The best free things to do in Chicago this month

Described as “landscape art under glass” when it opened in 1908, the conservatory, while being one of the largest in the world, also boasts revolutionary architecture. About 120,000 plants representing some 600 species occupy the conservatory’s two acres and indoor spaces. Twice a year, flower shows premiere to celebrate the beginning of winter and spring. Admission is free, but timed reservations are required. 

This weekly “live magazine” is a cavalcade of culture, politics and wit featuring journalists, actors, comedians and musicians offering idiosyncratic reports on the news of the day. Head to Uptown’s iconic Green Mill for drinks, hot takes and laughs; the longstanding Saturday afternoon edition tends to run about two and a half hours.

What’s better than a show at the Empty Bottle? A free show at the Empty Bottle. Every Monday, Chicago’s premier indie rock club hosts a free concert. Check the venue's website for a schedule of upcoming performances and to RSVP.

The Whistler’s premier lit series pops up on the second Wednesday of every month, bringing an evening of readings, workshopping and discussion to the Logan Square cocktail bar. Each show is followed by an installment of the Relax Attack Jazz Series, another free event with a constantly rotating bill.

You don't have to look any further than Pilsen to find one of the largest Latino cultural organizations in the U.S. Visit the National Museum of Mexican Art and explore a 6,000-piece permanent collection, rotating exhibits, performing-arts showcases and educational programming that represents an illustrious Mexican culture.

This annual arts-centric Halloween parade returns to State Street to cap off the City of Chicago's “Halloweek” festivities with an evening of colorful, family-friendly flair. Watch as participants from major cultural organizations, inspiring youth programs and aspiring artists in every field march down the downtown thoroughfare and prepare for a spectacle. 

See some 1,100 animals—from apes to zebras to flamingos—at one of the last free zoos in the country. The 35-acre attraction connects visitors with animals from all over the world, and a variety of seasonal events and special programming keep locals coming back again and again. Admission to Lincoln Park Zoo has been free since it opened in 1868.

As summer winds down and fall weather draws us indoors, Chicago museums are welcoming visitors with a new round of free admission days. Many institutions are offering no-cost entry for Illinois residents (don’t forget to bring that proof of residency!), and a few are even opening their doors for free to everyone. 

Illinois residents can enjoy free museum days throughout October 2025 at the following institutions:

The Field Museum: Free on Wednesdays

Griffin Museum of Science and Industry: Free on October 1, 6, 7, 8, 14 and 15

Chicago History Museum: Free on October 8, 13 and 25

Adler Planetarium: Free every Wednesday after 4pm

Shedd Aquarium: Free on October 7, 14, 21 and 28 after 5pm

When this institution opened in 1961, African-American history was suffering serious neglect at the hands of the city’s—and for that matter the nation’s—cultural institutions. The Hyde Park cultural hub is now one of the oldest African-American–focused museums in the country. Admission is free for all every Wednesday.

Wanna see some of the best Halloween costumes in the city? Head to Northalsted, where a group of dedicated cosplayers shows off their creations at this annual procession. You'll find drag queens, kids, parents and pets marching in the Halsted Halloween Night Parade, which typically features impressive group costumes and dancers performing all the moves to Michael Jackson's "Thriller." The parade steps off at Halsted and Belmont at 7:30pm and heads north before ending at Halsted and Cornelia at 8pm; stick around afterwards—the awards show commences at Halsted and Brompton at 8:30pm.

Every two years, Chicago becomes a global hub of architecture and design during the Chicago Architecture Biennial. This edition’s theme is SHIFT: Architecture in Times of Radical Change, bringing together over 100 projects by architects, artists and designers from 30 countries—each piece engaging with the cultural, social and environmental fluxes transforming our world. Not sure where to start? Check out our first-timer's guide to the exhibition.

Displaying a 25-story-tall video installation on the side of THE MART, ART on THE MART is the largest permanent digital art projection in the world, with programming that changes seasonally. ART on THE MART's array of 34 digital projectors show the creations after dusk every evening. Running Thursdays through Saturdays beginning at 7:30pm, it’s best viewed from the section of the Chicago Riverwalk between Wells Street and Franklin Street.