Chicago Museum Free Days – Updated April 10th, 2010

Adler Planetarium Free Days
The Adler Planetarium is open 9:30am – 6pm during the summer; 9:30am – 4:30pm otherwise;

Free Days 2010:
January 5, 11-15, 19, 26
February 2, 8-12, 16, 23
March 2, 9, 16, 23
April 20, 27
May 4, 11-12, 18, 25
June 7-11
September 7, 13-17, 21, 28
October 5, 12, 19, & 26
November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
December 7, 14, 21

Art Institute of Chicago Free Days
The Art Institute of Chicago is free to the public every Thursday evening from 5pm-8pm.

Free February 2010: The Art Institute of Chicago is Free for the entire month of February, 2010.
Free Days 2010: Every Thursday evening 5pm-8pm.

Brookfield Zoo Free Days
The Brookfield Zoo offers free admission to all U.S. Armed Forces active military and reservist personnel.

Free Days 2010: Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday – January 1, 2010 through February 28, 2010

Chicago Children’s Museum Free Days
The Chicago Children’s Museum is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Location: 700 East Grand Ave at Navy Pier

Hours:
Daily 10am-5pm
Thursday evenings 5-8pm

Free Days 2010:
Free for everyone – Every Thursday evening, 5-8pm
Free for ages 15 and under – First Sunday of every month

Chicago History Museum Free Days
The Chicago History Museum is free to the public every Monday, 9:30am-4:30pm.

Location: 1601 North Clark Street. (Clark & North Ave)

Free Days 2010: Every Monday, 9:30am-4:30pm;

DuSable Museum of African American History
The DuSable Museum is free on the first Saturday of every month. 10am to 5pm. For BANK OF AMERICA card holders only.

Location: 740 East 56th Place, Chicago

Free Days 2010:
March 6th
April 3rd
May 1st
June 5th
July 3rd
August 7th
September 4th
October 2nd
November 6th
December 4th

Field Museum Free Days
The Field Museum is Free (basic admission) on the Second Monday of every month, thanks to a donation from Target. Additional free days are also available.

Free Days 2010:

January: 11th, 13th, 14th, 19th, 20th, 26th, 27th
February: 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 10th, 11th, 16th, 17th, 23rd, 24th
March: 2nd, 3rd, 8th
April: 12th
May: 10th
June: 2nd, 3rd, 14th
July: 12th
August: 9th, 24th
September: 13th, 15th, 16th, 21st, 22nd
October: 5th, 6th, 11th, 13th, 14th, 19th, 20th
November: 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 10th, 16th, 17th, 30th
December: 1st, 7th, 8th, 13th, 15th, 16th

Lincoln Park Zoo Free Days
The Lincoln Park Zoo is free and open to the public 365 days per year. Generally open 10am-5pm.

Location: Lincoln Park Zoo is located off Lake Shore Drive at the Fullerton Parkway exit.

Free Days 2010: Free to the public 365 days per year.

MCA Free Tuesdays
The Museum of Contemporary Art has Free Days every Tuesday. Special events every week. The museum is open 10am – 8pm on these free days.

Free Days 2010: Every Tuesday of 2010, 10am – 8pm.

Museum of Contemporary Photography
The MoCP is CLOSED when Columbia College Chicago is closed, including: Thanksgiving Weekend: Thursday- Sunday; Holiday Break and Installation: Monday, December 24, 2009 – Wednesday, January 27, 2010; The museum will for free on Thursday, January 28, 2010 with an opening reception for 50% Grey: Czech Photography Reconsidered.

Location: Columbia College Chicago, 600 S. Michigan Ave

Hours: (Closed till January 28, 2010)
Monday-Saturday, 10am-5pm
Thursday, 10am-8pm
Sunday, 12-5pm

Free Days 2010: The Museum of Contemporary Photography is Free every day of 2010

Museum of Science and Industry
The Museum of Science and Industry is free (basic entry) to the public on various dates throughout the year. The museum is open Mon–Sat: 9:30am-4pm; Sun: 11am-4pm; Omnimax-only tickets on Free Days are $9 for adults, $8 for seniors and $7 for children. Normal prices apply for other features;

Free Days 2010:
January 4-8, 11-15, 18-22, 25-29
February 8, 14
March 18
April 19-23
May 3
June 7-11
August 30
September 7-14, 20-21, 27-28
October 4- 6
November 11
December 6

National Museum of Mexican Art
The National Museum of Mexican Art is free every day. Closed Mondays.

Location: 1852 W. 19th Street, Chicago

Free Days 2010: Every Tuesday-Sunday.

Nature Museum Free Days
The Chicago Nature Museum has “Suggested Donation Days” every Thursday.

Location: 2430 N. Cannon Drive in Lincoln Park, just north of the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Free Days 2010: Every Thursday, 9am-4:30pm;

Shedd Aquarium Free Days
During Shedd Aquarium Free Days, general admission is free. Wild Reef admission is sold at a reduced rate. The aquarium is open Weekdays 9am–5pm and Weekends 9am–6pm. Click Here to get a 2 for 1 pass to the Shedd (good through Jan 3, 2010).

