Chicago on the Cheap

Deals, discounts and free events in Chicago

2020 Events

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Following is the current status of all events we cover.  These are events that are free or cheap like around $10 admission.  This will be updated regularly so check back often.  Any new dates are tentative depending on future lockdown status.

Check here for the latest free and cheap Chicago events status.

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Regular schpiel

Chicago is packed with festivals, art fairs, and other events all year long.

Some event organizers have announced dates of their events which I’ve updated below. Many events don’t finalize dates and event detail until closer to the actual date so check back for more info.  Enjoy!

In summer we cover festivals and events that charge $10 or less admission and that are closer in and easy to access via public transit.  Chicago residents aren’t required to pay entrance fees to street festivals.  However many of these festivals are fundraisers for various neighborhood associations, schools and other organizations.  More info here.

To receive all the latest news on deals, discounts and free events in Chicago, sign up for the daily Chicago on the Cheap newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram where I post additional deals in real time and Facebook. Cheers!

2020

June

  1. Year of Chicago Music May 21-June 7 POSTPONED
  2. Activate May-August CANCELED
  3. Free events at Daley Plaza under the Picasso STATUS UNKNOWN
  4. Navy Pier Summer Fireworks Wednesdays and Saturdays May 23-Sept 5 CANCELED through June 10.  May begin approximately 2 weeks after Governor’s Stay-at-home order is lifted.
  5. Millennium Park Summer Film Series STATUS UNKNOWN
  6. Millennium Park Summer Music Series CANCELED through at least May 30. 
  7. Grant Park Music Festival Millennium Park Wednesday Concerts ONLINE Details TBA
  8. Grant Park Music Festival Millennium Park Friday and Saturday Concerts ONLINE Details TBA
  9. Chicago Blues Fest June 5-7 Millennium Park     ONLINE
  10. Lincoln Park Greek Fest June 5-7  CANCELED
  11. 57th Street Art Fair June 6-7 Hyde Park CANCELED
  12. Hyde Park Summer Fest June 6-7 CANCELED
  13. West Loop Fizz Fest June 6-7 CANCELED
  14. Andersonville Midsommarfest June 12-14 POSTPONED to August 21-23
  15. Printers Row Lit Fest June 6-7 POSTPONED to September 5-6
  16. Wells Street Art Fest June 13-14 Old Town POSTPONED to August 29-30
  17. Old Town Art Fair June 13-14 Lincoln at Wisconsin Lincoln Park ONLINE
  18. Chicago World Naked Bike Ride June 13 Location TBA POSTPONED no date available yet
  19. Second Tuesdays on the Riverwalk  STATUS UNKNOWN
  20. Made in Chicago Market June 13 West Loop CANCELED
  21. Ribfest Chicago June 14-16 Lincoln/Irving Park/Damen CANCELED
  22. Taste of Randolph Street West Loop CANCELED
  23. Pilsen Taco Fest June STATUS UNKNOWN
  24. Festa! Pasta! Vino! Italian Street Festival June 19-21 POSTPONED Date TBD
  25. Make Music Day June 21 ONLINE
  26. Chinatown Dragon Boat Races June 21 POSTPONED to August 22
  27. Pride Fest June 20-21 Boystown POSTPONED to September 5-6
  28. Ravenswood on Tap June 20-21 TO BE DETERMINED
  29. Millennium Park Family Fun Festival June 24-August 9 (weekdays)
  30. SummerDance June 25-August 22 Grant Park (Thursdays-Sundays) TO BE DETERMINED
  31. Renegade Craft Fair June 26-27 CANCELED
  32. Logan Square Arts Fest   CANCELED
  33. Pride Fest Navy Pier June STATUS UNKNOWN
  34. Gay & Lesbian Pride Parade June 30 Boystown  POSTPONED new date TBD
  35. Millennium Art Festival June 26-28 Lake Street at Michigan Avenue  POSTPONED to September 18-20
  36. Chicago Mariachi Festival June Millennium Park STATUS UNKNOWN

