THE CHICAGO GUIDE
  • Home
  • Architecture
  • Dining
  • Entertainment
  • Events
  • Free & cheap
  • Museums
  • Nightlife
  • Theater & dance
  • Tours & attractions
  • Contact
  • Submit a News Release
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Architecture
  • Dining
  • Entertainment
  • Events
  • Free & cheap
  • Museums
  • Nightlife
  • Theater & dance
  • Tours & attractions
  • Contact
  • Submit a News Release
No Result
View All Result
THE CHICAGO GUIDE
No Result
View All Result
Home Free & cheap

10 free things to do in Chicago this July

Alex Johnson by Alex Johnson
August 1, 2022
in Free & cheap
0
10 free things to do in Chicago this July
0
SHARES
5
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

A group of friends at Millennium Park

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 neighborhood festivals, cultural celebrations, interactive dance events, historic tours, free museum days, and so much more. Start planning your budget-friendly Chicago adventures for July 2022.

1. Celebrate the Fourth of July

NYE Fireworks at Navy Pier

Navy Pier’s Fourth of July fireworks display is one of the most iconic parts of a Chicago summer. The dazzling free show will light up the sky on Saturday, July 2, accompanied by patriotic music. You catch the show on the Pier, at Offshore Rooftop, or on a lakefront boat cruise. Explore more ways to celebrate the Fourth of July in Chicago.

Bonus: You can see free fireworks at Navy Pier every Wednesday and Saturday through Labor Day weekend.

2. Experience Taste of Chicago

Taste of Chicago

Traditionally one of the largest free admission food festivals in the world, Taste of Chicago is back in Grant Park. This year, fest-goers will find more than 30 restaurants and food trucks offering their best bites. While you’ll need to pay to taste bites from the various food vendors, there’s also plenty to do without reaching for your wallet.

Catch free nightly concerts at the Petrillo Music Shell, featuring top acts like Nelly, Aterciopelados, and Drive-By Truckers. Or learn some new moves at a Chicago SummerDance pop-up, with live music and dancing across different genres.

Plus, The Hatchery Chicago is partnering with Taste of Chicago for this year’s Garfield Park Community Eats. Visit the West Side on Saturday, July 2 from 12 – 4 p.m. for live music and free food.

3. Catch movies, music, and more in Millennium Park

Millennium Park Pritzker PavilionAbel Arciniega :: @tequilagraphics

Summer means plenty of fun and free events in iconic Millennium Park, from major music festivals to movie screenings under the stars. Check out the lineup of free shows coming to the Pritzker Pavilion this July.

  • Millennium Park Summer Film Series: Every summer in Chicago, visitors and locals flock to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion to kick back, picnic, and watch blockbusters, award-winning movies, family classics, and cult favorites.
  • Millennium Park Music Series: Grab a spot on the grass and enjoy free weekly concerts by local and national artists.
  • Grant Park Music Festival: This 80-year tradition brings free classical music to Millennium Park all summer long.
  • Millennium Park Summer Workouts: Break a sweat with free yoga, Zuma, and tai chi classes against the skyline backdrop.

Check out the full Millennium Park events calendar.

4. Experience Year of Chicago Dance

Summer Dance at Taste of Chicago

Chicago is home to an innovative and influential dance scene, and you can get a taste during the Year of Chicago Dance. All summer long, you’ll find free outdoor performances and fun lessons on Navy Pier and throughout Chicago’s neighborhood parks, including:

  • Wave Wall Moves: Pop-up dance performances featuring a rotating roster of dance companies at Navy Pier.
  • Chicago SummerDance: Learn some new moves with live music and dance classes held in Chicago parks, celebrating a diverse variety of genres.
  • Mural Dances: Parks across the city will host these free performances, where local dancers and musicians create and perform projects inspired by Chicago’s vibrant neighborhood murals.

Find more events and performances during the Year of Chicago Dance.

5. See Shakespeare in the parks

Shakespeare in The ParksShakespeare in The Parks, Photo by Vashon Jordan Jr.

Chicago Shakespeare in the Parks is a free theatrical event that has been bringing pop-up performances to green spaces all around the city for more than 10 years. This year’s ShakesFest: A Chicago Shakespeare Community Cabaret will take place from July 14 – 23, 2022. Created and performed in partnership with local artists and arts organizations, these all-ages shows will take place in West Pullman, West Town, Little Village, Austin, Englewood, and Chinatown.

6. Enjoy a free museum day

Clayton Hauck for Choose Chicago

Spend an afternoon wandering through a Chicago museum, where you can dive into fascinating local history, provocative contemporary art, and galaxies far far away. Here are the upcoming free museum days in Chicago this month:

  • Chicago History Museum is free for Chicago residents on July 4,
  • Adler Planetarium is free for Illinois residents every Wednesday evening.
  • Museum of Contemporary Art is free for Illinois residents every Tuesday.
  • DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center is free for all every Wednesday.

You can also check out one of the city’s always-free museums, like the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, the National Museum of Mexican Art, and the Hyde Park Art Center. And check out free museum days throughout the year.

7. Hear live jazz at a museum

Tuesdays on the Terrace at the MOCACTuesdays on the Terrace

The Museum of Contemporary Art’s popular Tuesdays on the Terrace series is back, with free weekly concerts on the museum’s lawn. The shows highlight artists from Chicago’s internationally renowned jazz community. Guests are encouraged to bring their own picnics; light refreshments and a full bar with cold beverages, wine, and cocktails are available for sale.

