Chicago Museum Free Days 2012 – Updated January 9, 2012
All known information is listed on this page. If there are no dates for specific month, then that means that museum has not notified the public of any free days for that month.

Adler Planetarium Free Days
The Adler Planetarium is open 10am – 6pm during the summer; 10am – 4:30pm otherwise;

Free Days 2012:
January: 9-12, 17, 18, 23-26, 31
February: 1, 6-9, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29
March: 6, 7

Art Institute of Chicago Free Days
Admission to the Art Institute of Chicago is free to Illinois residents every weekday, January 2–February 10, 2012.
January: 3-6, 9-13, 16-20, 23-27, 30-31
February: 1-3, 6-10

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

Free Days 2012:
Zoo admission is free on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from Jan. 1 through Feb. 28.
January: 10, 12, 14-15, 17, 19, 21-22, 24, 26, 28, 29, 31
February: 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28

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 2011:
Free for everyone – Every Thursday evening, 5-8pm
Free for ages 15 and under – First Sunday of every month

Chicago History Museum Free Days
Location: 1601 North Clark Street. (Clark & North Ave)

Free Days 2011
November: None
December: None

DuSable Museum of African American History
Admission is FREE to all on each Sunday of the year. They also offer free admission rates (on school days) to all Chicago Public School students.

Location: 740 East 56th Place, Chicago

Free Days 2011: Every Sunday

Field Museum Free Days
The Field Museum is Free (basic admission) on the following dates.

Free Days 2012:
January: 11-13, 19-20, 24, 26-27, 31

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 2012: 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 2012: Every Tuesday of 2012, 10am – 8pm.

Museum of Contemporary Photography
The MoCP is CLOSED when Columbia College Chicago is closed, including: Thanksgiving Weekend: Thursday- Sunday; Holiday Break and other holidays.

Location: Columbia College Chicago, 600 S. Michigan Ave

Hours:
Monday-Saturday, 10am-5pm
Thursday, 10am-8pm
Sunday, 12-5pm

Free Days 2012: The Museum of Contemporary Photography is Free every non-holiday day of 2012

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 2012:
January: 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 30, 31
February: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
March: 5

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 2011: 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 2011: Free Admission 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.

Free Days 2012
January: 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31
February: 6, 7, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28

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 2011:
November 8
December 13

YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE: This in NOT the official website of the Adler Planetarium. We are in no way affiliated with the Adler Planetarium. The Adler Planetarium does not inform us if they change their scheduled free days – and they very often do change their scheduled free days. We are not responsible if you show up at the Adler Planetarium and are asked to pay admission. Please contact the Adler Planetarium directly before making your trip.

Updated July 8, 2011

Adler Planetarium Free Days 2011
July: None
August: None
September: 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28
October: 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26

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 10am–6pm during the summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day); Daily 10am–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,s 28
October 5, 12, 19, & 26
November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
December 7, 14, 21

Chicago Museum Free Days Calendar

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 2011 (subject to change)
July: None
August 29 – 31
September 6 – 9, 14-15, 19, 22, 25, 30
October 2, 4, 11, 26, 31
November 1, 3, 7, 20, 28 – 29
December 4-8.

Museum of Science and Industry Free Days 2011
July: None
August: None
September: 6-9, 12-16, 19-23, 26-30
October: 31st

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.

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.

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