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:
- Monday, Jan 14
- Tuesday, Jan 15
- Wednesday, Jan 16
- Thursday, Jan 17
- Friday, Jan 18
- City of Chicago: Free Business Education Workshops
- Guide to the Art Institute of Chicago and Free Winter Weekdays
- Saturday, Jan 19
- Discount admission SNL The Experience
- Northerly Island $5 snow trekking
- McCormick Tribune Ice Rink Nov 16-March 10
- McCormick Tribune Ice Rink Nov 16-March 10
- Lyric Opera Chicago tours $15
- Sunday, Jan 20
- Monday, Jan 21
- Tuesday, Jan 22
- Wednesday, Jan 23
- Thursday, Jan 24
- Friday, Jan 25
- City of Chicago: Free Business Education Workshops
- Guide to the Art Institute of Chicago and Free Winter Weekdays
- Saturday, Jan 26
- Sunday, Jan 27
- Monday, Jan 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
- $5 Doc Films at University of Chicago
Educational
- Check out the Harold Washington Library Maker Lab
- Check out your local Chicago Public Library Branch
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
- Free tour Graceland Cemetery
Water Tower
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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!