
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…
COVID-19 updates
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…
Experience Chicago’s award-winning museums, without spending a dime. Check out our ever-growing list of free museum days in 2021, plus some Chicago museums that are…
Free admission • Multiple locations The 22nd annual World Music Festival is your passport to musical acts from around the globe. This free, city-wide festival,…
Free admission • Millennium Park Experience a summer of extraordinary music with 30+ free classical concerts. The 86th annual Grant Park Music Festival at Millennium…
Free admission • Millennium Park Gospel music has deep roots in Chicago. The city helped transform the genre, propelling it onto a world stage. The…
Free admission • Millennium Park The annual Chicago Blues Festival in June is the city’s largest music festival. More than 500,000 blues fans gather in…
Free admission • Grant Park The annual SummerDance festival brings people of all ages and skill levels together in Grant Park’s Spirit of Music Garden…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Free admission • Chicago lakefront Starting in the summer of 1959, the Chicago Air and Water Show has grown to be the largest and oldest…
Update: Halloween in Chicago is going to look a bit different this year. While there are plenty of safe and fun activities planned, many of…
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…
Located on the south bank of the Chicago River, the award-winning, pedestrian-friendly Chicago Riverwalk stretches 1.25 miles from Lake Shore Drive to Lake Street. Along…
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