July

  1. Activate May-August CANCELED
  2. Free events at Daley Plaza under the Picasso STATUS UNKNOWN
  3. Navy Pier Summer Fireworks Wednesdays and Saturdays May 23-Sept 5 CANCELED through June 10.  May begin approximately 2 weeks after Governor’s Stay-at-home order is lifted.
  4. Millennium Park Summer Music Series CANCELED through at least May 30. 
  5. Grant Park Music Festival Millennium Park Wednesday Concerts ONLINE Details TBA
  6. Grant Park Music Festival Millennium Park Friday and Saturday Concerts ONLINE Details TBA
  7. Millennium Park Summer Film Series STATUS UNKNOWN
  8. Millennium Park Family Fun Festival June-August 10 (weekdays) STATUS UNKNOWN
  9. SummerDance June 25-August 22 Grant Park (Thursdays-Sundays) TO BE DETERMINED
  10. Free July 4 concert Millennium Park CANCELED
  11. Free July 4 Fireworks Navy Pier  TO BE DETERMINED
  12. Windy City RibFest July 3-5 Uptown TO BE DETERMINED
  13. West Fest Chicago Ave. between Damen & Wood West Town CANCELED
  14. Second Tuesdays on the Riverwalk July  STATUS UNKNOWN
  15. Fresh Fest Navy Pier July  STATUS UNKNOWN
  16. Taste of Chicago July 8-12 Grant Park TO BE DETERMINED
  17. Square Roots Music Fest July 10-12 Lincoln Square  POSTPONED TO August 28-30
  18. Roscoe Village Burger Fest July 11-12  TO BE DETERMINED
  19. Bucktown Garden Walk July  STATUS UNKNOWN
  20. Southport Art Fest July 11-12  TO BE DETERMINED
  21. Silver Room Block Party July 18 Hyde Park CANCELED
  22. Chalk Howard Street July 18-19 Rogers Park CANCELED
  23. Taste of River North July 17-19  TO BE DETERMINED
  24. Art Fest Michigan Avenue July 18-19 Downtown  TO BE DETERMINED
  25. Disability Pride Parade July 401 S. Plymouth to Daley Plaza  STATUS UNKNOWN
  26. Chinatown Summer Fair July 18-19 POSTPONED TO September 5-6
  27. Sheffield Garden Walk & Fest July 17-19 Lincoln Park  TO BE DETERMINED
  28. Newberry Library Book Fair July CANCELED
  29. Andersonville Sidewalk Sale July STATUS UNKNOWN
  30. Wicker Park Fest July 24-26 TO BE DETERMINED
  31. Taste of Lincoln Avenue July 25-26 Lincoln Park TO BE DETERMINED
  32. Randolph Street Market July 25-26 West Loop EVENT SCHEDULED TO GO ON
  33. Chicago Brewing District Dancing in the Streets July 31-August 1 West Town CANCELED
  34. Jeff Fest Arts & Music Festival July 31-Aug 2 TO BE DETERMINED

