5 Free Fun Activities to Do in Chicago

A picture of a butterfly sculpture with the Chicago skyline painted on it and a colorful sunset.

Chicago is full of things to do. It’s what makes it such a vibrant city! I love how you are constantly discovering new things to see. Every time I go downtown, a new store or restaurant has popped up or there is a new exhibit in a museum. But many of these things can get pricey fast. As a college student who is trying to keep a low budget, I have come upon some great free things to do in Chicago.

1. Mindworks

Mindworks is a really cool place to visit and it is literally 5 minutes from DePaul’s Loop Campus. It is both a working lab and an interactive discovery center for behavioral science. It is run by the University of Chicago, but it’s open to everyone. It is totally free and you even have the chance to earn prizes if you participate in research opportunities. I have passed by Mindworks so many times on my way to and from school and have always wanted to stop in. I am so glad I finally got to, because the exhibits were interesting and I learned some fun facts about the relationship between communication and the brain. Overall it took us about half an hour and as it’s indoor, free, educational and fun, it makes a great stop.

Sienna is smiling at a camera while holding colorful plastic shapes as she is just about putting them on a peg board.

Sienna and her mom are standing next to a huge butterfly sculpture inside the Water Tower Place. The butterfly is painted in many colors and rhinestone.

2. Flight of Butterflies

Along the Magnificent Mile and throughout Chicago there are multiple butterfly sculptures each decorated by a different artist. This city wide exhibit was created through the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. There are about 10 on N. Michigan Ave. and it makes such a fun activity walking down the street and stopping in buildings to see these works of art. There is a map of where each one is located so you don’t miss any. I definitely recommend choosing a cooler day for this, since it’s a lot of walking. I absolutely loved each butterfly and thought that all of them were so unique and interesting. The rhinestone one was my favorite!

3. Museum on IL Resident Free Days

Most of the big museums, including the Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium all offer days where admission is free! All you have to provide them is an IL zip code and you’re in. I have taken advantage of this so much, from the Shedd Aquarium to the Contemporary Art Museum. Each place has different days and times they offer, so you just have to check their website. Recently I met up with a friend and we went to the Contemporary Art Museum. Tuesday is their free day and that is also when they have a farmers market right in front of the building too. The museum was interesting and had a variety of art. I strongly suggest stopping in the gift shop on your way out, as you could accidentally spend as much time in the museum as the gift shop.

The outside of the building with the letters “M C A” on it standing for Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, along with a photo of a yellow sheet labeled “What on View '.' There are also paintings of abstract art in the background.

A building at night time with white and blue abstract projections on it.

4. Art on the Mart

If you want to do something fun at night, head over to Chicago’s River Walk and see Art on the Mart. Almost every night around 9pm, a digital art program is displayed on The Mart. It’s a great free activity to wrap up a fun day downtown or after a delicious dinner. It is definitely something I recommend trying at least once as seeing the city at night is a completely different feeling than during the day. The displays are bright and colorful and can be seen projected on the building for quite a while.

5. Chicago Fed’s Money Museum

Chicago’s Federal Reserve has a free museum located on the first floor of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. This is a super interesting location and is interactive too! It highlights money, economics and the Federal Reserve. You can try your hand at catching counterfeit bills and some other fun money related activities. Getting to see the different coins and things in person is a lot of fun.

A sign with the words “Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Money Museum” with a suitcase of money in the corner.

These are just some of the free things around the city. There is so much more, from wandering around farmers markets, the beach, parks, window shopping, and the pop-up free days. Being in Chicago means there is always something to do and you don’t always have to spend a lot.