The weekend is finally here in Chicago, and you're ready to go out and have some fun. We've done the hard work for you and rounded top Free Things to Do in Chicago this weekend in our up-to-date Chicago Free Events This Weekend Calendar that covers the best free concerts (classical, jazz, pop, rock, opera), free comedy shows, art exhibitions (museum, galleries), free and cheap party and nightlife activities & things to do this weekend (this Saturday and Sunday) in Chicago including Berwyn, Evanston, Gary, Oak Park, Bridgeview, Calumet City, Elmhurst, Oak Brook and more.

WEEKEND

TODAY - Saturday, Jan 17, 2026

  • Monthly Happy Hour
    January 17 @ 4pm - 7pm

    1941 N Elston Ave STE DC, Chicago, IL 60642, USA

    Let’s start 2026 off right with our first happy hour of the year! Join us for fun, food & drinks! Mingle and meet new friends in the BHC community while ...
  • Golden Hour Featuring Jason Ylagan
    January 17 @ 5pm - 8pm

    201 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60607, USA

    Join us in the Cafe Bar Thursday through Saturday for free live music, starting at 5PM until 8PM. Enjoy our exclusive food and drink specials until 7PM! Golden ...
  • Saturday Late Night Laughs At Laugh Factory Chicago
    FREE Comedy
    Saturday Late Night Laughs At Laugh Factory Chicago
    January 17 - January 18 @ 6pm - 12am. Weekly - Saturdays

    Laugh Factory, 3175 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657, USA

    Standup Comedy is Back at Laugh Factory Chicago! Once paid tickets are prioritized, limit guest passes are allowed in. Age restriction: 18 years and over 2 ...
  • ✨ Eurocircle Chicago: European Social & Games Night ✨
    January 17 @ 7pm - 9pm

    530 N La Salle Dr, Chicago, IL 60654, USA

    A relaxed European-style social evening in the heart of Chicago 🌍Whether you’re European, an expat, international, or simply love European culture — this ...
  • OPEN MIC/OPENSTAGE
    FREE
    Open Mic/Openstage
    January 17 @ 7pm - 11:30pm

    3449 S Paulina St, 3449 South Paulina Street, Chicago, IL 60609

    WE ARE BACK AND WELCOMING ALL ARTIST,AND PERFORMERS FREE99
  • All New Signature Saturdays
    FREE Party
    All New Signature Saturdays
    January 17 - January 18 @ 7pm - 2am. Weekly - Saturdays

    Mikes Place Sports Bar & Grill, 6319 Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn, IL 60402, USA

    All New Signature Saturday @ Mikes Place 6319 Roosevelt (Berwyn) 8p-2a! Kitchen Open All Night Featuring The Citys Best Djs Playing The Best Of Hip Hop L Trap ...
  • Saturday Night Laughs At Laugh Factory Chicago
    FREE Comedy
    Saturday Night Laughs At Laugh Factory Chicago
    January 17 @ 7:30pm - 11pm. Weekly - Saturdays

    Laugh Factory, 3175 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60657, USA

    Standup Comedy at Laugh Factory Chicago! Standby tickets. Paid tickets are prioritized first. Remaining seats given to free ticket holders. Once paid tickets ...
  • Allure Saturdays: Nightmare In Wicker Park Edition
    FREE Party
    Allure Saturdays: Nightmare In Wicker Park Edition
    January 17 - January 18 @ 8pm - 3am. Weekly - Saturdays

    15/40 Bar & Grill, 1540 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60642, USA

    Join Us For Allure Saturdays Nightmare In Wicker Park Edition. Cash Prize For Best Costume! @1540 Bar And Grill Located 1540 W North Ave 9p-3a!!! Limited ...
  • Kumbiaholics: Cumbia, Boogaloo, and Latin Beats Dance Party!
    FREE
    Kumbiaholics: Cumbia, Boogaloo, And Latin Beats Dance Party!
    January 17 - January 18 @ 9pm - 3am

    Simone's, 960 West 18th Street, Chicago, IL 60608

    ► Kumbiaholics 🌟 Kumbiaholics Dance Party at Simone's Bar! 🌟 Get ready to move and groove at Kumbiaholics, the ultimate dance party celebrating the vibrant ...
  • Dj Feature: Mo Mami At Dorothy
    January 17 @ 9pm - 11:59pm

    2500 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622, USA

    DJ Mo Mami debuts with us on January 17th! From 9pm til 1am come and enjoy her global, electronic & bass focused sets - a practice of mapping sounds across ...

