Stumblday's hand-checked ranking of the best free things to do in Chicago on Columbus Day Monday, Oct 12: 14 picks, refreshed weekly.
14 picks · checked Sep 21
Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park, Lakeview & WrigleyvilleJrbarc! · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsFree harvest fun at the zoo: s'mores, pro pumpkin carvers, pick-your-own pumpkins and live music.
Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park, Lakeview & WrigleyvilleJrbarc! · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsFree harvest fun at the zoo: s'mores, pro pumpkin carvers, pick-your-own pumpkins and live music.
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Chicago History Museum, Lincoln Park, Lakeview & WrigleyvilleGoldnpuppy · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsIllinois residents get free Monday access to the museum’s permanent and temporary shows.
Chicago History Museum, Lincoln Park, Lakeview & WrigleyvilleGoldnpuppy · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsIllinois residents get free Monday access to the museum’s permanent and temporary shows.
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Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, Uptown, Andersonville, Uptown & Lincoln SquareKenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe script is new every week at this free two-hour show in the Green Mill, a bar since 1907.
Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, Uptown, Andersonville, Uptown & Lincoln SquareKenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe script is new every week at this free two-hour show in the Green Mill, a bar since 1907.
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Old Town School of Folk Music, Lincoln Square, Andersonville, Uptown & Lincoln SquareIndigenous Peoples' Day featuring Colectivo Sayba, Tamanaco Tambor & Trio Axol has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
Old Town School of Folk Music, Lincoln Square, Andersonville, Uptown & Lincoln SquareIndigenous Peoples' Day featuring Colectivo Sayba, Tamanaco Tambor & Trio Axol has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
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Chicago Cultural Center, The Loop, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopGrant Henninger · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsDCASE's free flagship show in the Loop, open daily 10am to 5pm.
Chicago Cultural Center, The Loop, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopGrant Henninger · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsDCASE's free flagship show in the Loop, open daily 10am to 5pm.
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Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum, Evanston, Evanston & Oak ParkNick Number · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA museum of the Great Lakes' Indigenous peoples opens free all day for the holiday.
Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum, Evanston, Evanston & Oak ParkNick Number · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsA museum of the Great Lakes' Indigenous peoples opens free all day for the holiday.
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Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopChicago Greeter Riverwalk InstaGreeter Walk has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopChicago Greeter Riverwalk InstaGreeter Walk has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
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Chicago Cultural Center, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopChicago Greeter – Loop InstaGreeter has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
Chicago Cultural Center, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopChicago Greeter – Loop InstaGreeter has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
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Greektown Chicago, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopA free public art exhibit of 40 works along South Halsted Street in Greektown.
Greektown Chicago, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopA free public art exhibit of 40 works along South Halsted Street in Greektown.
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National Museum of Mexican Art, Pilsen, West Town & the West SideWhere Memory Lives: 40 Years of Día de Muertos has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
National Museum of Mexican Art, Pilsen, West Town & the West SideWhere Memory Lives: 40 Years of Día de Muertos has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
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Block Museum of Art, Evanston & Oak ParkPicturing the Modern Metropolis: Prints and Photographs has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
Block Museum of Art, Evanston & Oak ParkPicturing the Modern Metropolis: Prints and Photographs has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
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Block Museum of Art, Evanston & Oak ParkThe Block Collects 2026 has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
Block Museum of Art, Evanston & Oak ParkThe Block Collects 2026 has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
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Smart Museum of Art, Hyde Park, Bronzeville & the South SideAdam Jones, Ph.D. · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe Tokyo art collective teamLab's immersive show at the Smart Museum, with free admission.
Smart Museum of Art, Hyde Park, Bronzeville & the South SideAdam Jones, Ph.D. · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe Tokyo art collective teamLab's immersive show at the Smart Museum, with free admission.
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National Museum of Mexican Art, Pilsen, West Town & the West SideVivir la Tierra: Acquisitions from the Permanent Collection 2010–2026 has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
National Museum of Mexican Art, Pilsen, West Town & the West SideVivir la Tierra: Acquisitions from the Permanent Collection 2010–2026 has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
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