August

  1. Activate May-August CANCELED
  2. Free events at Daley Plaza under the Picasso STATUS UNKNOWN
  3. Navy Pier Summer Fireworks Wednesdays and Saturdays May 23-Sept 5 CANCELED through June 10.  May begin approximately 2 weeks after Governor’s Stay-at-home order is lifted.
  4. Millennium Park Summer Film Series STATUS UNKNOWN
  5. SummerDance June 25-August 22 Grant Park (Thursdays-Sundays) TO BE DETERMINED
  6. Millennium Park Summer Music Series CANCELED through at least May 30. 
  7. Grant Park Music Festival Millennium Park Wednesday Concerts ONLINE Details TBA
  8. Grant Park Music Festival Millennium Park Friday and Saturday Concerts ONLINE Details TBA
  9. Millennium Park Family Fun Festival June-August (weekdays) STATUS UNKNOWN
  10. Edge Fest Aug 1-2  5900 N. Broadway Edgewater TO BE DETERMINED
  11. Chicago Hot Dog Fest August  TO BE DETERMINED
  12. Retro on Roscoe Aug 7-9 Roscoe Village TO BE DETERMINED
  13. Ginza Holiday Fest Aug 7-9 435 W. Menomonee St. Lincoln Park TO BE DETERMINED
  14. Northalsted Market Days Aug 10-11 Boystown POSTPONED to September 5-6
  15. Second Tuesdays on the Riverwalk August STATUS UNKNOWN
  16. Clark After Dark Aug 20 River North TO BE DETERMINED
  17. Festa Italiana No event 2018 Permanently cancelled?
  18. Little Italy Festa Aug 13-16 TO BE DETERMINED
  19. Edison Park Fest August 14-16 TO BE DETERMINED
  20. Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest Aug 14-16 6900N/1400W Rogers Park TO BE DETERMINED
  21. Chicago Air & Water Show Aug 15-16  North Avenue Beach/Downtown TO BE DETERMINED
  22. Pilsen Fest Aug 17-18 TO BE DETERMINED
  23. Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest May 23-24 Lincoln Park POSTPONED until August 23-24
  24. Taste of Greektown Aug 21-23 TO BE DETERMINED
  25. Ukrainian Days Festival August TO BE DETERMINED
  26. Logan Square Food Truck Social Next Aug 29-20 CANCELED
  27. Bucktown Arts Fest Aug CANCELED August 28-29, 2021
  28. Chicago Jazz Fest Aug 28-Sept 6 Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park and Harris Theater rooftop TO BE DETERMINED
  29. Fifth Star Awards TBA 2020 Millennium Park STATUS UNKNOWN

September All events below, unless indicated, do not have confirmed 2020 dates and STATUS UNKNOWN.

  1. Navy Pier Summer Fireworks Wednesdays and Saturdays May 23-Sept 5 CANCELED through June 10.  May begin approximately 2 weeks after Governor’s Stay-at-home order is lifted.
  2. Chicago Jazz Fest Aug 28-Sept 6 Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park and Harris Theater rooftop TO BE DETERMINED
  3. Taste of Polonia Aug 31-Sept 1 Jefferson Park
  4. German American Fest Sept 6-8 Lincoln Square
  5. Von Steuben German Day Parade Sept 8 Lincoln Square (part of German American Fest )
  6. Festival on Prairie Avenue Sept 7 South Loop
  7. Randolph Street Market September 12-13 West Loop
  8. Ravenswood Art Walk Sept 14-15
  9. Lakeview East Festival of the Arts Sept 14-15
  10. Printer’s Row Art Fest Sept 14-15
  11. Chicago Turkish Festival No event 2019
  12. Lakeview Taco Fest Chicago Sept 21-22
  13. Andersonville Arts Weekend Sept 19-22
  14. Andersonville Arts Fest Sept 21-22
  15. Annual World Music Festival Chicago Sept 13-29
  16. West Town  Art Walk Sept 27-28
  17. Revolution Oktoberfest Sept 27-28 Logan Square
  18. Hyde Park Jazz Fest Sept 28-29
  19. St Alphonsus Oktoberfest Chicago Sept 27-29 Lakeview
  20. Free Family Festival Lincoln Park Zoo Friday-Sundays September 27–October 27; October 14

October

  1. Lincoln Square Ravenswood Apple Fest Oct 5-6
  2. Free Family Festival Lincoln Park Zoo Friday-Sundays September 27–October 27; October 14
  3. Double Ten Parade in Chinatown Chicago Oct. TBD
  4. North Park Village Harvest Festival Oct 13
  5. Columbus Parade Oct 14 Downtown
  6. Open House Chicago Oct 19-20
  7. Arts in the Dark The Halloween Parade Oct 19 Downtown
  8. Free Fall Festival at Jesse White Park Oct 19
  9. Fall Festival at Maggie Daley Park Oct 19
  10. Free Lincoln Park Spooky Zoo Oct 26
  11. National Museum of Mexican Art Day of the Dead Oct 27 Pilsen
  12. Clark Street Spooktacular Oct 27 Lincoln Park
  13. Logan Square Halloween Parade Oct 27
  14. Free Halloween events at Navy Pier October 26, 27, 31
  15. Northalsted Halloween Parade Oct 31 On Halsted from Belmont to Addison
  16. Halloween on The 606 Oct 31

