#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 Sunday, Columbus Day Weekend 2026
14 picks
The 10 best free things to do in Chicago on Sunday, Oct 11
- Fall Fest at Lincoln Park Zoo — Sep 25–Oct 18, 2026 · Free · Lincoln Park
- Chicago Latino Dance Festival at Humboldt — Sunday, October 11, 3:00–5:00 PM · Free · Logan Square
- teamLab & Allison Martino in Conversation — Sunday, October 11 4–5 PM · Free · Hyde Park
- The Paper Machete — Saturdays at 3pm (doors 1pm) · Free · Uptown
- Oktoberfestiversary — Saturday, October 10, 11:00 AM–9:00 PM · Free · Andersonville
- 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
- 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
Humboldt (Alexander Von) Park, Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Wicker Park & BucktownGazeboJake · CC0 · Wikimedia CommonsSunday, October 11, 2026, 3:00–5:00 PMFREE
Chicago Latino Dance Festival at Humboldt
Logan Square, Wicker Park & Bucktown
Eight companies dance free and outdoors in Humboldt Park, from Afro-Latin to folkloric styles.
FreeOne Day Only
#2Sunday, October 11, 2026, 3:00–5:00 PM · One Day Only
Humboldt (Alexander Von) Park, Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Wicker Park & BucktownGazeboJake · CC0 · Wikimedia CommonsChicago Latino Dance Festival at Humboldt
Eight companies dance free and outdoors in Humboldt Park, from Afro-Latin to folkloric styles.
Add to calendar#3
Smart Museum of Art, Hyde ParkSunday, October 11, 2026 · 4–5 PMFREE
teamLab & Allison Martino in Conversation
Smart Museum of Art, Hyde Park
A teamLab member and the exhibition curator discuss the collective’s creative practice.
FreeOne Day Only
#3Sunday, October 11, 2026 · 4–5 PM · One Day Only
Smart Museum of Art, Hyde ParkteamLab & Allison Martino in Conversation
A teamLab member and the exhibition curator discuss the collective’s creative practice.
Add to calendar#4
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
#4Saturdays 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#5
Begyle Brewing and Dovetail Brewery, Ravenswood, Andersonville, Uptown & Lincoln SquareSaturday, October 10, 11:00 AM–9:00 PM, and Sunday, October 11, 11:00 AM–8:00 PM, 2026Free
Oktoberfestiversary
Andersonville, Uptown & Lincoln Square
Oktoberfestiversary has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
FreeOne Weekend Only
#5Saturday, October 10, 11:00 AM–9:00 PM, and Sunday, October 11, 11:00 AM–8:00 PM, 2026 · One Weekend Only
Begyle Brewing and Dovetail Brewery, Ravenswood, Andersonville, Uptown & Lincoln SquareOktoberfestiversary
Oktoberfestiversary has enough weekend energy to earn a spot on the board.
Add to calendar#6
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
#6Sep 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#7
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
#7Apr 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#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 Sunday
#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 Sunday of Columbus Day weekend, Oct 11: 14 picks, refreshed weekly.
