This month, catch a Grammy-winning artist headline a music festival, explore an interactive science museum, and tour a Chicago neighborhood with a friendly local — all without spending a dime.
Chicago is bursting with free things to do this July, including plenty of live music, free museum days, and neighborhood happenings. Summer is an especially great time for travelers on a budget — check out our guide to free and cheap things to do this summer for even more ideas.
1. Attend the Chicago Gospel Music Festival
Saturday, July 12, 2025
This year’s Chicago Gospel Music Festival brings some of gospel’s top names to downtown Millennium Park, including Grammy Award-winning Chandler Moore.
A tradition for the past 40 years, this beloved festival honors the legacy of gospel music in the city where it was born. All performances throughout the day are free and open to the public, and you can even pack your own picnic to enjoy in the grass.
2. Watch the Independence Day fireworks on the lakefront
Saturday, July 5, 2025
Celebrate the Fourth of July in Chicago with the Independence Day fireworks display on Saturday, July 5. The breathtaking show lights up the sky over Lake Michigan, accompanied by a soundtrack of patriotic music. The best places to watch include anywhere on the south or east sides of Navy Pier or along the nearby lakefront.
The Navy Pier fireworks display is one of the most iconic parts of a Chicago summer. These twice-weekly shows take place on Wednesdays at 9 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 p.m. all summer long.
Explore more: Check out our guide to the Fourth of July weekend in Chicago.
3. Explore a new neighborhood
July 12, 19, and 26, 2025
This summer, Chicago Greeter is bringing free pop-up walks to neighborhoods across the city. Check out this month’s schedule of no-cost neighborhood tours:
- Lincoln Park (July 12): a lakefront neighborhood known for its lush green space
- Old Town (July 12): a charming enclave home to a buzzy nightlife scene
- Little Village (July 19): a hub of Hispanic culture, known as the Mexico of the Midwest
- West Loop (July 19): one of Chicago’s most iconic dining and nightlife districts
- Northalsted (July 26): the oldest official LGBTQ+ neighborhood in the country
- Southport Corridor (July 26): a bustling retail corridor in the Lakeview neighborhood
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a long-time resident, there’s always something new to discover in Chicago. Get to know a new neighborhood on a free Chicago Greeter tour, led by a friendly local who will show you each neighborhood’s landmarks, hot spots, and hidden gems.
4. Shop Maxwell Street Market
July 13, 2025
Chicago’s oldest market, the origins of Maxwell Street Market date back more than a century. This outdoor bazaar includes homemade items, resale goods, clothes, jewelry, home goods, and beyond. Plus, enjoy live music (including blues, a genre with deep local roots) or take a walking tour that delves into the history of the market.
5. Immerse yourself in Chinese culture at Summer Fair
Saturday, July 26 to Sunday, 27, 2025
Chicago’s historic Chinatown neighborhood is one of the oldest communities of its kind in the country. One of the area’s signature events is the annual Chinatown Summer Fair, a free celebration of Chinese culture. The outdoor fest features traditional lion dances, kung fu demonstrations, and more live entertainment throughout the weekend.
Check the calendar for even more fun Chinatown events all year long, from dragon boat racing in the summer to the colorful Chinese New Year parade every winter.
6. Take a trolley tour through a gallery district
Friday, July 18, 2025
The Bronzeville neighborhood, known as the city’s “Black Metropolis”, is home to a vibrant arts scene. Explore the neighborhood’s many gallery spaces during the monthly Bronzeville Art District Trolley Tour. Each summer, these free tours take visitors to a variety of neighborhood galleries and artist studios, featuring works from local and international artists.
7. See a movie under the stars
Tuesdays in July
Every summer in Chicago, visitors and locals flock to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion to kick back, picnic, and watch blockbusters, award-winning movies, family classics, and cult favorites.
The Millennium Park Summer Film Series is back this July with free movies on select Tuesdays. Check out this month’s lineup of free movie screenings at the Pritzker Pavilion:
- July 1: The Sandlot (1993, PG)
- July 8: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005, PG-13) — 20th anniversary
- July 15: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989, PG-13)
- July 22: Love & Basketball (2000, PG-13)
- July 29: The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014, R)
If you love free things to do in Millennium Park, check out the Millennium Park Summer Music Series that brings free concerts to the downtown area all summer long.
8. Enjoy a free museum day
All month long
Spend an afternoon wandering through a Chicago museum, where you can dive into fascinating history, provocative contemporary art, and galaxies far, far away.
Here are the upcoming free museum days in Chicago this month for Illinois residents:
- Field Museum is free every Wednesday
- Museum of Contemporary Art is free every Tuesday evening
- Art Institute of Chicago is free every Thursday evening
- Chicago History Museum is free on July 4, 24, and 30
- DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center is free for all every Wednesday
- Adler Planetarium is free every Wednesday evening
You can also visit one of the city’s always-free museums, like the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, the National Museum of Mexican Art, and the National Public Housing Museum.
Explore more: Mark your calendar for free museum days throughout the year.
9. Get a taste of Chicago
Saturday, July 29, 2025
Taste of Chicago is the city’s signature food festival, bringing thousands of fest-goers to downtown Grant Park each year. While the main event is in September, you can catch a bite-sized version this month during the Taste of Chicago neighborhood pop-up in Pullman Park on Saturday, July 29. Admission is free; enjoy a full day of live music, dance lessons, and more.
10. Hit the beach
Abel Arciniega :: @tequilagraphics
All month long
Beach season is officially here, which means Chicago’s dozens of free beaches are open to enjoy. People watch at North Avenue Beach, take in the views at South Shore Beach, play some volleyball in the sand at Foster Beach, and beyond. Many Chicago beaches are connected via the Lakefront Trail, an 18-mile path perfect for running, walking, or biking.
Explore more: Check out more sandy spots to explore with our Chicago beach guide.