8. Discover a new neighborhood

Chicago Greeter is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and marking the occasion with free pop-up InstaGreeter tours all summer long! 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.

9. Take a free history tour

Chicago is full of stunning landmarks and historic spaces — and you can learn all about them during these free tours.

  • Historic Former Wabash YMCA: This Bronzeville building, known as the birthplace of Black History Month, is filled with fascinating history. This month’s tour is July 9.
  • Charnley-Persky House: A National Historic Landmark in the Gold Coast recognized as a pivotal work of modern American architecture. Catch a free, small-group tour every Wednesday.
  • Chicago Cultural Center: An iconic cultural attraction in the Loop, it’s worth visiting just to see the intricate Tiffany glass dome. Tours meet every Thursday and Friday afternoon.
  • Clarke House Museum: The oldest home in Chicago, the Clarke House has been standing in the South Loop since before the Civil War. Take a look inside during the free tours on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons.

10. Catch live music, movies, yoga, and more on the lakefront

Heidi Zieger Photography

Navy Pier offers a full schedule of free summer events, from live DJ performances to outdoor fitness classes. Check out everything happening on the Pier this July:

  • Joffrey Ballet’s Rita Finds Home on Saturday, July 9 and Sunday, July 10
  • Water Flicks: Families on Film starting July 11
  • Bastille Day on Wednesday, July 13
  • Fresh Fest! on Thursday, July 14 – Friday, July 15
  • Water Colors starting Friday, July 15
  • Rhythm World on Wednesday, July 20

Visit the Navy Pier events calendar for more details.

Looking for more? Check out our guide on free things to do in Chicago all year long.

Alex Johnson

Alex Johnson

Related Posts

Where to watch the Chicago Air and Water Show
Free & cheap

Where to watch the Chicago Air and Water Show

August 1, 2022
Free things to do in Chicago all summer long
Free & cheap

Free things to do in Chicago all summer long

August 1, 2022
Where to see spring flowers in Chicago
Free & cheap

Where to see spring flowers in Chicago

August 1, 2022
Next Post
Where to watch the Chicago Air and Water Show

Where to watch the Chicago Air and Water Show

17 Chicago spots to check out for Black-owned Business Month

17 Chicago spots to check out for Black-owned Business Month

How to celebrate Black History Month in Chicago

How to celebrate Black History Month in Chicago

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recommended

Things to do in Chicago this weekend

Things to do in Chicago this weekend

8 months ago
How to celebrate Juneteenth in Chicago

How to celebrate Juneteenth in Chicago

8 months ago
24 hours in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood

24 hours in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood

8 months ago
Open House Chicago 2021: 11 architecture sites not to miss

Open House Chicago 2021: 11 architecture sites not to miss

8 months ago

Categories

  • Architecture
  • Dining
  • Entertainment
  • Events
  • Free & cheap
  • Museums
  • Nightlife
  • Opinion
  • Theater & dance
  • Tours & attractions
  • Uncategorized
No Result
View All Result

Highlights

Keeping Up with the Windy City: Chicago’s Top 10 Most Popular News Sites

The Evolution of Health Care Marketing Agencies in Chicago

Supporting Mental Health in Chicago’s Dynamic Startup Scene

SaaS tax rates in Chicago

ONLYFANS-MILLIONS: BHAD BHABIE GIVES SPEECH AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY

How to celebrate Black History Month in Chicago

Trending

The Impact of Rising Tobacco Prices on Smoking Cessation Efforts
Opinion

The Impact of Rising Tobacco Prices on Smoking Cessation Efforts

by Alice Trout
March 8, 2023
0

Tobacco use is a major health concern in the United States and around the world. Smoking is...

Support Ukrainian Economy: Discover Brands on #SpendWithUkraine Initiative

Support Ukrainian Economy: Discover Brands on #SpendWithUkraine Initiative

February 6, 2023
A Look into Chicago’s History: January 24th

A Look into Chicago’s History: January 24th

January 24, 2023
Keeping Up with the Windy City: Chicago’s Top 10 Most Popular News Sites

Keeping Up with the Windy City: Chicago’s Top 10 Most Popular News Sites

January 19, 2023
The Evolution of Health Care Marketing Agencies in Chicago

The Evolution of Health Care Marketing Agencies in Chicago

January 3, 2023




An online guide for your unforgettable Chicago exploration.





Recent News

  • The Impact of Rising Tobacco Prices on Smoking Cessation Efforts March 8, 2023
  • Support Ukrainian Economy: Discover Brands on #SpendWithUkraine Initiative February 6, 2023
  • A Look into Chicago’s History: January 24th January 24, 2023

Categories

  • Architecture
  • Dining
  • Entertainment
  • Events
  • Free & cheap
  • Museums
  • Nightlife
  • Opinion
  • Theater & dance
  • Tours & attractions
  • Uncategorized

Thechigacoguide.com. All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Architecture
  • Dining
  • Entertainment
  • Events
  • Free & cheap
  • Museums
  • Nightlife
  • Theater & dance
  • Tours & attractions
  • Contact
  • Submit a News Release

© 2022 thechigacoguide.com.