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:
- Thursday, May 23
- Friday, May 24
- Saturday, May 25
- Green City Market every Saturday
- Downtown Chicago farmers markets this week
- Free Saturday morning workouts at Millennium Park
- Explore Cook County Forest Preserve Nature Centers
- Free Wooded Island Bird Walks
- Free Spring Migratory Bird Walks at North Park Village
- Free events Chinatown Library
- Southside Chicago Farmer’s Markets
- Free events The 606 Chicago
- Volunteer at Bill Jarvis Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Lincoln Park
- Sunday, May 26
- Monday, May 27
- Tuesday, May 28
- Wednesday, May 29
- Free North Pond Nature Sanctuary Bird Walks
- Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Free Bird Walks
- Green City Market every Wednesday
- Free Workouts at Gallagher Way
- Thursday, May 30
- Friday, May 31
- Free concerts Fourth Presbyterian Church Chicago
- Free events at Daley Plaza under the Picasso
- Chicago Gospel Music Festival May 31-June 1
- Saturday, Jun 01
- Green City Market every Saturday
- Downtown Chicago farmers markets this week
- Free Saturday morning workouts at Millennium Park
- Newberry Library Free Genealogy Research Seminar
- Free events Chinatown Library
- Southside Chicago Farmer’s Markets
- Discount Chinatown Tours
- Free lectures and workshops Lurie Garden
- Gold Coast Art Fair June 1-2
- Volunteer gardening at North Pond Nature Sanctuary
- Free Saturday gallery tours Chicago River North
- Southside Chicago Farmer’s Markets
- Free White City Walking Tours
- Chicago Gospel Music Festival May 31-June 1
- Wilton Tent Sale 2019
- 57th Street Art Fair Hyde Park June 1-2
- Sunday, Jun 02
- Chicago Children’s Museum Free Admission Days
- Gold Coast Art Fair June 1-2
- 57th Street Art Fair Hyde Park June 1-2
- Southside Chicago Farmer’s Markets
- Do Division Street Fest and Sidewalk Sale May 31-June 2
- Chicago Maifest Lincoln Square May 30-June 2
- Lincoln Park Greek Fest May 31-June 2
- Monday, Jun 03
- Tuesday, Jun 04
- Wednesday, Jun 05
- Free North Pond Nature Sanctuary Bird Walks
- Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Free Bird Walks
- Green City Market every Wednesday
- Free Workouts at Gallagher Way
- 50% off admission Chicago History Museum
- Free yoga classes at lululemon stores
- Chicago Cultural Center Free International Screenings Program
- Thursday, Jun 06
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
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
- $5 Doc Films at University of Chicago
- $5 Tuesdays AMC Theaters
- AMC Theaters food deals
- $5 Tuesdays Showplace Icon Theaters
- How to buy tickets to Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me
Educational
Dining
- Check out Revival Food Hall
- Check out Aster Hall
- Have a cocktail on a Downtown Rooftop or Patio (Summer)
- Eat and drink along the Chicago Riverwalk (Summer)
Tours
- 50% Chicago Architectural Foundation River Cruises
- 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
- Guide to the John Hancock Center 11/24/18 Elevators may be out. Call before heading out.
- Guide to the Willis Tower
- Things to do at Navy Pier
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 (Summer)
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
- 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 THe Park District changed all their links.. Ugh. Stay tuned.
- 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
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
September 19, 2016 at 6:42 pmHello. 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
September 21, 2016 at 6:16 amI’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!