Chicago has endless opportunities for free fun, entertainment, learning, and culture all year round. This fall is a great time to take advantage of free Chicago favorites as well as a few seasonal events that only come around once a year.
Here are over 75 free activities and events all around the City of Chicago to keep you entertained and enjoying fall.
Number 1-5: Celebrate Chicago Artists Month
October is Artists Month in Chicago and there are events taking place all over the city.
– To help you kick off the month Around the Coyote, a non profit gallery that showcases the artistic talent of Chicagoans, is holding a Fall Arts Festival with an opening party that is free to the public.
– Take a self guided art walk at the Andersonville Arts Weekend.
– Use your cell phone to lead you to the historic public art that can be found in Bronzeville.
– For a totally unique look at Chicago Art take a walking tour of the Hubbard Street Mural Project that lines the Union Pacific Railroad.
– Check out the Dia de Los Muertos Exhibit at the National Museum of Mexican Art.
Number 6: Stargaze at the Dearborn Observatory
Fall is a great time to stargaze and even though it’s always free here’s a fun new way to view the Heavens. Every Friday night the Dearborn Observatory is open to the public to come in and view the heavens with a historic refraction telescope. Check the website for hours and special closings. The first hour of the night requires a reservation but the second hour welcomes walk ins.
Number 7: Visit the Jane Addams Hull House Museum
Jane Addams is known throughout the world for her work and writings, Hull House is where it all started. Admission to the museum and many of its programs and exhibitions are free. 800 South Halsted, Chicago
Number 8: Watch Fall Visit the Osaka Japanese Gardens
Located in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, the Osaka Japanese Garden was built for the 1893 World Columbian Exposition. Fall is a great time to view the gardens, waterfall, bridge, and the surrounding park. The Gardens are located within Jackson Park which is behind the Museum of Science and Industry at 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive.
Number 9: Visit the Historical Conservatory
The Garfield Park Conservatory includes four and a half acres of gardens in one of the largest conservatories in the world. There are seven houses and three outdoor gardens. 300 N.Central Park Avenue, Chicago
Number 10: Leaning Tower of…..
Niles! Yes, that’s right. Add the Leaning Tower of Niles to the list, which is half the size of the original tower in Pisa.
Number 11: Follow Your Mail to the Post Office
Take a tour of one of the busiest post offices in the nation. There are three guided tours through the post office each day from Wednesday thru Friday.
Number 12: Learn about the Ancient East
The Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago is dedicated to the study and research of the ancient Near East. The museum is located at 1155 East 58th Street and admission is free.
Number 13: Enjoy Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park is one of the oldest parks in the city of Chicago, now it is one of the largest at over 1200 acres. Spend a day exploring the statues and other oddities or bike the miles of trail that make up the park.
Number 14: Catch Another Lunch Hour Concert
The Dame Myra Hess Concert Series features young musicians performing solo or in classical ensembles. Concerts are held every Wednesday in Preston Bradley Hall in the Chicago Cultural Center at noon.
Number 15: Stop & Say Hi To Chicago
The new ABC7 News Studio opens to the sidewalk and lets passerbys, television audience, and the anchors see each other. So stop by and say hi during a morning broadcast, you never know who will see you on the tube.
Number 16: Enjoy the Light Show at Buckingham Fountain
The light and water show at Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park goes on every night of the summer and through the beginning of fall. Make sure you catch it before it is shut off for winter. The fountain was built in 1927 and is one of the world’s largest. Till eleven in the evening you can watch a twenty minute water show starting at the beginning of every hour, using 820 lights and 134 jets.
Number 17: Discover the Loyola University Chicago Museum of Art
The new Loyola University Chicago Museum of Art houses the University’s main collection of Art, the Martin D’Arcy Collection, as well as visiting exhibitions that look at spiritual questions people face throughout the world. Admission is free every Tuesday.
