#1
Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park, Lakeview & WrigleyvilleSep 25, 2026–Oct 18, 2026Free
Fall Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo
Lincoln Park, Lakeview & Wrigleyville
Fall Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo is listed for Chicago this weekend.
FreeLimited Run
Free Things to Do in Chicago on Columbus Day Monday, Oct 12
14 picks
The 10 best free things to do in Chicago on Columbus Day Monday, Oct 12
- Fall Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo — Sep 25–Oct 18, 2026 · Free · Lincoln Park
- Chicago History Museum Illinois Resident Free Day — Monday, October 12 9:30 AM–4:30 PM · Lincoln Park
- The Paper Machete — Saturdays at 3pm (doors 1pm) · Free · Uptown
- Indigenous Peoples' Day featuring Colectivo Sayba, Tamanaco Tambor & Trio Axol — Monday, October 12, 7:30pm · Free · Lincoln Square
- Division Street Farmers Market — Sep 19–Oct 17, 2026 · Free · 100 W. Division St.
- Tangible Sound: Arrival to a Higher Ground — Apr 25–Oct 18, 2026 · Free · Downtown
- Indigenous Peoples' Day Free Admission at Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum — Monday, October 12, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM · Free · Evanston
- ART on THE Mart — Thursdays through Sundays, 7:30–8:00 PM · Free · Downtown
- Comedy Hour at Annoyance Theatre — Sep 18–Oct 17, 2026 · Free · Annoyance Theatre & Bar
- Chicago Greeter Riverwalk InstaGreeter Walk — Sep 18–Oct 18, 2026 · Free · Downtown
Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park, Lakeview & Wrigleyville#1Sep 25, 2026–Oct 18, 2026 · Limited Run
Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park, Lakeview & WrigleyvilleFall Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo
Fall Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo is listed for Chicago this weekend.
Add to calendar#2
Chicago History Museum, Lincoln ParkGoldnpuppy · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMonday, October 12, 2026 · 9:30 AM–4:30 PM
Chicago History Museum Illinois Resident Free Day
Chicago History Museum, Lincoln Park
Illinois residents get free Monday access to the museum’s permanent and temporary shows.
FreeOne Day Only
#2Monday, October 12, 2026 · 9:30 AM–4:30 PM · One Day Only
Chicago History Museum, Lincoln ParkGoldnpuppy · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsChicago History Museum Illinois Resident Free Day
Illinois residents get free Monday access to the museum’s permanent and temporary shows.
Add to calendar#3
Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, UptownKenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsSaturdays at 3pm (doors 1pm); no end date announcedFREE
The Paper Machete
Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, Uptown
The script is new every week at this free two-hour show in the Green Mill, a bar since 1907.
FreeLimited Run
#3Saturdays at 3pm (doors 1pm); no end date announced · Limited Run
Green Mill Cocktail Lounge, UptownKenneth C. Zirkel · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThe Paper Machete
The script is new every week at this free two-hour show in the Green Mill, a bar since 1907.
Add to calendar#4
Old Town School of Folk Music, Lincoln SquareMonday, October 12, 2026, 7:30pmFree
Indigenous Peoples' Day featuring Colectivo Sayba, Tamanaco Tambor & Trio Axol
Old Town School of Folk Music, Lincoln Square
Indigenous Peoples' Day featuring Colectivo Sayba, Tamanaco Tambor & Trio Axol has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
FreeLimited Run
#4Monday, October 12, 2026, 7:30pm · Limited Run
Old Town School of Folk Music, Lincoln SquareIndigenous Peoples' Day featuring Colectivo Sayba, Tamanaco Tambor & Trio Axol
Indigenous Peoples' Day featuring Colectivo Sayba, Tamanaco Tambor & Trio Axol has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
Add to calendar#5
100 W. Division St.Sep 19, 2026–Oct 17, 2026Free
Division Street Farmers Market
100 W. Division St.
Division Street Farmers Market is listed for Chicago this weekend.
FreeLimited Run
#5Sep 19, 2026–Oct 17, 2026 · Limited Run
100 W. Division St.Division Street Farmers Market
Division Street Farmers Market is listed for Chicago this weekend.
Add to calendar#6
Chicago Cultural Center, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopGrant Henninger · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsApr 25, 2026–Oct 18, 2026Free
Tangible Sound: Arrival to a Higher Ground
Downtown, the Loop & West Loop
Tangible Sound: Arrival to a Higher Ground is listed for Chicago this weekend.
FreeLimited Run
#6Apr 25, 2026–Oct 18, 2026 · Limited Run
Chicago Cultural Center, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopGrant Henninger · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsTangible Sound: Arrival to a Higher Ground
Tangible Sound: Arrival to a Higher Ground is listed for Chicago this weekend.
