2019 Free Chicago Museum Days. Visiting museums can be very expensive. Thanks to the Illinois General Assembly many … [Read More...]
Featured Events
Discount Chicago Lakefront Cruises
Discount Chicago Lakefront Cruises. Cool off on a Lakefront cruise! When: Various dates and times. Where: Navy … [Read More...]
Discount “Hamilton: The Exhibition” tickets
Discount "Hamilton: The Exhibition" tickets When: April 26-Sept 6, 2019. M-Tues 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM (last entry at … [Read More...]
Discount admission Brookfield Zoo
Discount admission Brookfield Zoo. Where: Brookfield Zoo, 3300 Golf Rd; Brookfield, 708-688-8000. When: Limited … [Read More...]
Latest Deals and Events
Chicago Gospel Music Festival May 31-June 1
Chicago Gospel Music Festival returns to Millennium Park Pritzker Pavilion and the Chicago Cultural Center. When: May … [Read More...]
Do Division Street Fest and Sidewalk Sale May 31-June 2
Do Division Street Fest and Sidewalk Sale. When: May 31-June 2, 2019 Friday 5-10pm, Saturday & … [Read More...]
57th Street Art Fair Hyde Park June 1-2
57th Street Art Fair Hyde Park. When: June 1-2, 2019 Saturday 11 am-6 pm; Sunday 10 am-5 pm Where: 57th Street … [Read More...]
Free book for kids through Barnes & Noble summer reading program
This summer, Barnes & Noble wants kids to go on an adventure without ever leaving their backyard or bedroom. Kids … [Read More...]
Chicago Maifest Lincoln Square May 30-June 2
Chicago Maifest Lincoln Square. The little sibling of Lincoln Square's Oktoberfest, Maifest, includes food (beer and … [Read More...]
Lincoln Park Greek Fest May 31-June 2
The Lincoln Park Greek Fest brings all the aromas, sounds, tastes and traditions of Greece to your doorstep. When: … [Read More...]
Free Apple Camp for kids
Free Apple Camp for kids. Lights! Camera! Fun! If your kid has a director’s eye, or is just brimming with creativity, … [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 WFMT Beach Party May 27
Free WFMT Beach Party May 27 When: Monday, May 27, 2019 10:00AM-4:00PM Where: Theater on the Lake 2401 N. Lake … [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...]
Chicago Cultural Center Free International Screenings Program
Chicago Cultural Center Free International Screenings Program When: Wednesdays, May 29, June 5, 12, 19, 26, 2019 … [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...]
Guide to Chicago Beaches
Guide to Chicago Beaches. Yeah! Chicago beach season commences Friday, May 24 through Monday, September 2, 2019. The … [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...]
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 movies Harold Washington Library
Free movies Harold Washington Library Where: Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State Street, Cindy Pritzker … [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...]
Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest May 25-26
Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest May 25-26. When: May 25-26, 2019, 11AM-10PM Where: Lakeview, 3200 N. Sheffield Ave. from … [Read More...]
Free fireworks Saturday nights at Navy Pier
Free fireworks Saturday nights at Navy Pier. About the Navy Pier Fireworks Navy Pier is the destination for … [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...]
Discount Chinatown Tours
Discount Chinatown Tours. When: Any Saturday 10:00am-11:00am, May 25–August 31, 2019 Tours are 90 minutes. Where: Tour … [Read More...]
Booze rules at Millennium Park
Booze rules at Millennium Park. The new season of Grant Park concerts is out. I'll have those posts up later this … [Read More...]
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Free Bird Walks
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Free Bird Walks. Where: Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 North Cannon Drive, … [Read More...]
Discount tickets Randolph Street Market
Discount tickets Randolph Street Market. COTC used to have discount tickets through Goldstar but those seem t have … [Read More...]
Landmarks Illinois Free Lectures
Landmarks Illinois Free Lectures. Landmarks Illinois sponsors a series of free lectures Preservation Snapshots … [Read More...]
Discount tickets to Falsettos
Discount tickets to Falsettos The Hit Broadway Revival Where: James M. Nederlander Theatre (formerly the Oriental … [Read More...]
Teens workout free all Summer at Planet Fitness
Teens workout free all Summer at Planet Fitness When: May 15-Sept 1, 2019 Where: Planet Fitness More … [Read More...]
Discount Chicago Lakefront Cruises
Discount Chicago Lakefront Cruises. Cool off on a Lakefront cruise! When: Various dates and times. Where: Navy … [Read More...]
Visit Chicago Botanic Garden on the cheap
Visit Chicago Botanic Garden on the cheap. The Chicago Botanical Garden (1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL 60022, (847) … [Read More...]
Attend a Chicago Police CAPS Beat meeting
Attend a Chicago Police CAPS Beat meeting. If you're like me and concerned about the increase in crime in your area … [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...]
Free Wildflower Walks at North Pond Nature Sanctuary
Free Wildflower Walks at North Pond Nature Sanctuary. Where: North Pond Nature Sanctuary, 2610 N Cannon … [Read More...]
Free musical performances Chicago Cultural Center
Free musical performances Chicago Cultural Center When: Third Thursday of Every Month 12-12:45pm Location: 78 E. … [Read More...]
Volunteer at West Ridge Nature Preserve
Volunteer at West Ridge Nature Preserve When: Select Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. April 20, … [Read More...]
Save money at Spring Plant Sales
Save money at Spring Plant Sales. Many public gardens and garden clubs hold plant sales each spring to raise funds … [Read More...]
Free 85th Chicago Park District Birthday Party at Maggie Daley Park
Free Maggie Daley Park events Where: Maggie Daley Park 337 E. Randolph When: Thursday, June 20, 2019 from 6:30 … [Read More...]
Free Saturday gallery tours Chicago River North
Join a group for a complimentary free gallery tour, led by an owner or representative, of four area galleries in River … [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 Movies at Gallagher Way
Free Movies at Gallagher Way. Where: 3635 N Clark St between Addison and Waveland (773) 388-8260. When: Select … [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...]
Southside Chicago Farmer’s Markets
Southside Chicago Farmer's Markets on Wednesday, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and listed … [Read More...]
ShowPlace Icon Theaters $6 ticket Tuesdays
ShowPlace Icon Theaters $6 ticket Tuesdays. When: Every Tuesday, All Day (Always call first, promotions end without … [Read More...]
17% off dining at Panera
17% off dining at Panera. Get a $10.00 bonus card for every $50 in Panera Bread® plastic gift cards and eGift cards … [Read More...]
Convert coins to Amazon gift cards for free
Convert coins to Amazon gift cards for free. Since banks won't take coins anymore and I and refuse to carry them around … [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 Chicago Riverwalk Season Celebration May 13-19
Free Chicago Riverwalk Season Celebration When: Monday, May 13–19, 2019 See times below. Chicago Architectural … [Read More...]
AMC Theaters: $5 ticket Tuesdays now $6
AMC Theaters: $5 ticket Tuesdays now $6 AMC has renamed $5 Tuesdays to "Discount Tuesdays" and now AMC Stubs members … [Read More...]
Wilton Tent Sale 2019
Wilton Tent Sale 2019. The Wilton Tent Sale now known as the Wilton Outlet Sale is back! And it's not in a … [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 