Number 18-23: Outdoor Sculpture Tour
Take a tour of your own through the city of Chicago and enjoy the free art. Chicago is dedicated to adding new sculptures and public art to the city with every new construction project. From seasoned masters to new rising ones the choices are endless, but be sure to check out:
– “Untitled” by Picasso in Daley Center Plaza
– “Chicago” by Miro, right across from the Daley Center Plaza
– “The Flamingo” by Calder in the Federal Center Plaza
– “Four Seasons” by Chagall on Dearborn
– “Monument With Standing Beast” by DuBuffet in the James R. Thompson Center
– “Cloud Gate” by Anish Kapoor in Millennium Park
Number 24: Look into the Lily Pool
Even in the fall the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool is a quiet retreat in the busy city. Located at 2,000 North Racine the Garden consists of a carefully planned lily pool and garden space all within a contained wall, creating a hidden garden of sorts.
Number 25: Learn all about Surgery
Every Tuesday is free at the International Museum of Surgical Science. Stop by to learn about the history of surgery and check out some really in depth displays. Be sure to take the guided tour Scalpels to sculptures that is free with admission. 1524 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
Number 26: Marvel at the Murals
Head to the Pilsen neighborhood to take a look at a neighborhood decorated in murals. Check out the blog Mono no Aware for a little peek at the artistry that awaits you.
Number 27: Tour the Federal Money Museum
Stop by the Federal Money Museum for a tour of the Federal Reserve, you will probably never see so much money again in your life. Free tours are given Monday through Friday from 9 to 4.
Number 28: Learn About African American History
Every Sunday the Chicago DuSable Museum of African American History is free to the public. Come and learn about African American Inventors, the role of African Americans in Chicago, and Chicago’s Black Film History among other exhibits. 740 East 56th Place, Chicago
Number 29: Head to the Contemporary Art Museum
After visiting the Art Institute head over to the Museum of Contemporary Art, but on Tuesdays for the Museums free day. The museum has a collection of video, photography, painting and film. 220 East Chicago Avenue
Number 30: Go Underground in the Pedway
Most visitors, and residents, don’t know that there is a whole other city underground in Chicago. A chilly fall morning is the perfect time to head underground. The Underground Pedway runs under the Loop and other parts of the downtown district. Explore the Pedway and find out for yourself just what is down there. You can find a great map on Mike Spiegl’s site.
Number 31: Still Smell the FLowers Lincoln Park Conservatory
After a nice trip to the zoo, pop into the Lincoln Park Conservatory and enjoy the lush sounds and smells of the flowers in the Tropical House. The Conservatory is still in bloom when everything outside is fading.
Number 32: Check out the Grosse Point Lighthouse
Grosse Point Lighthouse was built in 1873 to let ships know they have reached Chicago. A tour of the lighthouse museum is not free but you can visit the grounds and check out the lighthouse for yourself for free. The lighthouse is located at the intersections of Central Street and Sheridan Road in Evanston, just past Northwestern Illinois University.
Number 33: Watch the Market at the Exchange
The visitor center at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange is free and open to the public. Learn about the Exchanges history and role in our market today. 30 South Wacker Drive
Number 34: Check out a Mini Castle
The Old Water Tower in Chicago has been compared to a mini castle for years, and in the fall it is lit up for more than half the day. This popular Chicago Landmark is located across from the still operating water pump on Michigan Avenue and houses a visitors center and changing photography exhibits.
Number 35-38: Visit the Chicago Botanic Gardens & Go Back For More
The 385 acres of the Chicago Botanic Gardens are free everyday of the year. Duringt he fall attend the free Bulb Bazaar where you can pick up planting techniques and tips and give design suggestions. Also be sure to check out the two new exhibits this fall, The Origin of Darwins Revolution and Festival of Maps.
Number 39: Wonder at the Elks Memorial
The Elks Veterans Memorial is everything a memorial is meant to be. Entrance to the memorial is free, take one of the free guided tours to really be able to appreciate everything there is to see. 2750 North Lakeview, Chicago
Number 40: Hang with the Monkeys at Lincoln Park Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo is just a few minutes North of the Downtown area and free to the public all year round.
