Free or cheap things to do in Chicago this week. Friendly Reminder: Always Confirm all details before heading … [Read More...]
Featured Events
Eating and drinking along the Chicago Riverwalk
Eating and drinking along the Chicago Riverwalk. The Chicago Riverwalk is a beautiful stroll and a nice way to … [Read More...]
Guide to Chicago Beaches May 28-Labor Day 2021
Guide to Chicago Beaches. Yeah! Chicago beach season commences Friday, May 28 through Monday, September 6, 2021. … [Read More...]
Downtown Chicago Rooftops and Patios
Downtown Chicago rooftops and patios. Well it's almost that time again for glorious outdoor dining and … [Read More...]
Latest Deals and Events
Free Metropolitan Planning Council events
Free Metropolitan Planning Council events Accelerating Climate Action: The Power of Regional Planning and Municipal … [Read More...]
Free City of Chicago chemical and computer recycling
Free City of Chicago chemical and computer recycling The City is restarting it's Household Chemicals & Computer … [Read More...]
Chicago Loop Happy Hours
Chicago Loop Happy Hours Due to Covid many Happy Hours were canceled. Now many are coming back. I'll mark … [Read More...]
Streeterville Chicago Happy Hours
Streeterville Chicago Happy Hours. Due to Covid many Happy Hours were canceled. Now many are coming back. … [Read More...]
Watch Chicago City Council Meetings
Watch Chicago City Council Meetings The City Council broadcasts/livestreams their meetings on CANtv online or on … [Read More...]
Dunkin’ Perks $3 medium drink deal
Dunkin' Perks $3 medium drink deal DD Perks Members check your app for this offer: Chicago Perks … [Read More...]
Free Tuesdays Museum of Contemporary Art
Free Tuesdays Museum of Contemporary Art Where: Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave., … [Read More...]
Free outdoor movies Lincoln Park
Free outdoor movies Lincoln Park. When: See schedule below. More info Start times are approximate. Movies start … [Read More...]
Free events Chicago Bike Week
Free events Chicago Bike Week Chicago Bike Week June 25 – July 2, 2021 2021 Bike Challenge June 21-July 2, 2021 he … [Read More...]
Free movies along The 606
Free movies along The 606 The Chicago Park District, as part of Movies in the Park, will be screening movies in … [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: … [Read More...]
Free Workouts at Gallagher Way
Free Workouts at Gallagher Way. Gallagher Way hosts free workouts from July-September. Where: 3635 N Clark St … [Read More...]
Free kids summer reading resources
Free kids summer reading resources The following free resources are available the summer. Barnes & Noble … [Read More...]
Free or cheap things to do in Chicago this week
Free or cheap things to do in Chicago this week. Friendly Reminder: Always Confirm all details before heading … [Read More...]
Chicago Children’s Museum reopens July 2
Chicago Children's Museum reopens July 2. The Chicago Children's Museum is reopening. Hours: Fridays, Saturdays, … [Read More...]
Cheap eats Navy Pier Chicago
Cheap eats Navy Pier Chicago. Most of the better food options at Navy Pier are pricey so you need to order … [Read More...]
Free Navy Pier Pride Celebration 2021
Free Navy Pier Pride Celebration 2021. When: Saturday, June 26, 2021 1:00PM-11:30PM Where: Navy Pier, 700 E. … [Read More...]
Tuesdays on the Terrace at the MCA
Tuesdays on the Terrace at the MCA. Attend a free live jazz concert every Tuesday on the Terrace at the … [Read More...]
TheRealReal: Sign up and get $25 credit
TheRealReal: Sign up and get $25 credit The RealReal opened a store at 940 N. Michigan Avenue last October. … [Read More...]
Free Virtual Events for “The Obama Portraits”
Free Virtual Events for “The Obama Portraits” When: Various dates Where: Virtual Register … [Read More...]
Celebrate July 4 at the Chicago History Museum Virtual
Celebrate July 4 at the Chicago History Museum. Where: Chicago History Museum, 1601 N Clark St., … [Read More...]
Art on the Mart Nightly 9pm and 9:30pm
Art on the Mart Nightly 9pm and 9:30pm. When: Nightly 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. Check … [Read More...]
