9 Free Things to do in Chicago

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

One of the benefits of living in or near a big city is all the opportunities for free fun and entertainment. After all, I’ve always been a fan of the idea that ‘fun’ should be free all the time anyway. Also, if you’re traveling to a new city, free entertainment and attractions are always great if you are on a budget and looking to keep your spending low.

Chicago is a HUGE and expensive city to live in even though it has so much to offer in terms of attractions, dining, and special events. The city’s population reached about 2.7 million three years ago and I’m not sure what it is now. Plus, more than 40 million people visit Chicago every year.

While I live in one of the 45+ suburbs of Chicago, lately I’ve been feeling the need to visit the city more and take advantage of some of the discounted and free attractions. It would definitely beat the price of traveling across the country.

If you are or will be traveling to or through Chicago this year, here are the top 10 things you can do and experience for free in the city.

1. Lincoln Park Zoo

There are only a handful of large free zoos in the country. Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago is one of them. This zoo is open year-round and covers over 35 acres and features more than 230 species of animals including tigers, polar bears, monkeys, pandas and more. There is also a farm within the zoo and a nature boardwalk that allows you to get closer to the animals.

2. Harold Washington Library

The Harold Washington Library is not your average library. Named after a former mayor, the Harold Washington Library is one of the largest public libraries in the world. Construction was completed in 1991 for the building that takes up about a whole city block and contains about 756,000 square feet and a winter garden on the ninth floor. More than 13 million published works can be found at this library along with an art collection that contains over work from over 50 different artists. This library always has special events going on so it’s worth to stop by if you are ever in the heart of downtown Chicago.

3. Chicago Cultural Center

The Chicago Cultural Center is a historical landmark that originally opened in 1897. It has a stunning interior with stained glass domes that you can see when taking a free guided tour.

The center also hosts free weekly music concerts featuring blues, jazz and classical music along with dance performances, film screenings, theatre events and more. All in all, the Chicago Cultural Center hosts hundreds of free events all year-round.

4. Museum of Contemporary Art

Back in college, I took a summer humanities class and developed an exciting new appreciation for art and maybe it’s just the nerd in me, but I love to learn about different artists and what motivated them to create certain pieces.

If you have similar interests, you may enjoy the Museum of Contemporary Art that showcases a wide variety of art collections with most exhibits rotating throughout the year. Visitors can sign up for a free 45-minute guided tour of the museum with explanations of all the exhibits.

5. Millennium Park

If you’re looking to spend most of your time outside, checking out Millennium Park is a must. It’s one of the most popular tourist attractions in Chicago that features large public art on display including the Cloud Gate or ‘The Bean’ as locals refer to it, Crown Fountain, Jay Prizker Pavillion and more. The park sit along the lakeside and is home to tons of free cultural exhibitions, tours, concerts, and family-friendly activities.

6. Public Beaches

Image Credit: Steve Browne and John Verkleir

While Chicago is nowhere near the ocean, about 26 miles of the city sits along the lakefront of Lake Michigan so we use that as our sandy beach. There are several public beaches to enjoy from Memorial Day to Labor Day including North Avenue Beach and Oak Street Beach along with an 18.5-mile long bike path that runs along Lake Michigan.

7. Tour of the City

If you’d like an in-depth tour of Chicago so you can see all it has to offer, the best kept secret is Chicago Greeter. Chicago Greeter is an extension of the global greeter network and provides friendly and knowledgeable tour guides to take tourists on a guided 2-4 hour tour of Chicago.

Why pay an expensive tourist agency when you can use this service for free? They have over 200 volunteers on staff and can customize each tour to show you particular neighborhoods that you’d like to see and attractions that meet your interests. To schedule your free tour, you’ll need to register at least 10 business days in advance.

8. Smart Museum of Art

The Smart Museum of Art is apart of the University of Chicago and houses more than 7,000 objects spanning five centuries of both Western and Eastern civilizations. This museum provides bold encounters with art and is always free and open to the public.

9.Attend Festival

Depending on when you arrive in Chicago, there may be a free festival to attend. The Chicago Air and Water Show occurs in August each year and it’s great for families. There’s also an Open House Chicago architecture event that takes place each fall. If you’re a fan of music festivals, here are a few that will be taking place this summer:

• Grant Park Music Festival (June-August)
• Chicago Blues Festival (June)
• Chicago Gospel Music Festival (June)
• Chicago Jazz Festival (August)
• World Music Festival

 

What to be Mindful Of

 

 

Parking can be Expensive

While all of these activities are free, other expenses like parking may come into play. Just like any other major city, parking in Chicago is horrendously priced which is why it’s not advised to drive. If you can manage to obtain a street park then it might not be too bad, but if you’re considering using a parking garage then forget about finding too many deals during the daytime.

Public transportation like buses and the subway are more than reliable, and I would opt for an Uber over a taxi. You can also try to walk, rent a bike for cheap, or buy a 24-hour or 7-day unlimited public transportation card at any CVS in the city.

Navy Pier is NOT as Free as People Would Like you to Think

Navy Pier is a must-see if you’re looking for fun and entertainment in Chicago. The 50 acre pier sits right alongside Lake Michigan and has tons of shops, eateries, amusement rides, small cruise boats, and even an entire Children’s museum. While it’s free to visit Navy Pier and walk along the waterfront boardwalk, just about everything at the pier costs money.

They do display fireworks every Wednesday and Saturday night from Memorial Day to Labor day and the Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier is free for children 11 and under during the first Sunday of each month. Other than that, the rides, food, and other attractions can be quite pricey so definitely bring some cash with you if you plan to visit other areas of the pier.

Have you ever been to Chicago? What type of free things do you like to do for entertainment when you travel?