November

  1. McCormick Ice Rink Nov. 15- March 8 2020 Millennium Park
  2. Maggie Daley Skating Ribbon Nov 15-March 8, 2020
  3. Christkindlmarket Market Nov 15-Dec 24 Daley Plaza
  4. Maxwell Street Market Day of the Dead Celebration Nov 3 South Loop
  5. Free Holiday Tree Lighting NewCity Nov 16 Halsted and Clybourn
  6. 900 N. Michigan Holiday Tree Lighting Nov. 21
  7. Millennium Park Christmas Tree Lighting Nov 22
  8. Millennium Park Art Market Nov 22-24
  9. Mag Mile Lights Festival Nov 22-23
  10. Randolph Street Market Nov 21-22 West Loop
  11. Thanksgiving Day Parade Nov 28
  12. Free day at Morton Arboretum Nov 28
  13. Millennium Park Christmas Tree Lighting Nov 22
  14. Chicago Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Nov 22-24
  15. CTA Holiday Bus Nov 26-Dec 23 Select dates
  16. Caroling at Cloud Gate Fridays, Nov 29-Dec 20 Millennium Park
  17. Lincoln Park Zoo Lights November 29-Jan 5, 2020 Select dates
  18. Wreathing of the Lions Nov 29 Art Institute of Chicago
  19. CTA Holiday Train Nov 29-Dec 23 Select dates
  20. Garfield Park Holiday Flower Show Nov 29-Jan 5, 2020
  21. Made in Chicago Holiday Market Nov 20 West Loop
  22. Lincoln Park Conservatory Holiday Flower Show and trains Nov 29-Jan 5 2020
  23. Old Town Tree Lighting No info

December

  1. McCormick Ice Rink Nov. 15- March 8 2020 Millennium Park
  2. Maggie Daley Skating Ribbon Nov 15-March 8, 2020
  3. Winter Wonder Fest Dec 6-Jan 12 Navy Pier
  4. Christkindlmarket Market Nov 15-Dec 24 Daley Plaza
  5. Caroling at Cloud Gate Fridays, Nov 29-Dec 20 Millennium Park
  6. Lincoln Park Zoo Lights November 29-Jan 5, 2020 Select dates
  7. Garfield Park Conservatory Holiday Flower Show Nov 29-Jan 5, 2020
  8. Lincoln Park Conservatory Holiday Flower Show Nov 29-Jan 5, 2020
  9. CTA Holiday Bus Nov 26-Dec 23 Select dates
  10. CTA Holiday Train Nov 29-Dec 23 Select dates
  11. One of a Kind Show Dec. 5-8
  12. Ugly Sweater Skate Dec 7 Maggie Daley Park
  13. West Town Winter Fest Dec 7
  14. Renegade Craft Fair Dec 7-8 Bridgeport
  15. Randolph Street Market Dec 12-23  West Loop
  16. St. Lucia Fest Dec 13 Andersonville
  17. Bucktown Holiday Art Show CANCELED
  18. Skate with Santa Dec 14 Maggie Daley Park
  19. Santa’s  Misbehaving Dec 14 Downtown
  20. Late Night Andersonville Dec 6 and 20
  21. Jingle Fest Dec 21 West Loop
  22. Tuba Christmas Dec 21 Loop
  23. Free day at Morton Arboretum Dec 25
  24. Navy Pier Fireworks Dec 31

