Ritual Eats Week $1 food September 16-27 When: September 16-27, 2019 My favorite order-ahead food app, Ritual is … [Read More...]
Featured Events
Discount admission Brookfield Zoo
Discount admission Brookfield Zoo. Where: Brookfield Zoo, 3300 Golf Rd; Brookfield, 708-688-8000. When: Limited … [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...]
2019 Free Chicago Museum Days
2019 Free Chicago Museum Days. Visiting museums can be very expensive. Thanks to the Illinois General Assembly … [Read More...]
Latest Deals and Events
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...]
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...]
Harold Washington Library Free Exhibit
Materials Science Exhibit Where: Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State Street, Grand Promenade on the 3rd … [Read More...]
Harold Washington Library Free Lectures
Harold Washington Library: Free Lectures. Where: Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State Street, (312) 747-4300. … [Read More...]
Harold Washington Library Free Author Lecture Series
Harold Washington Library Free Author Lecture Series. Where: Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State Street, … [Read More...]
Free North Pond Nature Sanctuary Bird Walks
Free North Pond Nature Sanctuary Bird Walks. Even if you're not a bird watcher give it a try. You'll be surprised at … [Read More...]
Get free stuff on your birthday
Get free stuff on your birthday. Birthday freebies used to be more generous but hey free is still free. You will be … [Read More...]
Andersonville Arts weekend Sept 19-22
Andersonville Arts Weekend starts Thursday night with receptions in galleries and shops, followed by scheduled exhibits, … [Read More...]
Andersonville Arts Fest Sept 21-22
Andersonville Arts Fest Sept 21-22 When: Saturday Sept 21-Sunday Sept 22, 2019 Both days 10AM-6PM Where: N Clark … [Read More...]
Volunteer training Lincoln Park Conservatory
Volunteers needed for Lincoln Park Conservatory Docent Program When: Train to become a docent beginning October 5, … [Read More...]
Free Exhibit at City Gallery Chicago
Free Exhibit at City Gallery Chicago. Growing Community When: through January 5, 2020 Where: City Gallery in the … [Read More...]
Lakeview Taco Fest Chicago September 21-22
The glorious taco will again be celebrated (along with fall brews from Sam Adams) at this popular annual fest in the … [Read More...]
Free Thalia Hall historical tours
Free Thalia Hall historical tours When: During brunch every third Saturday of the month 11AM-11:45AM July-December … [Read More...]
Attend Grant Park Advisory Council Meeting
Attend Grant Park Advisory Council Meeting When: Wednesday, September 18, 2019 , 6:30PM Future meetings in 2019 … [Read More...]
Art on the Mart Daily at Dusk
Art on the Mart Daily at Dusk When: March 17 - May 12, 2019 Wednesdays through Sundays. Starting Monday, May 13- … [Read More...]
Watch the Annual Chicago Bridge Lift tradition
Watch the Annual Chicago Bridge Lift tradition. Chicago is a city of bridges. For residents it can be quite irksome … [Read More...]
Maxwell Street Market: Thrift Shopping every Sunday
Maxwell Street Market: Thrift Shopping every Sunday When: Every Sunday, 9 am - 3 pm Free Admission. Where: 800 S. … [Read More...]
Ritual Eats Week $1 food September 16-27
Ritual Eats Week $1 food September 16-27 When: September 16-27, 2019 My favorite order-ahead food app, Ritual is … [Read More...]
Bed Bath and Beyond at Grand and State is closing – 30-75% off
Bed Bath and Beyond at Grand and State is closing - 30-75% off. Update 9/12/19: I stopped by the store today and … [Read More...]
2019 Chicago Architecture Biennial Overview
2019 Chicago Architecture Biennial Overview. The Chicago Architecture Biennial is a three month long event offering … [Read More...]
Free Chicago Architecture Biennial Opening Events
Free Chicago Architecture Biennial Opening Events The Chicago Architecture Biennial is a three month long event … [Read More...]
Free paper shredding at Staples
Free paper shredding at Staples Staples offers shredding deals from time-to-time for free or at a discount. The … [Read More...]