Free Special Performances Millennium Park
Free Special Performances Millennium Park The City has created a series of FREE special events to jump start the … [Read More...]
Where to play miniature golf Chicago area
Where to play miniature golf Chicago area Miniature golf is a relatively inexpensive fun thing to do and many of the … [Read More...]
Free or cheap things to do in Chicago this weekend
Free or cheap things to do in Chicago this weekend. Friendly Reminder: Always Confirm all details before heading … [Read More...]
Free Fresh Fest Navy Pier July 8-9
Free Fresh Fest Navy Pier Where: Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand, Chicago When:Free kids events Navy Pier July 8-9, 2021 … [Read More...]
Millennium Art Festival July 16-18
Millennium Art Festival July 16-18 When: July 16-18, 2021, Friday 11a-6p, Saturday 10a-6p & Sunday … [Read More...]
Free Millennium Park Summer Music Series
Free Millennium Park Summer Music Series features a wide variety of genre-defying music from top local, national and … [Read More...]
Free Chicago SummerDance Aug 18-Sept 15
Free Chicago SummerDance Aug 18-Sept 15 The largest annual outdoor dancing series in the US returns with swing, … [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...]
Where to watch Chicago’s July 4 Fireworks
Where to watch Chicago's July 4 Fireworks. 2021: The City of Chicago is bringing back the July 4 fireworks … [Read More...]
Taste of Chicago To-go 2021
Taste of Chicago To-go 2021 When: Wed-Sunday, July 7-11, 2021 Where: Various locations While the festival will not … [Read More...]
Free movies Navy Pier
Free movies Navy Pier When: Mondays and Thursday, July 8-August 30, 2021. 6:30PM-9PM Where: Navy Pier, … [Read More...]
Free recycling events by Chicago Ward
Free recycling events by Chicago Ward. Following are all the recycling events in 2021 that I could find by … [Read More...]
Pop-up Book Sale Lakeview
Pop-up Book Sale Lakeview ADD TO CALENDAR When: Saturday, June 19, 2021 12:00PM-5:00PM Where: Music Box Theater, … [Read More...]
Free museum: DePaul Art Museum
Free museum: DePaul Art Museum Where: DePaul Art Museum, 935 W. Fullerton, 773.325.7506 When: Monday: Closed; … [Read More...]
Free Chicago Trolleys Update
Chicago has three free trolleys. All are seasonal. At times the lines for free trolleys can get very long … [Read More...]
Sign up for Foxtrot account Get $10
Sign up for Foxtrot account Get $10 I'd heard about Foxtrot Market and I finally checked out the Streeterville … [Read More...]
How to care for your yard in a drought
How to care for your yard in a drought I just watched the June 14, 2021 episode and they had the Morton Arboretum on … [Read More...]
Cheesecake Factory gift card deal
Cheesecake Factory gift card deal Buy a $100 Gift Card and get a $30 Bonus eCard Get a $30 Bonus eCard for every $100 … [Read More...]
Adler Planetarium reopens July 3
Adler Planetarium reopens July 3 When: Saturday, July 3, 2021 Where: Adler Planetarium, 1300 S Lake … [Read More...]
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum reopens July 8
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum reopens July 8 Where: Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, 2430 North Cannon Drive, … [Read More...]
Gene Siskel Film Center reopening August 6
Gene Siskel Film Center reopening August 6 When: Friday, August 6, 2021 The Film Center will open with select … [Read More...]
Free membership AMC’s Stubs Insider
Free membership AMC’s Stubs Insider Loyalty programs with a membership fee are sometimes just not worth the cost, once … [Read More...]
Save money with Imperfect Foods Get $80
Save money with Imperfect Foods Get $80 Imperfect Foods is a subscription service that sells perfectly good produce … [Read More...]
Chicago streets open for outdoor dining – West Loop
Chicago streets open for outdoor dining - West Loop. The City will be closing select streets to traffic again this … [Read More...]
Free Loop mural walk
Free Loop mural walk. Go through alleys and other off-the-beaten-path locations on a self-guided Loop Mural … [Read More...]
Cheap golf courses Chicago
Cheap golf courses Chicago. The least expensive way to golf is on public courses. If anyone knows a cheap … [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 