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 in 2021, plus some Chicago museums that are…
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, typically…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
Grant Park Music Festival
Free admission • Millennium Park July 2 – Aug. 21, 2021 Experience a summer of extraordinary music with 30+ free classical concerts. The Grant Park…
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 a world stage. The…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music
Chicago Blues Festival
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…
Festivals & special events, Free & cheap, Music, Theatre & performing arts
Chicago SummerDance
Aug. 18 – Sept. 15, 2021 Free admission • Grant Park The annual SummerDance festival brings people of all ages and skill levels together in…
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 and Water Show
Free admission • Chicago lakefront Starting in the summer of 1959, the Chicago Air and Water Show has grown to be the largest and oldest…
Free & cheap, Holidays
5 free Halloween events in Chicago
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…
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
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…
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