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Things to Do
Free Things to Do

Free Things to Do in Chicago

North Avenue Beach

Beach / Outdoor Activity

Party Earth Review One of the most popular of Chicago’s 33 lakefront beaches, North Avenue Beach gets packed as soon as it opens on Memorial Day, as a wave of image-conscious 20-somethings peel off their heavy fleeces to reveal the results of their winter workouts. Besides surf and sun, the beach’s main draws are the nearly ... more

1600 North Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60614

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Randolph Street Market

Market / Outdoor Activity

Party Earth Review Held the last weekend of the month from February to December, Randolph Street Market is a European-style bazaar with more than two hundred vendors – all hand-picked by festival organizers – hawking an array of antiques, handmade items, and vintage goods. Both an indoor and outdoor event, the market features ... more

1350 West Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60607

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Rush & Division

Nightlife Area

Party Earth Review Set in the swanky area of Chicago known as the Gold Coast, Rush and Division is an odd mix of flashy, loud, and slightly seedy that features a range of venues from the rowdy bars along Division to the fat-cat steakhouses on Rush. The addition of State Street to the west – along with the infamous supply of older men on the ... more

Intersection of Rush Street and Division Street
Chicago, IL 60611

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Clark and Belmont

Outdoor Activity

Party Earth Review A crossroads between sporty Wrigleyville and flamboyant Boystown to the north and preppie Lincoln Park to the south, the Clark and Belmont intersection was for years associated with counterculture, marked by sketchy businesses, dilapidated buildings, and the teenage runaways that loitered in front of them. Gentrification ... more

Intersection of Clark Street and Belmont Avenue
Chicago, IL 60657

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Grant Park / Millennium Park

Culture / Outdoor Activity

Party Earth Review Like most outdoor spaces in Chicago, Grant Park is mostly neglected until the summer rolls around and city dwellers once again emerge from their wintry dens, crack open a dusty bottle of Coppertone, and revel in the warmth of the sun. Visitors looking for a cool-down can wade through the reflecting pool at Crown Fountain ... more

Between South Michigan Avenue to Lake Michigan and East Roosevelt Road to East Randolph Street.

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Lincoln Park

Beach / Culture / Park

Party Earth Review Unlike its often status-conscious namesake neighborhood, Lincoln Park itself is a serene escape from the bustling city, providing access to a host of sandy beaches, cultural events, outdoor theater, water activities, and wide open spaces. Spanning nearly six miles, the park runs through the neighborhoods of Lincoln Park ... more

2045 Lincoln Park West
(address of Lincoln Park Cultural Center)
Chicago, IL 60610

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Navy Pier

Outdoor Activity

Party Earth Review Self-dubbed Chicago’s “lakefront playground,” Navy Pier is one of the city’s busiest tourist destinations, entertaining nearly nine million visitors a year with a plethora of amusement park rides, theaters, boat cruises, and beer gardens. Jutting out a half mile into Lake Michigan, the Pier is busiest during the summer ... more

600 East Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611

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Oak Street Beach

Beach / Outdoor Activity

Party Earth Review It may be one of the smallest of Chicago’s lakefront beaches, but Oak Street Beach is also one of the most popular – and certainly the most upscale. Nestled in the shadow of the skyscrapers, ritzy apartment buildings, and designer stores of Lake Shore Drive, the beach doesn’t exactly channel the ... more

500–1550 North Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60611

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Magnificent Mile

Landmark / Outdoor Activity

Party Earth Review Spanning from the Chicago River at the south end to Oak Street at the north, the Magnificent Mile (“Mag Mile”) is a popular stretch of North Michigan Avenue constantly abuzz with fashionistas, foreigners, families, and finance types out shopping, strolling, or snapping photographs of some of the city’s most famous architecture ... more

400–1000 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago IL 60611

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Division Street

Nightlife Area

Party Earth Review For lazy warm-weather days, Division Street in Wicker Park is an excellent place to while away the hours with a late brunch, drinks in a crowded game-day sports bars, some window shopping at the boutiques, and an early evening cocktail. Home to artists, hipsters, and unpretentious young professionals, the half-mile stretch ... more

1600–2100 West Division Street
Chicago, IL 60622

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Chicago offers plenty of free activities for the thrifty traveler or the unemployed local to occupy their time. From parks to shopping districts to street festivals, it is easy to find free activities in Chicago, especially in the warmer months.

The most notable free thing to do in Chicago is Millennium Park. A visit to this Chicago landmark is certainly not to be missed, and it is easy to spend hours wandering the park’s grounds and admiring the unique architecture. A must-see is certainly “The Bean,” which can be a source of entertainment all on its own!

Avid window-shoppers should check out the Magnificent Mile. Although the items in the shops along the famous stretch are far from free, a traverse down Michigan Avenue affords some great views of Chicago’s most famous landmarks, including the Old Water Tower and the Tribune Tower. For a more down-to-earth window shopping experience, check out Division Street in Wicker Park.

Summertime is a great time to be in Chicago, because many of Chicago’s outdoor activities are completely free. North Avenue Beach is overflowing with swimsuit-clad bodies on hot days, and the Lincoln Park Zoo is one of Chicago’s most entertaining free attractions. In fact, Lincoln Park is Chicago’s largest park and can be a full-day attraction in itself.

Make sure to check out the summer street festivals as well. Many of the fests offer free entry and feature local music and art.