Coming Soon

Griffin Museum of Science + Industry — Free for IL Residents

Museum of Science & Industry, 5700 S Lake Shore Dr

Free for Illinois residents. Reserve in advance at msichicago.org. Free admission is for Illinois residents unless otherwise noted.

Charlie Otto — No Bother at Martyrs'

Martyrs', 3855 N Lincoln Ave

American Writers Museum — Free Admission

American Writers Museum, 180 N Michigan Ave

Free on third Sunday of each month, 10 AM–5 PM.

Logan Square Farmers Market

2620 N Milwaukee Ave

8:30 AM–3 PM

Glenwood Sunday Market

6960 N Glenwood Ave

9 AM–2 PM

Hamlin Park Farmers Market

3035 N Hoyne Ave

9 AM–1 PM

95th Street Sunday Market

1835 W 95th St

8 AM–1 PM

El Paseo Community Market

944 W 21st St

10 AM–2 PM

Maxwell Street Market

1330 S Halsted St

9 AM–3 PM. 3rd Sunday of the month.

North Park Community Market

Christiana & Bryn Mawr

10 AM–2 PM. 3rd Sunday of the month.

Open House Chicago

Various locations across Chicago

A citywide architecture event opening the doors to buildings across Chicago, including landmarks normally closed to the public. 10 AM–5 PM both days.

Fall Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo

Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614

Chicago's favorite free and family-friendly festival is back at Lincoln Park Zoo for another season of harvest-time fun. Seasonal activities and entertainment. 8:00 AM–5:00 PM.

Lincoln Square Greek Fest

2727 W Winona St, Chicago

A weekend festival celebrating Greek food and culture in Lincoln Square.

Roscoe Village Halloween Block Party

Roscoe St between Damen Ave and Hoyne Ave, Chicago

A Halloween block party in Roscoe Village.

Festival del Arte Popular 2026

National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W 19th St, Chicago, IL 60608

The National Museum of Mexican Art's annual folk art festival, with artists and handmade works from across Mexico.

Chicago Film Festival: Physical Media Fair

1511 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60642

A free Chicago Film Festival fair for collectors of DVDs, Blu-rays, VHS and other physical media.

Chicago Film Festival: Industry Days: The Pitch

Claudia Cassidy Theater, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602

Filmmakers pitch their projects live at this free Chicago Film Festival Industry Days event.

Slightly Spooky October: Halloween Fun, Games & Activities

Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Free Halloween games, crafts and activities for all ages at Navy Pier.

Melanie McLain: Peripersonal

MCA Chicago, 220 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Melanie McLain's Peripersonal at the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Pumpkins & Pigskins: Bears at Falcons Watch Party

Gallagher Way, 3635 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613

A Bears vs. Falcons watch party at Gallagher Way.

Autumn Harvest Market at Pioneer Court

Pioneer Court, 401 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

A fall harvest market on the Magnificent Mile at Pioneer Court.

Living Record: Look Back to Go Forward

Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

A free interactive exhibition at Navy Pier that looks back to help us move forward.

McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum

McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum, 99 Chicago Riverwalk, Chicago, IL 60601

Explore five floors inside the historic Michigan Avenue bridge tower and see the giant gears that raise the bridge. Open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 AM–5 PM, through October 25.

UIC Vocal Jazz Ensemble & Combo: An Evening of Jazz

L285 Recital Hall, 1040 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL 60607

UIC's vocal jazz ensemble and combo perform an evening of jazz.

Ronald Rael: Can Art & Architecture Change the World?

Fullerton Hall, Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603

Architect and artist Ronald Rael talks about how art and architecture can change the world.

Author Melissa Albert: Reading and Discussion

The Hive, Columbia College Chicago, 618 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605

Bestselling author Melissa Albert reads from her work and talks with the audience.

Lincoln Square Tuesday Morning Market

2301 W Leland Ave

7 AM–12 PM

SOAR Farmers Market

220 E Chicago Ave (MCA Plaza)

7 AM–2 PM

Windy City Shakespeare at Brews & Blarney

Brews & Blarney, 2212 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

A Shakespeare performance at Brews & Blarney in Lincoln Park.

Chicago Film Festival: Sad Girlz

National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W 19th St, Chicago, IL 60608

A free Chicago Film Festival screening of Sad Girlz at the National Museum of Mexican Art.

