Free or cheap things to do in Chicago this week. You can find a complete list of events by day on our Calendar page. Below the daily list are about 70 more Free or Cheap Things to do on any day.
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Free or cheap things to do in Chicago this week:
- Saturday, Sep 15
- Explore Cook County Forest Preserve Nature Centers
- Free Admission Shedd Aquarium Sept 4-30
- Apply Online to Vote by Mail
- Green City Market West Loop
- Free Tennis Maggie Daley Park Chicago
- Chicago Turkish Festival Sept 13-15
- Newberry Library: Free Shakespeare
- Free Printer’s Row Art Fest
- Free events Newberry Library
- Sunday, Sep 16
- Explore Cook County Forest Preserve Nature Centers
- Free Admission Shedd Aquarium Sept 4-30
- Apply Online to Vote by Mail
- Monday, Sep 17
- Tuesday, Sep 18
- Wednesday, Sep 19
- Thursday, Sep 20
- Friday, Sep 21
- Saturday, Sep 22
- Explore Cook County Forest Preserve Nature Centers
- Free Admission Shedd Aquarium Sept 4-30
- Apply Online to Vote by Mail
- Green City Market West Loop
- Free Tennis Maggie Daley Park Chicago
- Volunteer at Wooded Island
- Free guided wildflower walks in Lincoln Park
- Sunday, Sep 23
- Monday, Sep 24
- Tuesday, Sep 25
- Free Tennis Maggie Daley Park Chicago
- Free SCORE mentoring at Harold Washington Library
- Free Kids Events Park at Gallagher Way
- Wednesday, Sep 26
- Thursday, Sep 27
- Friday, Sep 28
More free or cheap things to do in Chicago:
- Half-price tickets
- Free museum days in Chicago
- Free passes for museums, attractions at the library
- City Pass Chicago access to five city attractions on the cheap
- Go Chicago Card see top Chicago attractions on the cheap
- Free and cheap things to do with Kids in Chicago
- Check out Student Discounts
Free Museums and Exhibits
- Free museum days in Chicago
- Free Family Fun at Art Institute of Chicago
- Guide to the Art Institute of Chicago
- What you get on Free Day at the Adler Planetarium
- What you get on Free Day at the Field Museum
- What you get on Free Day at the Museum of Science and Industry
- What you get on Free Day at the Shedd Aquarium
- Ongoing exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center
Theater and film
- Look for half-price entertainment tickets
- Free App $10 Hamilton Ticket Lottery
- $5 Civic Orchestra Tickets
- $15 Lyric Opera Tours
- Go to a discount performance at the Goodman Theater
- Go to a discount performance at the Harris Theater Mix at Six tickets
- Go to a discount performance at the Lookingglass Theater
- Go to a discount performance at the Steppenwolf Theater
- Regal Theaters $6 economy tickets
- $5 Doc Films at University of Chicago
- $5 Tuesdays AMC Theaters
- $5 Popcorn Deal AMC Theaters
- $5 Tuesdays Showplace Icon Theaters
Educational
- Check out the Harold Washington Library Maker Lab
- Check out your local Chicago Public Library Branch
- ‘Scopes in the City
Dining
- Check out Revival Food Hall
- Have a cocktail on a Downtown Rooftop or Patio
- Eat and drink along the Chicago Riverwalk
Tours
- 50% Chicago Architectural Foundation River Cruises
- Free SC Johnson Headquarters Tour Racine, WI
- Free and Cheap Chicago area Brewery Tours
- Free tour First United Methodist Church at Chicago Temple
- Free tour Old St. Patrick’s Church
- Free tour Holy Name Cathedral Tours changing check back
Tourist attractions
Road trip
- Take a trip to a Chicago-area Casino Free Rivers Casino Shuttles Other Free Casino Shuttles
- A Day at the Races Arlington Park
Indoor Nature
- Free things to do at Lincoln Park Conservatory
- Free things to do at Garfield Park Conservatory
- Visit the Oak Park Conservatory
Kids
Stay at home
- Explore the Free Chicago Collections Consortium
- Read Magazines for free from Chicago Public Library
- Free and low cost ways to file your taxes
- Look for Unclaimed Money
Outdoors
- Chicago area Garage Sales Finder
- Free things to do at Northerly Island
- Free things to do at Maggie Daley Park
- Free things to do at Millennium Park
- Walk through the Lurie Garden
- Free Cook County Forest Preserves events
- Check out the talking statue exhibit: Statue Stories
- Explore the Chicago Lakefront Trail North
- Explore the Chicago Lakefront Trail South
- Guide to Lincoln Park Zoo
- Take a free art tour of Grant Park
- Take a free art tour of Lincoln Park
- Volunteer to help plant and care for trees
- Camp for $50 in a Chicago Park District park
- Camp in the Cook County Forest Preserves
- Ride the Chicago Water Taxi’s
- Visit Chicago Botanic Garden on the cheap
- A Day at the Races at Arlington Park
- Guide to Ravinia on the cheap
- Free tour Graceland Cemetery
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 
JLK says
Hello. Am thrilled I found your site for Chicago. Although many events are discounted, being a Senior (mid-70s), my money is even tighter than it is for somebody that isn’t living on their savings. QUESTION: Do you have a listing of things for Seniors? (I’m an educated woman with a hearing impairment, and love dance, music and good theater. I rely on public transportation, so for safety’s sake, I would prefer to attend events in the Loop where I wouldn’t be attacked.)–Thanks!
Carol says
I’m so glad you’re enjoying the site. I don’t have a Senior specific page or post but I was thinking about it when I published this https://chicagoonthecheap.com/reflections-free-day-of-art-for-seniors/. There is a senior center at the Chicago Cultural Center called Renaissance Court. They publish a quarterly brochure https://www.cityofchicago.org/content/dam/city/depts/fss/supp_info/SeniorServices/RCSummer2016Brochure.pdf I’ll create a post soon. Stay tuned!