You don’t need to reach for your wallet to get your fill of fun things to do all around the city. Here are 10 of our favorite free events and activities this month in Chicago, including exciting holiday festivities, cultural celebrations, live performances, free museum days, and so much more. Start planning your budget-friendly Chicago adventures with these free things to do in December 2024.
1. Go skating at a free ice rink
Nothing says “winter in Chicago” like gliding around on one of the city’s magical ice skating rinks. One favorite spot is the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, which is now open for its 22nd season. This free-admission rink in Millennium Park is nestled in the shadow of “The Bean” and the glimmering lights of Michigan Avenue.
Note that online reservations are required, skate rentals are available for a fee. Find more free ice rinks throughout Chicago’s neighborhoods.
2. Experience a traditional Christmas market
Christkindlmarket Chicago is back! The beloved winter tradition turns the downtown Daley Plaza into a bustling holiday market, filling the air with the smell of roasted nuts, hot pretzels, and mulled wine.
Admission is free to come in and peruse artisan goods, imported German gifts, and handmade holiday decorations. You can even catch cultural activities and family-friendly events. The market is now open through Dec. 24.
Check out more magical holiday markets popping up around Chicago.
3. See the official Chicago Christmas Tree
For more than 100 years, the city of Chicago has celebrated the holiday season with the the official Chicago Christmas Tree in Millennium Park. Watch the lights turn on each evening at sunset, then snap a few photos before exploring the rest of the park. The tree will stay standing through Jan. 8, 2025.
4. Be dazzled by ZooLights
More than one million lights make up the mesmerizing displays at ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo. This year’s family-friendly holiday event, set in the city’s historic lakefront zoo, includes a 60-foot Ferris wheel, live carolers and ice carvers, and more than three million twinkling lights. Tickets are $7 – $10 online, but admission is free every Monday in December. Make sure to reserve your free spot in advance.
5. Explore a museum
There’s no better way to spend an afternoon than wandering through a new museum exhibit or art gallery. Here are the upcoming free museum days this month (and make sure to reserve your tickets ahead of time):
- Adler Planetarium is free every Wednesday from 4 – 10 p.m.
- Field Museum is free on Wednesdays throughout December
- Art Institute of Chicago is free during select hours on Dec. 2, 5, 6, 9, 12, and 13
- Shedd Aquarium is free after 5 p.m. on Dec. 3, 10 and 17
- Chicago History Museum is free on Dec. 18
You can also check out one of the city’s always-free museums, like the Museum of Contemporary Photography, the National Museum of Mexican Art, and the Hyde Park Art Center. And check out free museum days throughout the year.
6. See the winter fireworks at Navy Pier
You don’t have to wait for the New Year to catch a dazzling fireworks display on the lakefront. Navy Pier is bringing back its free winter fireworks series this year, with spectacular shows on select Saturdays this December (plus a brand new drone show on select Fridays). It all culminates with the spectacular New Year’s Eve display on Dec. 31.
7. See the world’s largest video art show
Art on theMART is a can’t-miss Chicago experience. The free show lights up the Chicago Riverwalk with a stunning light display every evening at 7:30 p.m. Grab a spot near the water and enjoy vivid projections. This winter, the program has partnered with the renowned School of the Art Institute of Chicago for a new commission created by graduate and senior undergraduate students.
8. Explore the Stony Island Arts Bank
In the South Shore neighborhood, the Stony Island Arts Bank is a former bank building that’s been transformed into a thriving community hub for the arts. The stunning space offers regular free events, including live house music, workshops, and exhibits like the current Theaster Gates: When Clouds Roll Away. Plus, the library is the perfect spot to curl on up a chilly day.
9. Visit the Poetry Foundation
Come explore a Chicago hidden gem, the Poetry Foundation, which houses a massive library, an exhibition gallery, a tree-lined courtyard, and a performance space. Visitors will find an array of events that are free and open to the public, from readings and lectures to workshops and exhibits like the light-based installation and an upcoming celebration for James Baldwin.
10. Take a free neighborhood tour
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a long-time resident, there’s always something new to discover in Chicago. Get to know a new neighborhood on a free Chicago Greeter tour, led by a friendly local who will show you each neighborhood’s landmarks, hot spots, and hidden gems.
Looking for more? Check out our guide on free things to do in Chicago all year long.
