Festivals & special events, Free & cheap
Chicago’s free summer music festivals
In the summer, the city’s downtown and lakefront are filled with the sound of sublime songs, slide guitars, haunting violins, and sultry saxes, as revelers…
Free and cheap
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 free museum days for 2019, plus some Chicago museums Free museum…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
World Music Festival Chicago
Sept. 13 – 29, 2019 The 21st Annual World Music Festival is your passport to musical acts from around the globe. This free, city-wide festival…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
Grant Park Music Festival
Check back for 2020 dates Experience a summer of extraordinary music with 30+ free classical concerts. The 86th annual Grant Park Music Festival at Millennium…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
Chicago Gospel Music Festival
Check back soon for 2020 dates and details. May/June 2020 • Free admission • Millennium Park and the Chicago Cultural Center Gospel music has deep…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
Chicago Blues Festival
Check back soon for 2020 dates and details. The annual Chicago Blues Festival in June is the city’s largest music festival. More than 500,000 blues…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music, Theatre & performing arts
Chicago SummerDance
Check back for 2020 dates and information Free admission • Grant Park The annual SummerDance festival brings people of all ages and skill levels together…
Food & drink, Free & cheap
What to eat at Taste of Chicago 2019
This year’s Taste of Chicago, the world’s largest free-admission food fest, will feature 82 local restaurants, including 24 pop-ups and 17 food trucks. That adds…
Free & cheap, Museums & art
7 free things to do at the Chicago Cultural Center
From lunchtime concerts to provocative art shows, the Chicago Cultural Center is a creative epicenter, with free art exhibits, concerts, guided tours, and more. Here are…
Free & cheap, Parks & outdoors
Free summer fun in Chicago’s parks and gardens
Welcome to a summer of free things to do in serene green spaces throughout the bustling city. Morning yoga? Movie under the stars? Perhaps a…
Free & cheap
5 free off-the-beaten-path things to do in Chicago
You’ll feel just like one of the locals as you wander beyond downtown Chicago to discover little-known gems steeped in history and artistry. Best of…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap
Chicago Air & Water Show
August 17 – 18, 2019 North Avenue Beach & Chicago & Lakefront Free admission Starting in the summer of 1959, the Chicago Air and Water…
Free & cheap, Holidays
5 free Halloween events in Chicago
Halloween in Chicago is so much more than just trick-or-treating. There’s magical nighttime parades, authentic Day of the Dead celebrations, ghosts tours, and more —…
Free & cheap, Itineraries
2-day budget Chicago itinerary
Here’s the skinny on two days of budget-friendly Chicago sights and experiences, covering everything from beer tastings to neighborhood tours and attractions you won’t want…
Free & cheap, Parks & outdoors
Chicago Riverwalk
Located on the south bank of the Chicago River, the multi-award-winning, pedestrian-friendly Chicago Riverwalk stretches 1.25 miles from Lake Shore Drive to Lake Street. Along…
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