TOMORROW - Sunday, Jan 18, 2026

  • Brunch & Beatz Sundays @ Good To Go
    FREE Party
    Brunch & Beatz Sundays @ Good To Go
    January 18 @ 9am - 3pm. Weekly - Saturdays

    Good To Go Jamaican Cuisine, 711 Howard St, Evanston, IL 60202, USA

    Join us every Sunday for BRUNCH BEATZ @ GOODTOGO located on the north side of Chicago where you can enjoy all the vibes without having to deal with the ...
  • Stake Conference: Sunday General Session
    FREE
    Stake Conference: Sunday General Session
    January 18 @ 10am - 12pm

    The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2727 Lake Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091

    We invite all members of the stake to attend this session of Stake Confernce. We encourage you to invite a friend to accompany us.
  • Get Your Camera off Auto: Intro to Film Photography
    FREE
    Get Your Camera Off Auto: Intro To Film Photography
    January 18 @ 11am - 12pm

    Bellows Film Lab Chicago, 1359 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622

    Come learn the basics of film photography! Bellows Lab Tech, Noah Fodor will walk you through the essentials of shooting manually.
  • Wild Fork Orland Park |  Taste and Learn About Grinds
    FREE
    Wild Fork Orland Park | Taste And Learn About Grinds
    January 18 @ 12pm - 3pm

    14860 LaGrange Rd, 14860 LaGrange Road, Orland Park, IL 60462

    Come visit our Orland Park Store and discover different types of grinds beyond the basics! Enjoy free samples, learn about our 12 unique exotic grinds and ...
  • Life After Brunch Day Party
    FREE Party
    Life After Brunch Day Party
    January 18 @ 3pm - 7pm. Weekly - Sundays

    Tribe Supper Club, 1239 W Lake St, Chicago, IL 60607, USA

    Every Sunday, experience Life After Brunch...one of Chicago's most exclusive day parties! Great food + drinks + Chicago's hottest DJs Great Vibes. Come dressed ...
  • A Dream Deferred - Concert by the Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra
    FREE
    A Dream Deferred - Concert By The Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra
    January 18 @ 3pm - 4:30pm

    South Shore Cultural Center Robeson Theatre, 7059 South South Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60649

    Free admission, donations accepted.Presented by American Music Festivals and Institute for Economics and Educational Research
  • I Know You Got Soul Exhibition Closing
    January 18 @ 6pm - 9pm

    1549 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642, USA

    I KNOW YOU GOT SOUL Exhibition Closing Artist Talk & Reception 6-9pm MLK Sunday 1/18/26 By Parrish Lewis Soul is something you feel before you ever see it. ...
  • Sound Bath at Dorothy
    FREE
    Sound Bath At Dorothy
    January 18 @ 7pm - 8:30pm

    Dorothy, 2500 West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622

    Sound Bath reimagines the maker’s salon as a communal listening experience. Artists and producers bring their works in progress—unfinished tracks, sketches, or ...
  • Dreamers Salsa Sunday (Holiday Event) @ Stadium Club
    FREE
    Dreamers Salsa Sunday (Holiday Event) @ Stadium Club
    January 18 - January 19 @ 7pm - 12am

    Stadium Club at the Max, 4740 Vernon Avenue, McCook, IL 60525

    💫 Dreamers Salsa Sunday (MLK Holiday Edition) @ Stadium Club Important [hidden] to construction at Compass Arena, Dreamers Salsa Sunday will take place at ...
  • Bollywood Musical Night | FREE Live Music Event
    FREE
    Bollywood Musical Night | Free Live Music Event
    January 18 @ 7pm - 10pm

    1827 Waukegan Rd, 1827 Waukegan Road, Glenview, IL 60025

    Bollywood Musical Night!! Get ready to dance and sing along at our Bollywood Musical Night a FREE event with no ticket charge! Join us in person for an ...

