somme Prairie Grove Restoration WorkdayNorth Branch Restoration Project · Evanston & North ShoreFree (RSVP required)Details →Peggy Notebaert Nature MuseumSUN, NOV 1Día de los Muertos CelebrationPeggy Notebaert Nature Museum · North SideFree with AdmissionDetails →North Branch Restoration ProjectSUN, NOV 1St Paul Woods Restoration WorkdayNorth Branch Restoration Project · Evanston & North ShoreFree (RSVP required)Details →Chicago History MuseumSUN, NOV 1Stories We Wear: Fashion as Visual NarrativeChicago History Museum · Downtown & Near North$15 general admission; free for CHM members and studentsDetails →Museum of Contemporary Art ChicagoTUE, NOV 3Cally Spooner: Warm UpMuseum of Contemporary Art Chicago · Downtown & Near NorthFree with museum admissionDetails →Chicago Botanic GardenFRI, NOV 6Fine Art of FiberChicago Botanic Garden · Evanston & North ShoreFree (nonmembers pay regular parking and Garden admission fees)Details →Museum of Contemporary Art ChicagoSAT, NOV 7Cally Spooner: Warm UpMuseum of Contemporary Art Chicago · Downtown & Near NorthFree with museum admissionDetails →Intuit Art MuseumSAT, NOV 7Artist Talk: Karla WongIntuit Art Museum · West Loop & Near West$20 (free with regular Museum admission and for Members)Details →Intuit Art MuseumSAT, NOV 7ConstelNationIntuit Art Museum · West Loop & Near West$20 (free with Museum admission and for Members)Details →ISAC Museum (Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures)SAT, NOV 7Treasure Fit for a Queen: Royal Burials from El-Kurru, SudanISAC Museum (Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures) · South SideFree per personDetails →Trailside Museum of Natural HistoryFreeSUN, NOV 8Bird WalkTrailside Museum of Natural History · Oak Park & West SuburbsFreeDetails →Garfield Park ConservatorySUN, NOV 8Rooted in Place: Black Land, Memory & the Natural WorldGarfield Park Conservatory · West Loop & Near WestFree with registrationDetails →Museum of Contemporary Art ChicagoSUN, NOV 8Cally Spooner: Warm UpMuseum of Contemporary Art Chicago · Downtown & Near NorthFree with museum admissionDetails →Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education CenterSUN, NOV 8The Sparks Fly Upward: A Kristallnacht CommemorationIllinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center · Evanston & North ShoreFree · reservations requiredDetails →Museum of Contemporary Art ChicagoTUE, NOV 10Cally Spooner: Warm UpMuseum of Contemporary Art Chicago · Downtown & Near NorthFree with museum admissionDetails →Smart Museum of ArtSAT, NOV 14Family Day: Seeing the Invisible World to Build a New OneSmart Museum of Art · South SideFree; drop-in, registration encouragedDetails →Museum of Contemporary Art ChicagoFreeSAT, NOV 14Family Day: Knock on WoodMuseum of Contemporary Art Chicago · Downtown & Near NorthFreeDetails →Intuit Art MuseumFreeSAT, NOV 14Community Day: IAM a CollectorIntuit Art Museum · West Loop & Near WestFreeDetails →Museum of Contemporary Art ChicagoSAT, NOV 14Cally Spooner: Warm UpMuseum of Contemporary Art Chicago · Downtown & Near NorthFree with museum admissionDetails →Elmhurst Art MuseumSAT, NOV 14Create With Us: Eric PerezElmhurst Art Museum · Oak Park & West SuburbsIncluded with museum admission. Members are free.Details →Trailside Museum of Natural HistorySUN, NOV 15Restoration WorkdayTrailside Museum of Natural History · Oak Park & West SuburbsFree; registration requiredDetails →Museum of Contemporary Art ChicagoSUN, NOV 15Cally Spooner: Warm UpMuseum of Contemporary Art Chicago · Downtown & Near NorthFree with museum admissionDetails →Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education CenterSUN, NOV 15Exhibition Opening Program: Hollywood on Trial: The Blacklist and the Red ScareIllinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center · Evanston & North ShoreFree · reservations requiredDetails →Open Studio ProjectTUE, NOV 17Community Art Happy HourOpen Studio Project · Evanston & North ShoreFREE EVENT open to adults onlyDetails →Smart Museum of ArtTHU, NOV 19Anjan Chatterjee & Judith Schaechter on NeuroaestheticsSmart Museum of Art · South SideFree; registration encouragedDetails →Intuit Art MuseumTHU, NOV 19Monumental Conversations: Rebecca ZorachIntuit Art Museum · West Loop & Near West$20; free with Museum admission and for MembersDetails →Oak Park Art LeagueTHU, NOV 19Gallery After Dark: Meet the Micro Artists and Curator Elaine LutherOak Park Art League · Oak Park & West SuburbsFree, but please RSVPDetails →Lincoln Park Zoo3RD FRIDAY · 10:15 AMMemory EnrichmentLincoln Park Zoo · North SideFree · registration requiredDetails →Smart Museum of ArtFreeFRI, NOV 20Bedtime Stories with Chicago Public LibrarySmart Museum of Art · South SideFreeDetails →Trailside Museum of Natural HistoryFreeSAT, NOV 21Bone AppetitTrailside Museum of Natural History · Oak Park & West SuburbsFreeDetails →Trailside Museum of Natural HistoryFRI, NOV 27Annual Turkey Trot HikeTrailside Museum of Natural History · Oak Park & West SuburbsFree; registration requiredDetails →Peggy Notebaert Nature MuseumSAT, NOV 28Sustainable Holiday Makers' MarketPeggy Notebaert Nature Museum · North SideFree with AdmissionDetails →Open Studio ProjectSAT, NOV 28Handmade Holiday Greeting CardsOpen Studio Project · Evanston & North ShoreFREE EVENT open to all ages!Details →Trailside Museum of Natural HistorySUN, NOV 29Crisp Air, Calm Forest WalkTrailside Museum of Natural History · Oak Park & West SuburbsFree; registration requiredDetails →Smart Museum of ArtFreeTUE, DEC 1Dipesh Chakrabarty, Christine Laquet, Jennifer Pitts & Zachary Cahill on the Climate CrisisSmart Museum of Art · South SideFreeDetails →Smart Museum of ArtFreeSUN, DEC 6Sunday Somatics: Healing with MeditationSmart Museum of Art · South SideFreeDetails →Museum of Contemporary Art ChicagoFreeSAT, DEC 12Family Day: Hibernate, MeditateMuseum of Contemporary Art Chicago · Downtown & Near NorthFreeDetails →Open Studio ProjectSAT, DEC 12Holiday Cheer: Mini Market & Cookie DecoratingOpen Studio Project · Evanston & North ShoreFREE EVENT - Open to all agesDetails →Free, by what you actually want to do
What “free” means on this page
Free here means no ticket and no admission charge, read off the organiser's own listing by a person. It does not always mean walk-up: planting days, ranger walks and library workshops often cap numbers, so “free · registration required” is written on the card where it applies. Free for residents only, and free with admission, are labelled too, because both matter at the door.