Discount tickets Tall Ship Windy. I went on this cruise a long time ago and while there were some cheesy elements it … [Read More...]
Featured Events
Chicago Air & Water Show Aug 17-18
Chicago Air & Water Show Aug 17-18. The Chicago Air and Water Show is one of the world’s best air shows and its FREE … [Read More...]
2019 Free Chicago Museum Days
2019 Free Chicago Museum Days. Visiting museums can be very expensive. Thanks to the Illinois General Assembly many … [Read More...]
Free or cheap things to do in Chicago this week
Free or cheap things to do in Chicago this week. You can find a complete list of events by day on our Calendar page. … [Read More...]
Latest Deals and Events
Free SummerDance Celebration Millennium Park
Free SummerDance Celebration Millennium Park When: Saturday, August 24, 2019, 12pm-9pm Where: Millennium Park, … [Read More...]
Free Chicago Community Emergency Response training
Free Chicago Community Emergency Response training. While researching an upcoming post on how to prepare for an … [Read More...]
Free movie Lakeshore East Park
Free movie Lakeshore East Park. Grab a chair or blanket and come out to Chicago's best "hidden" park for a free … [Read More...]
Free Jean Baptiste DuSable Commemoration and Tour
Free Jean Baptiste DuSable Commemoration and Tour When: Sat, August 24, 2019, 11:30 PM-2:30PM Where: Pioneer … [Read More...]
Smithsonian Magazine Free Museum Day Sept. 21
Smithsonian Magazine Free Museum Day. Every year Smithsonian Magazine offers free general admission-for-two to hundreds … [Read More...]
Free Small Business Expo
Free Small Business Expo. If you're thinking about starting a business (everyone should have a side hustle as a way to … [Read More...]
Here’s the deal on free day at Adler Planetarium Chicago
Here's the deal on free day at Adler Planetarium Chicago. If you're thinking about heading to a museum on free day … [Read More...]
Free Chicago SummerDance June 27-August 23
Free Chicago SummerDance. The largest annual outdoor dancing series in the US returns with swing, waltz, salsa and … [Read More...]
Free Events Smart Museum of Art
Free Events Smart Museum of Art. The Smart Museum is always free. Where: The Smart Museum of Art, 5550 S. Greenwood, … [Read More...]
$20 off Sam’s Club membership
$20 off Sam’s Club membership. If you've been thinking about getting a Sam's Club for warehouse shopping, now is the … [Read More...]
Free Learn to Ride Scooter Classes
Free scooter training classes. The scooters aren't technically all over the city but I'm sure they will be soon. I read … [Read More...]
Discount tickets Tall Ship Windy
Discount tickets Tall Ship Windy. I went on this cruise a long time ago and while there were some cheesy elements it … [Read More...]
Edison Park Fest Aug 16-18
Edison Park Fest When: August 16-18, 2019, Friday - 5pm - 10:30pm, Saturday - 11am - 10:30pm, Sunday - 11am - 10pm. … [Read More...]
Chicago Air & Water Show Aug 17-18
Chicago Air & Water Show Aug 17-18. The Chicago Air and Water Show is one of the world’s best air shows and its FREE … [Read More...]
Attend Grant Park Advisory Council Meeting
Attend Grant Park Advisory Council Meeting When: Wednesday, August 21, 2019, 6:30PM Future meetings in 2019 will be … [Read More...]
Free Tree Walks around Chicago
Free Tree Walks around Chicago Treekeepers offers free tree walks around Chicago from time-to-time. Each walk is … [Read More...]
Ritual Eats Week $1 food August 12-23
Ritual Eats Week $1 food August 12-23 When: August 12-23, 2019 My favorite order-ahead food app, Ritual is … [Read More...]
Save money dining with the Ritual App Get $10 free
Save money dining with the Ritual App Ritual allows you to skip the line, place to-go orders and there are never any … [Read More...]
Pilsen Fest Aug 17-18
Pilsen Fest When: August 17-18, 2019 12PM-10PM both days. Where: Pilsen, 18th Street and Blue Island This … [Read More...]
Free events The 606 Chicago
Free events The 606 Chicago. Guide to the 606. The 606 is offers free things to do for all ages spring, summer and … [Read More...]
Green City Market every Wednesday
Green City Market every Wednesday. The Green City outdoor market is open Every Wednesday May 8-October 30, 2019 … [Read More...]
Jazzin at the Shedd Aquarium every Wednesday
Jazzin at the Shedd Aquarium every Wednesday. Enjoy Jazz, cocktails, amazing lake views, fireworks and admission to the … [Read More...]
Little Italy Festa Aug 15-18
Little Italy Festa. When: August 15-18, 2019, Thurs: 5-10PM, Fri: 5-11PM, Sat: Noon-11PM, Sun: Noon-9PM Where: On … [Read More...]
Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest Aug 16-18
Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest Aug 16-18 When: August 16-18, 2019 Fri. 6pm - 10pm. Sat. 11am-9pm and Sun. 11am-7pm Where: … [Read More...]