Number 41: Check out Outsider Art
Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art is dedicated to displaying the folk art of unconventional artists. Exhibits are always chaning and it’s always interesting. Admission is free. 756 North Milwaukee Avenue
Number 42: Roam Chicago Museum Campus
The Chicago Museum Campus includes 57 acres of parks and attractions along the lakefront. Take the time to explore the gardens, bike the trails and watch the boats on the lake from one of Chicago’s best green spaces.
Number 43: Bike the Drive
Grab your bike and set your own pace along the Lake Shore. The bike paths that runs parallel to Lake Michigan runs past several of Chicago’s best sites and offers the best view of the Lake- even in the Fall.
Number 84-46: Visit an Ethnic Museum
Chicago has a wide variety of ethnic museums in several of its neighborhoods that are dedicated to research and community outreach. Here are some of the best, that also offer free admission year round or on certain free days.
– National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 West 19th Street Free Admission
– Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, 6500 South Pulaski Road Free Admission on Mondays
– Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 North Knox Free Admission but Donations Accepted
Number 47: Visit one of the Most Well Known Art Museums
Throughout fall you can view an art collection spanning five thousand years right here in Chicago for free. Every Thursday evening from five to nine the Art Institute of Chicago stays open late to the general public. 111 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Number 48: Take a Tour of the Neighborhood
Chicago Greeter offers free tours of several of the neighborhoods and interest areas of Chicago. All the greeters are volunteers and very familiar with Chicago, call 312-744-8000 to set up a reservation.
Number 49: Then Tour the Cultural Center
After listening to the free classical concert explore more of the Cultural Center. Every year there are hundreds of exhibitions, shows and performances held in the Center, which is a landmark on its own.
Number 50: Stroll in the Skokie Sculpture Park
The Skokie Sculpture Park contains 72 sculptures that are placed along a two mile path encouraging visitors to experience art and recreation at the same time. The Skokie Northshore Sculptural Park is located on McCormick Boulevard, between Dempster and Touhy.
Number 51: Look at the Life of a Vietnam GI
The Vietnam War Museum in Chicago documents the experiences of Vietnam War Veterans. The museum is located in a part of the city known as Little Saigon and is free to the public. 954 W. Carmen Avenue
Number 52: Walk Among Giants
Grant Park is home to a new sculpture titled Agora, a forest of 106 giants. Some people hate it, others love it, but everyone I’ve talked to feel something when they walk through it. Fall is a great time to view the sculpture because it kind of blends in with its surroundings.
Number 53: Visit the only Baha’i Temple in North America
There are currently only seven Baha’i Temples in the world and Wilmette, just north of Chicago is home to one of them. The majestic structure is a nine sided, white stone covered in lacelike ornamentation and topped with a dome. Visitors are welcomed year round. 100 Linden Avenue, Wilmette.
Number 54: Watch a Performance by the Shakespeare Project
Every year the Shakespeare Project of Chicago puts on free performances for the public. This fall the Shakespeare Project will be putting on free performances of Henry VI around Chicago.
Number 55: Go Green at the Nature Museum
The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is a living, learning museum dedicated to making us examine the way we interact with nature. The nature museum is free every Thursday. 2430 North Cannon Drive, Chicago
Number 56: Head to the Pier to Play
There are two ways to visit the Chicago Children’s Museum at Navy Pier for free. Every Thursday evening from five to eight families can visit the museum for free, also on the first Monday of each month Target sponsors a free day for everyone under 15 years of age.
Number 57: Take a Break for the Classics
Classical Mondays offer every Chicagoan the chance to experience the best classical music performances Chicago can offer. Classical, chamber music and opera concerts take place in the Chicago Cultural Center every week at 12:45. 78 East Washington, Chicago
Number 58: Visit Holy Name Cathedral
Chicago’s Cathedral is open during mass times and throughout the day for worshippers and to the public. To really appreciate the architecture and history of the Cathedral visit the parish website for online tour material. 735 North State Street, Chicago
Number 59: Visit the McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum
Before heading into the Tribune Tower crane your neck skyward and check out one of Chicago’s architectural gems. The Tribune Freedom Museum contains exhibits that look at our five freedoms and what they mean to us. Admission is free every Wednesday after six, but to view the collection of stones from important buildings all over the world is free everyday.