Free Days 2010:
January 4-5, 11-12, 16-21, 25-26
February 1-2, 8-9, 15-19, 22-23
June 14-18
September 13-14, 20-21, 27-28
October 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-26
November 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 29-30

Swedish American Museum
The Swedish American Museum is free on the second Tuesday of every month. 10am-4pm.

Location: 5211 N Clark St, Chicago

Free Days 2010:
April 13
May 11
June 8
July 13
August 10
September 14
October 12
November 9
December 14

Free Days at The Museum of Science and Industry does not include the Omnimax Theatre, U-505 Submarine or any special exhibits. The museum is open Mon–Sat: 9:30am-4pm; Sun: 11am-4pm; Omnimax-only tickets on Free Days are $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and $6 for children. Normal prices apply for other features;

The Museum of Science and Industry is open Mon–Sat 9:30am – 4pm; Sunday 11am – 4pm.

Museum of Science and Industry Free Days 2010
January 4-8, 11-15, 18-22, 25-29
February 8, 14
March 18
April 19-23
May 3
June 7-11
August 30
September 7-14, 20-21, 27-28
October 4- 6
November 11
December 6

The Adler Planetarium Free Days is located in the Museum Campus. The Adler Planetarium Free Days have many days that overlap with Shedd Aquarium Free Days, and since both museums are located conveniently in Grant Park’s Museum Campus, it is easy to get a full day (or two) of free learning and exploration. (Download our Museum Free Days Calendar to see it all in an easy to read format)

Tickets to Planetarium showings are available for an additional fee.

Adler Planetarium Free Days are open daily 9:30am–6pm during the summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day); Daily 9:30am–4:30pm off-season (Labor Day to Memorial Day); The Adler Planetarium is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Free Days do not include free admission to the Planetarium Show. Free Days include free admission to the museum.

On Adler Free Days, the following items can be added to complete the experience:
Each theater show: $7
Historic Atwood Sphere Experience: $3
Special Guided Tour: $3

Adler Planetarium Free Days 2010
January 5, 11-15, 19, 26
February 2, 8-12, 16, 23
March 2, 9, 16, 23
April 20, 27
May 4, 11-12, 18, 25
June 7-11
September 7, 13-17, 21, 28
October 5, 12, 19, & 26
November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
December 7, 14, 21

Chicago Museum Free Days Calendar

2010 Field Museum Free Days are the 2nd Monday of every month and other random days. During Field Museum Free Days you get free basic admission to the Field Museum. Includes SUE, Evolving Planet, The Ancient Americas, and Inside Ancient Egypt as well as general exhibits. Special exhibits for an additional fee.

Field Museum Free Days 2010
January: 11th, 13th, 14th, 19th, 20th, 26th, 27th
February: 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 10th, 11th, 16th, 17th, 23rd, 24th
March: 2nd, 3rd, 8th
May: 10th
June: 2nd, 3rd, 14th
July: 12th
August: 9th, 24th
September: 13th, 15th, 16th, 21st, 22nd
October: 5th, 6th, 11th, 13th, 14th, 19th, 20th
November: 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 10th, 16th, 17th, 30th
December: 1st, 7th, 8th, 13th, 15th, 16th

Chicago Weekend Events

Will be updating this for 2010…

Advanced tickets are $23 adult / $12 child ($2 discounts for Zoo members). If not sold out, $28 adult / $14 child at the door. Series tickets are $60 adults / $30 children. Tickets may be purchased from the official Jammin’ At The Zoo website, at the Zoo gate, or by calling 312-742-2283. All proceeds from Jammin’ At The Zoo go to support Lincoln Park Zoo’s animals and programs. Gates open at 6pm and the music runs from 7pm – 10:30pm.

My experience is that Jammin’ At The Zoo is a great way to spend a summer evening in Chicago. The seating lawn fills up quickly, so plan to get there early if you want a good location – otherwise you may be forced to sit away from the stage. I also recommend getting a seat that is not directly in front of the stage, since people will end up standing and dancing in that area.

Jammin’ At The Zoo Concerts are held at Lincoln Park Zoo on the Main Mall. Seating is general admission, and guests are invited to bring small blankets. Come early and enjoy a delicious dinner from Park Place Café. Beer and wine will be available for purchase for guests 21 and older. The Kovler Lion House and Kovler Sea Lion Pool will be open during Jammin’ At The Zoo.

2008 Jammin’ At The Zoo
Friday, June 27 – Blondie
Friday, July 25 – Blind Melon + Fastball
Friday, August 22 – Soul Asylum

The quickest route would be to take the Metra Electric to the 53rd Hyde Street Station – or possibly a cab. I would not suggest walking from the Green Line late at night. Visit The Hyde Park Art Center’s official website for more information.

Hyde Park Art Center – Second Fridays

2nd Fridays at the Hyde Park Art Center: play with clay, explore the exhibitions, enjoy drink specials, and dance! This month, treat yourself to a free 2 Minute Hand Spa courtesy of Tranquil Moments Mobile Spa.

Recent Posts
Chicago Summer Events
Dirty Dancing Chicago
Wicked Tickets
Chicago Air Show