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🎟️ Free Culture & Outdoors in Chicago
Free museum days, gallery nights, park and conservatory programmes, and the library events that cost nothing. Illinois-residents-only and free-with-admission are both labelled where they apply.
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 →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 →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 →Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
FreeSAT, OCT 31Streeterville Dog Halloween PartyMuseum of Contemporary Art Chicago · Downtown & Near NorthFreeDetails →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 →Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
SUN, NOV 1Día de los Muertos CelebrationPeggy Notebaert Nature Museum · North SideFree with AdmissionDetails →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 →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 →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 →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 →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 →Museum of Contemporary Art ChicagoFreeSAT, OCT 31Streeterville Dog Halloween PartyMuseum of Contemporary Art Chicago · Downtown & Near NorthFreeDetails →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 →Peggy Notebaert Nature MuseumSUN, NOV 1Día de los Muertos CelebrationPeggy Notebaert Nature Museum · North SideFree with AdmissionDetails →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 →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 →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 →What lands on this page
This is what most people mean by “free things to do”, and it is the largest of the three lists. Two warnings the cards carry and the aggregators do not: many museum free days are for Illinois residents only and need ID, and “free with admission” is not free, so where a talk or a tour needs a ticket to get in, the card says so.