Number 60-62: Explore Millennium Park
– Once you download the audio tour described in Number 32-37 get out and explore Millennium Park. Relish the Lurie Gardens, fall is the last time to get sprayed by the video screen, water projecting jets of Crown Fountain.
– Then check out the awesome architecture that make up the Millennium Monument and stainless steel Jay Pritzker Pavilion.
– You can even view free art in the Boeing Galleries, the current exhibition is work by Mark di Suvero.
Number 63: Spend Tuesday on the Terrace
If you like jazz why not enjoy the free Jazz concerts hosted by the Chicago Cultural Center on the terrace overlooking the lake every Tuesday evening.
Number 64: Hop on the El
Ok, so you can’t just hop on the el for free, but you can hop on the el for a free Loop Train Tour. The Loop Train Tour is a free ride that takes you through historic downtown every Saturday morning at 10 a.m.
Number 65-67: Lead Yourself Through the City
Take advantage of several free audio and guided tours that can download onto your MP3 player or printed out for free to guide you through the city. These are a few of my favorites:
– From Audio Snacks along with the Chicago Loop Alliance has four tours available; Chicago’s Art Loop Walking Tour, Chicago’s Theatre Loop Walking Tour, Chicago’s Landmark Loop Walking Tour, and Millenium Park Self Guided Tour. Just download the audiotour from the AudioSnacks website onto your MP3 player for free.
– The Jane Addams Hull House Museum has a self guided Women’s History Tour the you can download to lead you through the city of Chicago.
– From Chicago Tour comes an audio tour of Chicago Blues narrated by Buddy Guy. www.downloadchicagotours.com
Number 68: Get a Picture With Your Zodiac Sign
The new Chinatown Square is filled with huge sculptures that represent the Chinese Zodiac. Find yours and determine if the personality description for your sign is even close. Cermak and Wentworth Avenue.
Number 69: Learn About Chicago History
Every Monday at the Chicago History Museum is free! Come by for interactive exhibits on everything Chicago, new, rotating and traveling exhibits will have you busy for hours. 1601 North Clark Street
Number 70: Check out Alaskan Art
During the summer the Alaska Gallery of Eskimo Art is hosting several exhibits featuring Alaskan and Canadian artists. How often do you get to see Inuit sculptures? 104 East Oak Street, Chicago
Number 71-75: Fashion in the Chi
Chicago has entered the fashion scene on its own terms. Help usher in the new designers of Chicago at one of the many free event, but make sure you book reservations early because tickets are hot and space is limited. To view all Fashion Focus Events check out the City of Chicago Events Website, but here are some of the exciting events that are all free.
– Designers of Chicago Runway Show hosted by Macys showcases the fall and winter lines for the upcoming year.
– For PR newbies, the See and Be Seen Seminar is a must show.
– View collections inspired by this past summers Magificent Mile Gardens. Now is your chance to snag that beautiful gown you eyed every morning.
– Trunk shows, trunk shows, trunk shows- need I say more?
– GenArts Shop Chicago is one of the most waited for events among designers in Chicago. General Admission is free.
Number 76: Day at the Adler
The Adler Planetarium is located on the edge of the Lake with the best view in the city. During the fall Admission to the Adler is free every Monday and Tuesday for the month of October and November, the week of October 8-12 is also free to visitors.
Number 77: Swim With the Fish
The Shedd Aquarium is one of the largest aquariums in the country, that holds one of the most impressive collections. Admission to the Aquarium is free every Monday and Tuesday from October through November
Number 78: Explore the World of Science
The Museum of Science and Industry has more exhibits than you can take in in a week. Tuesdays and Mondays are free for all visitors during October and November.
Have Fun!!