January 2021

  1. Lincoln Park Zoo Lights November 29-Jan 5, 2020 Select dates
  2. Winter Wonder Fest Dec 6-Jan 12 Navy Pier
  3. Garfield Park Conservatory Holiday Flower Show Nov 29-Jan 5, 2020
  4. Lincoln Park Conservatory Holiday Flower Show Nov 29-Jan 5, 2020
  5. McCormick Ice Rink Nov. 15- March 8 2020 Millennium Park
  6. Maggie Daley Skating Ribbon Nov 15-March 8, 2020
  7. Martin Luther King Day events Jan 20
  8. McCormick Ice Rink Nov. 15- March 8 2020 Millennium Park
  9. Maggie Daley Skating Ribbon Nov 15-March 8, 2020
  10. Martin Luther King Day events Jan 20
  11. Chicago Restaurant Week Jan 24-Feb 9
  12. Chinese New Year Events to Feb 9
  13. Randolph Street Market Festival Feb 8-9
  14. Chinese New Year Events to Feb 9
  15. Chicago Restaurant Week through Feb 9
  16. Handmade Market at Empty Bottle Feb 8 Wicker Park

February

  1. McCormick Ice Rink Nov. 15- March 8 2020 Millennium Park
  2. Maggie Daley Skating Ribbon Nov 15-March 8, 2020
  3. Chicago Theatre Week Feb 13-23 City wide
  4. Lincoln Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show Feb 14-May 10
  5. Chicago Auto Show Feb 8-17
  6. Chinese New Year Events Feb -March 3
  7. Navy Pier: Global Connections Feb 10 and 24
  8. Garfield Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show Feb 14-May 10

March

  1. McCormick Ice Rink Nov. 15- March 8 2020 Millennium Park
  2. Maggie Daley Skating Ribbon Nov 15-March 15, 2020
  3. Free events at Daley Plaza under the Picasso
  4. Lincoln Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show Feb 14-May 10
  5. Garfield Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show Feb 14-May 10
  6. Chicago Flower & Garden Show at Navy Pier March 18-22 Discount tickets available CANCELED
  7. Chicago St. Pat’s Parade March 14 DowntownCANCELED
  8. Northwest Side Irish Parade March 15 Raven from Neola to Northwest Highway to Harlem CANCELED
  9. Southside St. Patrick’s Day Parade March 15 Western from 103rd to 115th CANCELED
  10. Where to drink on St. Patrick’s Day
  11. Handmade Market at Empty Bottle March 14 Wicker Park
  12. Macy’s Flower Show March 22 April 5 DowntownCANCELED

April

  1. Posts below are not updated.  Check back later for more info.
  2. Free events at Daley Plaza under the Picasso
  3. Lincoln Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show Feb 14-May 10
  4. Garfield Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show Feb 14-May 10
  5. Randolph Street Market April 24-26 West Loop
  6. One of A Kind Show and Sale Spring Show April 27-29

May

  1. Free events at Daley Plaza under the Picasso
  2. Polish Parade May 4 Dearborn Street Downtown
  3. Kite Fest May 4 Cricket Hill/Montrose Beach
  4. Hellenic Heritage Parade (Greek Independence Day Parade) May 5
  5. Lincoln Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show Feb 9-May 12
  6. Garfield Park Conservatory Spring Flower Show through May 12
  7. Chicago Riverwalk Season Celebration Celebration May 13-19
  8. Second Tuesdays on the Riverwalk May 14
  9. Chicago Mayfest May 17-19 Lakeview May 28-30, 2021
  10. Navy Pier Summer Fireworks Wednesdays May 29-Aug 28 and Saturdays May 25-August 31
  11. Memorial Day Parade May 25 State Street Downtown
  12. Randolph Street Market May 23-24 West Loop
  13. Free Millennium Park House Party May 23-25
  14. Belmont-Sheffield Music Fest May 25-26
  15. Maifest Chicago May 30-June 2 Lincoln Square
  16. Gospel Fest May 31-June 1 Millennium Park
  17. Do-Division May 31-June 2 Wicker Park June 4-6, 2021
  18. Gold Coast Art Fair June 1-2 Grant Park
  19. Chicago Blues Fest Preview Events No events 2019

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