Chicago Free Days

Chicago and Suburbs, IL

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Free Museum Days in Chicago and

SuburbsParents won't need to empty their

wallets if they visit Chicago area

museums / cultural institutions on

one of the many free days

offered.  Below you'll find a list of the

programs and Chicago museums'

free days for 2013.  After the Chicago

museums, we have listed the

suburban museums.

Each of the headings for the

individual programs and museums is

a direct link to the museum's

discount page or the program's

description page so you can easily

click thru to verify the free days. 

NOTE:  It's always a good idea to

double check by calling the museum

first, just in case their policies change

before their website is updated.

Blue Star   Museum Program:   The Blue Star Museum Program

offers free admission to active duty

military personnel and their families.

            Visit the website for a list of

participating museums.

Bank of America Museums on Us:  Holders of a

Bank of America or Merrill Lynch card

can enjoy free admission to 150

museums nationwide on the first full

weekend of every month.  In

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Chicago, this includes:

Art Institute of Chicago, Shedd

Aquarium, Chicago History Museum,

Museum of Contemporary Art, and

Adler Planetarium.

Chicago Public Library's Great Kids Museums Passports:  A Great Kids

Museum Passport is good for two

adults and two children for

general admission to certain Chicago

museums. Adults may check out

these free passes at Chicago Public

Library branches with your Chicago

Public Library Card.

Adler Planetarium:Read reviews of Adler Planetarium on kidwinksIllinois residents can enjoy complimentary general admission on Adler Discount Days with proof of residency.

2013 Discount Days:February: 5, 6, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28

Click on the link above and check out the Under One Sky membership - Members of the DuSable Museum of African American History and the National Museum of Mexican Art enjoy FREE general admission and sky show tickets at the Adler Planetarium, in addition to other discounts.

Art Institute of Chicago:Read reviews of Art Institute of Chicago on kidwinks

Free Winter Weekdays Jan. 7  - Feb. 13, 2013 Admission to the Art Institute of Chicago is free to Illinois residents every weekday from January 7 through February 13, 2013.

Free Family Wednesdays Admission to the Art Institute of Chicago is free to Illinois residents

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the first and second Wednesday of every month.

The museum is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s day.

Children under 14 are always free.

Chicago Children's Museum:Read reviews of Chicago Children's Museum on kidwinks

Target Free First Sundays:  First Sunday of each month, free admission for visitors 15 and underKraft Free Family Night:  Thursday Evenings 5pm – 8pm, free admission for all visitors

Chicago History Museum:Read reviews of Chicago   History Museum on kidwinksIllinois Resident Discount Days:  The museum is no longer free every Monday, instead a new schedule of days is offered, which provide free admission to Illinois Residents only. Discount Days at the Museum are on: 

2013: Monday, January 21 Monday, February 4–Thursday, February 28 Monday, March 4

Admission for kids age 12 and under is always free.Free for members of: Chicago History Museum, DuSable Museum, and National Museum of Mexican Art.

Clarke House MuseumTours are FREE on Wednesdays (not applicable to groups of ten or more).

DuSable Museum of African American HistoryRead reviews of DuSable Museum of African American History on kidwinks

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Illinois residents can enjoy complimentary basic admission on free days.

Free Sundays:  Admission is FREE to all on each Sunday of the year. The museum also offers free admission rates (on school days) to all Chicago Public School students.

Children under 5 are free every day.

Field Museum:Read reviews of Field Museum on kidwinks

Illinois residents can enjoy complimentary basic admission during The Field Museum Discount Days.

Upcoming discount days are:February: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28

Glessner House Museum:Tours are FREE on Wednesdays (not applicable to groups of ten or more)

John G. Shedd Aquarium:Read reviews of   Shedd Aquarium  on kidwinks

On the Shedd's Illinois Resident Discount Days, Illinois residents can enjoy free general admission. Shedd's 52 discount days a year take advantage of civic and school holidays to make family visits more convenient.

2013 Illinois Resident Discount Days: January: 7, 8, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 28, 29February: 4, 5, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 25, 26March: 4, 5,11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26

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Museum of Contemporary Art:

Read reviews of   Museum of Contemporary Art on kidwinksAdmission is FREE for Illinois residents on Tuesdays year round.Members of the military and children aged 12 and under (must be accompanied by an adult) are free every day.

Family Days:  Every second Saturday of the month, the MCA invites families to learn about the art of our time through hands-on art activities, scavenger hunts, Look & Learn stations, and more. Admission is FREE For families with children 12 and under.  Activities are appropriate for all ages.

Children 12 and under eat FREE at Puck’s cafe at the MCA on Family Day with purchase of one adult entrée per child.

Museum of Science and Industry:

Read reviews of   Museum of Science and Industry on kidwinks

Illinois residents receive free general admission on the following dates in 2013:

January:  7-11, 14-18, 21-25, 28-31February:  6, 13, 20, 27March:  4

National Museum of Mexican Art:

Read reviews of National Museum of Mexican Art on kidwinksFree admission every day.

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Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum:Read reviews of   Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum on kidwinks

Thursdays: Illinois Residents can enjoy free admission.Children 3 and under are free every day.Plenty of free street parking along Cannon Drive.

Swedish American Museum / Brunk Children's Museum of Immigration:

Read reviews of   Brunch Children's Museum of Immigration on kidwinksAdmission to the Brunk Children’s Museum of Immigration is included with Swedish American Museum admission.Free admission: second Tuesday

of every month. 

FREE DAYS AT SUBURBAN MUSEUMS /

ZOOSBrookfield Zoo:

Read reviews of   Brookfield Zoo  on kidwinksFree Winter Admission Days: General admission is free Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays through Thursday, Febuary 28.Free admission is good only during normal zoo hours.

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Free Admission for Military Personnel: To show appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the men and women in the United States Armed Forces, the Chicago Zoological Society is offering free admission to Brookfield Zoo to all active, reservist, and retired members of the military. Qualified personnel who present a valid ID at one of the zoo's admission booths will be admitted free of charge.

Milwaukee County Zoo (Milwaukee)2013 Family Free Days*:

Feb 2

March 2

April 6

November 2

December 7

*All visitors receive free admission, but the parking fee remains in effect.

 

Midwest Museum of Natural History

Rockford Art MuseumTuesdays are FREE to the public; group rates still apply.Children under 12 are always free.

Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum & Gardens (Rockford):

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Every Tuesday is Donation Day, which means there is no fixed admission price, but you can leave a donation if you like.

Free Days:  Wednesdays

Start Date:

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

End Date:

Tuesday, December 31, 2013Repeating daily every 1 day(s) until 12/31/2013

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