More Free Things To Do in Chicago This Weekend

Besides many free events listed in our Chicago Free Events this Weekend calendar above, here are some more Free Things to Do in Chicago This Weekend:

Water Tower Place
835 Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL | https://www.shopwatertower.com/
The ultimate place to be for fanfare and activity on Chicago's famed Magnificent Mile during weekends, Water Tower Place features dozens of major retailers, incredible restaurants, and fun entertainment options housed in a seven-level atrium. Water Tower Place is also home to Broadway in Chicago.

Holy Name Cathedral
730 North Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL
While ground broke on Chicago's cathedral in July of 1874, the building has been restored several times over the years to repair fire damage. The cathedral notably replaced the Cathedral of Saint Mary after it was destroyed during the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Pope John Paul II became the first Pontiff to visit Holy Name Cathedral during a visit to the United States in October of 1979.

The Famous Tiffany Dome Inside the Chicago Cultural Center
78 East Washington Street, Chicago, IL | https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/chicago_culturalcenter-tiffanydome.html
Free admission makes it possible to pop into this historic building to see a magnificent translucent dome made of Tiffany Favrile glass. Cut into the shape of fish scales, this zodiac-inspired dome has a diameter of 38 feet. It was made by the famous Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company of New York.

Sculpture Hunt Along Chicago's Magnificent Mile
There's something fun about the Saturday hustle and bustle of shoppers and tourists on the Magnificent Mile. One way to stay busy for hours without spending a dime is to look for the list of statues nestled around Chicago's most famous loop. The list includes the Wings of Mexico sculpture at 410 North Michigan Avenue, the Agora Big Feet sculpture at 1135 South Michigan Avenue, and the World Traveler sculpture at 100 East Lake Shore Drive.

Brewery Tours and Pub Crawls
Chicago is one of the best cities for beer in the country! The city boasts more than 160 breweries offering locally crafted beers. Many brewers offer free tours on a first-come basis on weekend afternoons.

Blues and Jazz Music on Halsted Street
While there are many spots for live music around Chicago, Halsted Street has a nice concentration of bars and clubs playing blues and jazz. Most don't open until 6 p.m. on weekends.

The Chicago Skyline on a Saturday Night
875 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL
Why pay $25 a pop to check out the view from one of Chicago's observatory decks? A spot called Signature Lounge on top of Chicago's John Hancock Building offers the same view for free. The only catch is that you may need to order at least a drink to be able to stick around.

Free Games at the Game Room
12 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL | https://www.chicagoathletichotel.com/restaurants/game-room
The Game Room is a rarity because it's one of the only old-time athletic clubs to survive the Great Depression. While the Game Room is housed in a hotel, the games are totally free for the public. Playing shuffleboard, pool, foosball, bocce, and other classics in an upscale location is a great way to spend a Saturday night.

Navy Pier
600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL
Navy Pier is an iconic Chicago attraction located in the city's scenic lakefront area. It's also the place to be on weekends. Found in the Streeterville neighborhood, Navy Pier juts 3,300 feet into the shoreline of Lake Michigan. This 52-acre wonderland features more than 50 shops, restaurants, gardens, parks, museums, exhibition spaces, and attractions. In fact, it is considered one of the Midwest's most important attractions. This is also the place to ride on the famed Navy Pier Centennial Wheel for amazing views of the city, shoreline, and beyond!

The Most Haunted Hotel in Illinois
520 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL
Congress Plaza Hotel was named by Leisure + Travel as the most haunted place in all of Illinois. This 122-year-old hotel is routinely the source of ghost sightings. The ghost of Al Capone is frequently seen near the infamous gangster's favorite eight-floor suite. Several other ghosts are known to cause banging sounds, scratching noises, slammed doors, and flickering lights. Touring the lobby on the weekends makes it easier to blend in with the flow of tourists.

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