Add to calendar#7
Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum, EvanstonNick Number · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsMonday, October 12, 2026, 10:00 AM–5:00 PMFree admission all day
Indigenous Peoples' Day Free Admission at Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum
Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum, Evanston
Indigenous Peoples' Day Free Admission at Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
FreeOne Day Only
#7Monday, October 12, 2026, 10:00 AM–5:00 PM · One Day Only
Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum, EvanstonNick Number · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia CommonsIndigenous Peoples' Day Free Admission at Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum
Indigenous Peoples' Day Free Admission at Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
Add to calendar#8
Chicago Riverwalk (Wells St. to Franklin St.), River North, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopChris Rycroft from Madison, Wisconsin, United States · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia CommonsThursdays through Sundays, 7:30–8:00 PM, through Nov 15, 2026Free and open to the public
ART on THE Mart
Downtown, the Loop & West Loop
ART on THE Mart is listed for Chicago this weekend.
FreeArt
#8Thursdays through Sundays, 7:30–8:00 PM, through Nov 15, 2026 · Limited Run
Chicago Riverwalk (Wells St. to Franklin St.), River North, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopChris Rycroft from Madison, Wisconsin, United States · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons#9
Annoyance Theatre & BarSep 18, 2026–Oct 17, 2026Free
Comedy Hour at Annoyance Theatre
Annoyance Theatre & Bar
Comedy Hour at Annoyance Theatre is listed for Chicago this weekend.
FreeLimited Run
#9Sep 18, 2026–Oct 17, 2026 · Limited Run
Annoyance Theatre & BarComedy Hour at Annoyance Theatre
Comedy Hour at Annoyance Theatre is listed for Chicago this weekend.
Add to calendar#10
Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopSep 18, 2026–Oct 18, 2026FREE
Chicago Greeter Riverwalk InstaGreeter Walk
Downtown, the Loop & West Loop
Chicago Greeter Riverwalk InstaGreeter Walk is listed for Chicago this weekend.
FreeLimited Run
#10Sep 18, 2026–Oct 18, 2026 · Limited Run
Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopChicago Greeter Riverwalk InstaGreeter Walk
Chicago Greeter Riverwalk InstaGreeter Walk is listed for Chicago this weekend.
Add to calendarMore on Columbus Day Monday
#11
Chicago Cultural Center, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopSep 18, 2026–Oct 18, 2026FREE
Chicago Greeter – Loop InstaGreeter
Downtown, the Loop & West Loop
Chicago Greeter – Loop InstaGreeter is listed for Chicago this weekend.
FreeLimited Run
#11Sep 18, 2026–Oct 18, 2026 · Limited Run
Chicago Cultural Center, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopChicago Greeter – Loop InstaGreeter
Chicago Greeter – Loop InstaGreeter is listed for Chicago this weekend.
Add to calendar#12
Greektown Chicago, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopSep 18, 2026–Oct 18, 2026Free
We the People: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Beauty in Greektown Chicago
Downtown, the Loop & West Loop
We the People: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Beauty in Greektown Chicago is listed for.
FreeLimited Run
#12Sep 18, 2026–Oct 18, 2026 · Limited Run
Greektown Chicago, Downtown, the Loop & West LoopWe the People: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Beauty in Greektown Chicago
We the People: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Beauty in Greektown Chicago is listed for.
Add to calendar#13
National Museum of Mexican Art, Pilsen, West Town & the West SideSep 25, 2026–Nov 29, 2026Free
Where Memory Lives:: 40 Years of Día de Muertos
Pilsen, West Town & the West Side
Where Memory Lives:: 40 Years of Día de Muertos is listed for Chicago this weekend.
FreeArt
#13Sep 25, 2026–Nov 29, 2026 · Limited Run
National Museum of Mexican Art, Pilsen, West Town & the West SideWhere Memory Lives:: 40 Years of Día de Muertos
Where Memory Lives:: 40 Years of Día de Muertos is listed for Chicago this weekend.
Add to calendar#14
Smart Museum of Art, Hyde ParkAdam Jones, Ph.D. · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsSeptember 22, 2026 – February 21, 2027; Tuesday–Sunday 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.Free
teamLab: Everything Exists in Infinite Continuity
Smart Museum of Art, Hyde Park
The Tokyo art collective teamLab's immersive show at the Smart Museum, with free admission.
FreeArt
#14September 22, 2026 – February 21, 2027; Tuesday–Sunday 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m. · Limited Run
Smart Museum of Art, Hyde ParkAdam Jones, Ph.D. · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsteamLab: Everything Exists in Infinite Continuity
The Tokyo art collective teamLab's immersive show at the Smart Museum, with free admission.
Add to calendarAbout this list
Stumblday's hand-checked ranking of the best free things to do in Chicago on Columbus Day Monday, Oct 12: 14 picks, refreshed weekly.