Free Chicago World Music Festival Sept 13-29
Free Chicago World Music Festival Sept 13-29 The Annual World Music Festival Chicago is a city-wide, multi-venue … [Read More...]
Free lectures and workshops Lurie Garden
Free lectures and workshops Lurie Garden The Lurie Garden offers seasonal FREE lectures and workshops. All events are … [Read More...]
Volunteer at Ping Tom Park in Chinatown
Volunteer at Ping Tom Park in Chinatown. Where: S. Wentworth Ave. and 19th Street. Contact … [Read More...]
Discount admission Brookfield Zoo
Discount admission Brookfield Zoo. Where: Brookfield Zoo, 3300 Golf Rd; Brookfield, 708-688-8000. When: Limited … [Read More...]
Downtown Chicago farmers markets this week
Downtown Chicago farmers markets this week. The downtown Chicago farmers markets are held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and … [Read More...]
Free Garden Tours Lincoln Park Zoo
Free garden tours Lincoln Park Zoo. Join Lincoln Park Zoo’s Horticulture Department for a FREE tour of the beautiful zoo … [Read More...]
Volunteer at Montrose Beach Dunes in Lincoln Park
Volunteer at Montrose Beach Dunes in Lincoln Park Where: 4400 N Simonds Ave. contact us at … [Read More...]
Volunteer for restoration and clean up at 12th Street Beach
Volunteer for restoration and clean up at 12th Street Beach When: 2nd Wednesday of the month 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 … [Read More...]
AMC Theaters: $6 ticket Tuesdays
AMC Theaters: $6 ticket Tuesdays AMC "Discount Tuesdays" offers $6 movie tickets all day (w/tax downtown Chicago = … [Read More...]
Free Workouts at Gallagher Way
Free Workouts at Gallagher Way. Gallagher Way hosts free workouts from May-September. Where: 3635 N Clark St between … [Read More...]
Free Kids Events Gallagher Way
Free Kids Events Gallagher Way (formerly known as ThePark at Wrigley). Gallagher Way is offering free Wiggleworms … [Read More...]
Renegade Craft Fair Chicago Sept 7-8
Renegade Craft Fair Chicago Sept 7-8. If you're looking for gifts and merchandise that are unique and not mass-produced … [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...]
Adler Planetarium After Dark
Adler Planetarium After Dark. If you're looking for something different to do consider attending the next Adler After … [Read More...]
Free lecture Transform Illinois
Free lecture Transform Illinois When: Wednesday, October 2, 2019, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. CST Register … [Read More...]
2019 Free Chicago Museum Days
2019 Free Chicago Museum Days. Visiting museums can be very expensive. Thanks to the Illinois General Assembly … [Read More...]
Free days Pritzker Military Museum and Library
Free days Pritzker Military Museum and Library Where: Monroe Building, 104 S. Michigan, 2nd and 3rd floors … [Read More...]
Free AMC Black tickets, popcorn and sodas with Coke Rewards
Free AMC Black tickets, popcorn and sodas with Coke Rewards. This offer is available and ends 10/3/19. What is My … [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...]
Free events Goethe Institut of Chicago
Free events Goethe Institut of Chicago. The Goethe-Institut offers German-centric exhibits, concerts films and other … [Read More...]
Free concerts DePaul School of Music
Free concerts DePaul School of Music. The DePaul School of Music hosts free events throughout the year. Where: … [Read More...]
Free events Newberry Library
Free events Newberry Library. Where: Newberry Library, 60 West Walton Street, (312) 943-9090. Free and open to the … [Read More...]
City of Chicago: Free Business Education Workshops
City of Chicago: Free Business Education Workshops. The City of Chicago, Department of Business Affairs and Consumer … [Read More...]
Free Fulton Market Expo
Free Fulton Market Expo When: May 4, June 1, July 6, August 3, September 7 & October 5, 9am-1pm (weather … [Read More...]
Volunteer at Open House Chicago
Volunteer at Open House Chicago When: October 19-20, 2019 Where: City-wide Register to volunteer What is Open … [Read More...]
Chicago Garage Sales
Chicago Garage Sales. Looking for Chicago-area garage sales, moving sales, yard sales, and estate sales? Use our handy … [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 