Free Days at
Chicago Museums
If you are looking for some FREE fun in Chicago, look no further! Here are the FREE DAYS at several popular Chicago Museums, many of which have free admission days on the same day!
Advanced ticket purchase is always required on free admission days.
Click the "Explore More" button under the museum listing to purchase.
Adler Planetarium
Throughout the year, Alder Planetarium host plenty of free days for America’s first planetarium. Take note that this is only free for Illinois residents.
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Every WEDNESDAY NIGHT (4p - 10p) is free for Illinois Residents (with proof of residency).
*All tickets must be purchased online and in advance.* Admission is always free for Illinois teachers (pre-K through 12), active duty military and veterans, and active police and firefighters.
Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
Illinois residents can enjoy free admission to the Art Institute throughout the year. Here are some upcoming dates:
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Weekdays (Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays) Jan. 8 – March 22, 2024
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You MUST secure your tickets in advance in order to receive free admission. Click the link below for tickets.
Chicago
Brookfield Zoo
Free admission at the Brookfield Zoo for all active, reserve, and retired members of the military with an ID. Admission is also free for children age 2 and under.
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*Brookfield Zoo will not require proof of vaccination to enter the zoo, visit the indoor animal exhibits, use the restrooms or to purchase food to-go from outdoor or indoor restaurant locations.
Chicago
Chicago Botanic Garden
Preregistration for nonmembers is required and will extend until the Garden is at capacity; parking fees apply.
Visitors can preregister up to two months in advance for free admission days. See chart below for the 2023 Free Admission Days.
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January 9 – 16
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February 5 – 10, 20
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March 6 – 10
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April 10 – 13
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May 9, 11
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June 13, 15, 19
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July 11, 13
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August 8, 10
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September 12, 14
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October 9 – 10, 12
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November 6 – 12
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December 11 – 17
Chicago
Chicago Children's Museum
The Chicago Children’s Museum offers veterans and active military free admission every day with the presentation of valid military status identification. In partnership with Navy Pier, Free Family Days in 2023 are the last Thursday of the month January through May as well as September and October. No pre-registration is required.
Chicago
Museum of Contemporary Art
MCA is free to Illinois residents.
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FREE EVERY TUESDAY, year-round
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Free for those under 18, or who are members of the military (active or veterans), police, or fire department, visitors with disabilities and their caregivers, and Illinois elementary through high school teachers.
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To encourage more people to visit and visit often, the MCA has a pay-what-you-can policy — no one will be turned away! How cool is that?!
Chicago
Museum of Science and Industry
Illinois residents can enjoy free admission on the following days:
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2024
January 202422-24, 28-31
February5-8, 11-15, 20-22, 26-29
April21
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*Limited to six children (under 18) admitted per one accompanying adult.
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The Museum of Science and Industry is always free for United States military active-duty personnel and veterans, Illinois POWs, Chicago firefighters, Chicago police officers and Illinois teachers (Pre-K through 12th grade).
Chicago
The Shedd Aquarium
The Shedd Aquarium is offering Illinois residents free access to all permanent exhibits, including special exhibits Underwater Beauty and seasonal Stingray Touch.
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DATES:
2024 Free Days: Hours vary based on date
January 9 - 16, 23 - 25, 30, 31
February 1, 6 - 8, 13 - 15, 20 - 22, 27 -29
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2024 Free Tuesday Evenings: 5 p.m. - 9 p.m.
March 5, 12, 19, 26
April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
May 7, 14, 21, 28
June 4, 11, 18, 25
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Free (A $5-per-order transaction fee applies to all Illinois Free Day ticket reservations.)
Chicago
Chicago History Museum
Children under 12 years old and Illinois residents under 18 years old are always free.
Free admission is also always available to all active-duty military and all veterans, active duty Chicago Police Department members, active duty Chicago Fire Department members, City Colleges of Chicago students, faculty, and staff, and Illinois teachers.
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Jan. 15 – 19, 23 – 26, 30 – 31, 2024
Feb. 1 – 2, 6 – 9, 13 – 16, 19 – 23, 27 – 29, 2024
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​Admission is always free for active duty military and veterans, active duty Chicago police and firefighters, Illinois teachers, Illinois residents under age 18, and all children under 12.
Chicago
Chicago Cultural Center
Chicago
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is offering suggested donation admission every Thursday the museum is open for Illinois residents. Visitors can enjoy free admission during these Donation Days or support the museum with a $10 suggested household donation at the time of admission.
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Admission is always free for active-duty service members with ID and their families, Illinois teachers, and children under three.
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Swedish American Museum
Free admission every second Tuesday of the month year-round at the Swedish American Museum. Children aged 1 year or younger are admitted free.
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Chicago Museums that Offer FREE Year Round
These Chicago museums offer free admission to everyone all year long:
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Illinois Holocaust Museum
The Illinois Holocaust Museum is offering free admission...
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The LAST FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH
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Reserve your free tickets in advance. Visitors with an active Bank of America or Merrill Lynch credit or debit card and a photo ID receive several other Free Admission dates (also found in the link below).
Skokie