Trivia Night at Gallagher Way

Gallagher Way, 3635 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613

An evening of trivia outside Wrigley Field.

WoodWorks Connect

Fulton Social Club & Roof Deck, 800 W Fulton Market, 18th Floor, Chicago, IL 60607

A networking event at Fulton Social Club & Roof Deck in Fulton Market.

Shedd Aquarium Free Evenings

Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605

Tuesday evening hours at Shedd Aquarium.

Dancing with the Stars Watch Party

1925 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

A weekly Tuesday night Dancing with the Stars watch party in Lincoln Park.

The Field Museum — Free Wednesday

Field Museum, 1400 S DuSable Lake Shore Dr, Chicago

Illinois residents get free general admission every Wednesday. Free tickets must be reserved in advance at fieldmuseum.org/our-events/free-wednesdays. Valid Illinois ID required. 9 AM–5 PM.

RAD, a fun show

Goblin Market, 2868 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60657

A comedy and variety show at Goblin Market.

Andersonville Farmers Market

1500 W Winona St

3–7 PM

Green City Market Lincoln Park

1817 N Clark St

7 AM–1 PM

Pullman Farmers Market

11100 S Cottage Grove Ave

7 AM–12 PM

Ravenswood Community Market

4900 N Damen Ave

3:30–7:30 PM

Uptown Farmers Market

Sunnyside Mall

2:30–7 PM

Live Jazz with Myles Hayes

The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago, 160 East Pearson Street, 12th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611

Join us Wednesday evenings for live music, drinks, and bites in The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago Lobby and Torali Bar, featuring live jazz with Myles Hayes. 5:00–8:30 PM.

Foto Flo at Schubas

Schubas Tavern, 3159 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL 60657

A live evening show at Schubas Tavern, Lakeview's intimate music venue.

Chicago Film Festival: Queer Humanism: Andrew Haigh and Ira Sachs in Conversation

AMC NewCity 14, 1500 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

A free Chicago Film Festival conversation with filmmakers Andrew Haigh and Ira Sachs.

Cassidy Theater Film Club: I Love Boosters

Claudia Cassidy Theater, Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602

The Cassidy Theater Film Club screens I Love Boosters at the Chicago Cultural Center.

Toyota Movie Night: Hocus Pocus

Gallagher Way, 3635 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613

An outdoor screening of Hocus Pocus at Gallagher Way.

Cassidy Theater Film Club

Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602

A film club evening in the Cassidy Theater at the Chicago Cultural Center.

Fall Festival at Pioneer Court

Pioneer Court, 401 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

A fall festival on the Magnificent Mile at Pioneer Court.

Chicago Speakeasy Series — The Meadowlark

The Meadowlark

No entry fee.

Daley Plaza Farmers Market

50 W Washington St

7 AM–2 PM

Austin Town Hall City Market

5610 W Lake St

1–6 PM

Daley Plaza Farmers Market (Thursday)

50 W Washington St

7 AM–2 PM

Lincoln Square Thursday Evening Market

2301 W Leland Ave

3–7 PM

Ravenswood Neighbors Association: Board Game Meetup

Chicago Northside Church of the Nazarene, 1900 W Leland Ave, Chicago, IL 60640

A monthly neighborhood board game night hosted by the Ravenswood Neighbors Association.

Under the Dome Concert: Clothing Swap and Live Music

Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602

Swap clothes and enjoy live music under the Chicago Cultural Center's dome.

Mariachi Fuego: A Night of Mexican Music

L285 Recital Hall, 1040 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL 60607

UIC's Mariachi Fuego performs a night of Mexican music.

Pups Halloween at Gallagher Way

Gallagher Way, 3635 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60613

A Halloween celebration for pups and their people in Wrigleyville.

Viva la Vida at the National Museum of Mexican Art

National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W 19th St, Chicago, IL 60608

A daytime program at the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen.

At Your Pace at the Obama Presidential Center

Obama Presidential Center, 6001 S Stony Island Ave, Chicago, IL 60637

An early morning At Your Pace session at the Obama Presidential Center.

Leigh Raiford: Photography Lecture and Book Signing

Ferguson Lecture Hall, Columbia College Chicago, 600 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605

Scholar Leigh Raiford gives a free photography lecture followed by a book signing. Registration required.