2019 Free Chicago Museum Days
2019 Free Chicago Museum Days. Visiting museums can be very expensive. Thanks to the Illinois General Assembly many … [Read More...]
Free Wildflower Walks at North Pond Nature Sanctuary
Free Wildflower Walks at North Pond Nature Sanctuary. Where: North Pond Nature Sanctuary, 2610 N Cannon Dr. meet at … [Read More...]
Free events Chinatown Library
Free events Chinatown Library. Where: 2100 S. Wentworth Avenue, (312) 747-8013 I take the water taxi to Chinatown … [Read More...]
Free Music Navy Pier
Free Music Navy Pier. The Miller Lite Beer Garden on Navy Pier offers free Live on the Lake outdoor music … [Read More...]
Free fireworks Wednesday nights at Navy Pier
Free fireworks Wednesday nights at Navy Pier. About the Navy Pier Fireworks Navy Pier is the destination for … [Read More...]
Free Ravinia tickets from CPL
Free Ravinia tickets from CPL. Here's how it works For tickets, visit any CPL location starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, … [Read More...]
Hamilton App for $10 Lottery Tickets
Hamilton App for $10 Lottery Tickets Download the app from your app store. Click on "Enter now" for the next … [Read More...]
Free movie screening Near North Library
Free movie screening Near North Library Where: Near North Library: 310 W. Division Street, (312) 744-0991. Always … [Read More...]
Discount admission to Museum of Contemporary Art
Discount admission to Museum of Contemporary Art. Every Tuesday is free day for Illinois residents but if you're a … [Read More...]
Donate $5+ in school supplies Get ticket to Brookfield Zoo
Donate $5+ in school supplies Get ticket to Brookfield Zoo Where: Shops at North Bridge, 520 N. Michigan, … [Read More...]
Free Senior Seminars at Daley Center Chicago
Free Senior Seminars at Daley Center Chicago. The Circuit Court of Cook County Elder Justice Center hosts a series of … [Read More...]
Green City Market every Saturday
Green City Market every Saturday. Green City outdoor market is open Every Saturday May 4 through October 26, 2019, … [Read More...]
Senior Savings Day at Walgreens
Senior Savings Day at Walgreens. On the first Tuesday of the month, Walgreens offers customers age 55 and older a 20% … [Read More...]
Bed Bath and Beyond at Grand and State is closing – No deals!
Bed Bath and Beyond at Grand and State is closing - no deals! This was announced on July 12. Rumor has it the store … [Read More...]
Free movies Ward Park River North
Free movies Ward Park River North. Montgomery Ward Park will once again present outdoor movies as part of the Summer … [Read More...]
Free or cheap things to do in Chicago this week
Free or cheap things to do in Chicago this week. You can find a complete list of events by day on our Calendar page. … [Read More...]
Visit museums free this weekend
Visit museums free this weekend. The first full weekend of the month is coming, and that means Bank of America customers … [Read More...]
Green City Market West Loop
Green City Market West Loop When: Saturday June 1–October 26, 2019 8am–1pm. Where: Mary Bartelme Park, 115 S. … [Read More...]
Free Riverwalk Talk every Friday
Free Riverwalk Talk every Friday When: Fridays 12PM-1PM through Aug 30, 2019 Where: Chicago Riverwalk, @ Vietnam … [Read More...]
Free Pilsen Community Market
Free Pilsen Community Market When: Sunday, May 26-October 27, 2019 10:00 am – 3:30 pm Where: Plaza Tenochtitlán, … [Read More...]
Discount “Hamilton: The Exhibition” tickets Closing Aug 25
Discount "Hamilton: The Exhibition" tickets If you were thinking about attending the exhibit it is closing August 25 so … [Read More...]
Free Saturday morning workouts at Millennium Park
Free Saturday morning workouts at Millennium Park. Kick off your summer weekend with a FREE morning workout on the … [Read More...]
Free outdoor movies Lincoln Park
Free outdoor movies Lincoln Park. When: See schedule below. Start times are approximate. Movies start at … [Read More...]
Free tour of Wicker Park and Gardens
Free tour of Wicker Park and Gardens When: Select Sundays June 2, 9, 23, July 7, 21, Aug 11, 25 and Sept 8, 2019 … [Read More...]
Half-Price Tickets
Get ticket discounts of up to 50% (sometimes more) on Chicago's hottest musicals, comedies, concerts, talks, and more. See the half-price ticket deals.
This Week
Find out what"s happening in Chicago this week and what you can do that's inexpensive or free. See our list of things that are Free or Cheap this Week.
Day by Day
Our calendar lets you see a month at a glance, or click on a particular date to see events for that day. Check out our free or cheap Chicago events calendar.
Things to Do in Chicago
Things to Do with Kids
Eat, Drink & Save Money
Chicago for Visitors
Chicago on the Cheap is a member of Living on the Cheap, a network of websites published by frugalistas, journalists and consumer advocates. Find practical advice on saving money on groceries, travel and shopping, plus tips from our experts on how to live the good life for less at 