Chicago Free Museum Days (2025 Calendar)

Illinois residents receive free museum entry at MSI on select dates throughout the year. This incredible science museum in Hyde Park has so many fun and interactive exhibits across a wide range of scientific fields; from watching baby chicks hatch to seeing a tornado form, kids will love learning at MSI! Special experiences are not included but can be added in for a fee. Active military, veterans, Illinois teachers, and first responders are always free, as well as individuals and families with an EBT or WIC card, and Illinois school groups on registered field trips - including home school families!

Free Days for IL residents

Illinois residents enjoy free admission to the Shedd Aquarium on select nights throughout the year, from 5pm to 9pm. Illinois Resident Free Hours include access to all open animal and permanent exhibits, and the seasonal Stingray Touch. Online reservations are available for a $5 convenience fee, and guests can also reserve tickets without a fee by calling 312-939-2438. Walk ups are also an option, though free entry reservations are subject to availability and sell out quickly, so advance reservations are highly recommended.

Free Hours for IL residents

MCA free days are every Tuesday for Illinois residents, and every day for kids and teens 18 and under. Illinois elementary and high school teachers are also free every day, along with visitors with disabilities and their caregivers, and active members of the police, fire department, military and veterans. Even with these generous discounts, MCA believes that art should be accessible to everyone, and will not turn anyone away if they are unable to pay the suggested admission fees any day.

Free Days Tuesdays for IL residents

Age 18 & under always free

Wednesdays are free days for Illinois residents at the Field Museum. Tickets for Free Days are available online or onsite, but reservations are recommended as tickets are limited. Be prepared to show proof of residency - a list of acceptable documentation is available on the Museum's website.

Free Days Wednesday for IL residents

Kids will love learning about space at the Adler Planetarium, where Illinois residents enjoy free museum entry every Wednesday evening from 4-10 pm. Free days include access to the Adler's world-class collections and interactive exhibits. Sky shows can be added on for a fee, including a Museum Entry+2 pass at a discounted price. Tickets must be reserved online, and Illinois residency will be verified during the checkout process.

Free Days Wednesdays, 4-10pm

Wednesdays are free days at the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, a small art museum displaying gemstone treasures, unique rocks, minerals, fossils, antiques, and related earth science exhibits. Walk-ins are welcome but you can also reserve your spot online. Kids age six and under are always free. Be sure to check out the museum shop for sparkly souvenirs!

Free Days Wednesdays

Wednesdays are free days at The DuSable, the country's oldest independent African American museum, with exhibits, programs and activities featuring African and African American history, culture and art. Military and first responders enjoy free admission every day.

Free Days Wednesdays

Illinois residents can visit the Art Institute free of charge during Free Thursday Evenings, June 5-September 25, 5pm-8pm. Kids under 14 and Chicago teens under 18 are always free.

Free Thursday Evenings, 5pm-8pm

Illinois residents enjoy free admission to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum every Thursday for their weekly Donation Days, and can also choose to support the museum with a $10 suggested household donation at the time of admission. This is a wonderful, accessible and affordable family destination for exploring conservation-based exhibits anytime of year, with lots of interactive, hands-on learning opportunities, a small indoor playground and frequent family-friendly events.

Free Days Thursdays for Illinois residents

Free days at the Chicago History Museum are offered at different times throughout the year for Illinois residents, and every day for Illinois residents 18 and under! Immerse yourself in the history of our great city at this engaging museum, where kids who love trains will enjoy stepping inside an old L train car, or pretending to be a steam train conductor in the interactive engine car. The Museum also offers free and discounted admission to groups including Illinois teachers, non-Illinois residents 12 and under, veterans, active military, police and firefighters.

Always free for IL residents 18 & under

On the last Friday of the month, all guests can enjoy free admission to the Illinois Holocaust Museum. Reserve your tickets online to experience the world-class exhibitions and programs, including an interactive holographic theatre and a first-in-the-world virtual reality experience that allows visitors to walk through concentration camps along with Holocaust Survivors who experienced them. While the exhibits cover tough content, there are warnings before anything becomes graphic.

Free Day Last Fridays

Free admission days at the Chicago Botanic Garden are offered several times throughout the year for Illinois residents. Preregister online up to two months in advance. There's always something in bloom, so this is a fun family outing any time of year. Parking fees still apply.

Free Days for IL residents

Gichigamiin Indigenous Nations Museum offers periodic free days announced on its website, typically once a month. Learn about the history, culture, and arts of the American Indian and First Nation peoples of the USA and Canada, with interactive activities and crafts for kids in most exhibits.

The Fire Museum of Greater Chicago is located in a 1916 firehouse, and while small in size, it is filled with the history of firefighting in Chicago. Items on display range from old photographs and artifacts to lovingly restored antique fire engines. They offer an open house to the public, with free admission, every fourth Saturday of the month (except December).

10am-2pm

Enjoy free admission to the Joliet Area Historical Museum several days throughout the year, where the family can enjoy exhibits showcasing classic Route 66 memorabilia and a step-in Lunar Lander Simulator. This state-of-the-art Apollo Exhibit, a favorite for kids, celebrates the historic 1969 moon landing and honors former Joliet resident, Dr. John C. Houbolt.