Free and Budget-Friendly Fun in Chicago for Spring Break

1.  Visit Lincoln Park Zoo

See the new mob of meerkats and enjoy all of the indoor and outdoor fun at one of the nation's last free zoos

 
Navy Pier is offering free Spring Break activities. Photo courtesy of Navy Pier

2. Stop by Navy Pier for non-stop spring break fun.

The Pier has a full line-up of free activities for kids from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. each day of spring break. Try dancing, sound baths, BINGO, snail slime adventures, and Shakespeare staging, or venture into the Chicago Children's Museum

3. Check out the spring flower show at Garfield Park Conservatory

Take in the free spring flower show at this iconic indoor botanical garden. There are also free spring break story times and workshops on composting and worm bins on March 26-28. Book your reservation in advance to ensure entry. 

Rainy Day Options

4.See a show at the Marriott Theater in Lincolnshire

Have a fun night out with the kids and see The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System or Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat at the Marriott Theater in Lincolnshire. The theater is at a resort, so you can stay the night to make it into a staycation!

5. Play around at Chicago GameSpace

Check out the King's Quest at 40 exhibit at Chicago GameSpace open through April 27.

6. Meet Ladybug from Miraculous at CAMP!

She'll be on hand from March 22- March 31. Plus, you can shop for toys and craft supplies!

 
Little Lego enthusiasts will love Build the Thrill. Photo courtesy of Lego

7. Build the Thrill at LegoLand Discovery Center.

LegoLand is hosting an event where kids can build their own Lego car and minifig driver to race around a track. Find lots of fun Lego-based experiences here!

8. See GO DOG GO! • VE PERRO ¡VE! at the Chicago Children's Theatre

This children's classic is presented in a bilingual format! See dogs swim, run, or bike to the big dog party with plenty of color and humor along the way.

9. Stay awake for Sleeping Beauty at the Apollo Theater

The Chicago Kids Theater production is usually open for field trips on weekdays, but you can enjoy it on your spring break! The show closes March 28.

10. Visit a Chicago Public Library for Spring Break programming

Kelly Branch Library is offering daily crafts. Little Village Library has take and make kits. And Lincoln Park Library is hosting a pair of film screenings with newer kids' films.

11. See a new movie at a cool Chicago movie theater.

Snow White and Minecraft are both hitting theaters in time for spring break! See them at your local theater, or check out a cool Chicago theater like the Alamo Drafthouse or Davis Theatre

Museum Fun and More Educational Experiences

12. See something different at Museum of Contemporary Art

Tuesdays evenings from 5 pm to 9 pm are free for Illinois residents at the Museum of Contemporary Art, and you can see the Emerge Selections 2025 exhibit before it ends on March 27, or dance performance's from Miguel Guitierrez's Super Nothing on March 28-30.

13. Enjoy the beauty of spring at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

Enjoy an outdoor bird walk or a talk with a naturalist throughout the week at the museum. Destination Discovery Story Time brings a librarian to the museum on Wednesday. Or take advantage of suggested donation day on Thursday!

14. See the new lambs and calves at Klein Creek Farm.

The West Chicago forest preserve and historical museum raises heritage breed animals near its historic farmhouse. Both baby lambs and baby calves have been born in March! Get a house tour of the 1890s farm house any day during spring break.

15. Say goodbye to the James Bond exhibit and hello to Cities of the Future at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

There's just a few more weeks to see 007 Science: Inventing the World of James Bond at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. A new film, Cities of the Future, opens March 19 in the Dome Theater.

16. Stay late at the Shedd Aquarium

The Shedd Aquarium is staying open until 7 p.m. March 22-30, and visitors can enjoy free admission after 5 p.m. on Tuesdays through April. Be sure to see new baby beluga whale Opus and the new Wonder of Water exhibit in the historic rotunda.

17. Be a part of local history at the Chicago History Museum

Celebrate International Women's Month with a special museum day featuring women in Chicago on March 22, or attend a public gallery tour throughout the week. 

18. See two new exhibits at the Art Institute of Chicago

Myth and Marble: Ancient Roman Sculpture from the Tolonia Collection opens March 15 and Frida Kahlo's Month in Paris: A Friendship with Mary Reynolds opens March 29. Kids can even make their own soap sculptures on Saturday, March 30 at a special family event.

Sports-themed Spring Break fun

19. See a Chicago Stars soccer game

Women's soccer is amazing to watch live! You can catch Chicago Stars playing Louisville Racing at Seat Geek Stadium on Sunday, March 30.

 
Opening Day is during Spring Break! White Sox photo by @wildman2000 via Flickr 2.0

20. See the White Sox on Opening Day

See the White Sox play Los Angeles Angels on Opening Day, March 27, at Rate Field. Or pick a subsequent game on March 29 or March 30 - tickets start at $9.

21. 'Go Run at a free Chicago 1-mile or 5K race.

The Chicago Area Runners Association presents free races in Horner Park on March 22 or Columbus Park on March 29.

Outdoor Adventures for Spring Break

22. Attend a Cook County Forest Preserve Spring Break Camp

Choose from Forces of Nature Camp at Crabtree Forest Preserve in Barringon or Camp Dawaag in Elgin for a week of nature-themed fun.

23. Take a Spring Breakout Adventure at Caldwell Woods or Dan Ryan Woods.

These open house nature festivals give kids the chance to try lots of fun outdoor activities.

24. See what's in bloom at Chicago Botanic Garden.

You can even take home some knowledge from the Wednesday composting class or a plant from the orchid show at the garden's annual plant sale on Friday.

25. Check out the new playground at Oz Park

Dorothy's Playground has been renovated and includes new turf and equipment as of last July. Bonus: it's no longer above one of the city's biggest rat colonies.

26. Visit Bison's Bluff while it's still free for the winter season

Hit the Schaumburg nature playground before March 31 for free admission. After April 1, the giant fort fun costs $2-$3 per child.

27. Use the daytime hours to take a Chicago Architecture Center tour

Boats are running again and you can choose from several different times to get an architecture tour from the Chicago River! Or choose a tour on anything from Art Deco to Early Skyscrapers. There's also special Women in Architecture tours on the weekends.

Spring Break Staycations for Chicago Kids

 
Take a hike through Starved Rock State Park. Photo by author Maureen Wilkey

28. Visit Starved Rock State Park

It's less than two hours' drive from the city, but it feels like another world! Choose to stay in the lodge or a nearby hotel, or make the trip all in one day. You don't need beach weather for a fun canyon or waterfall hike!

29. Take a Metra out to Naperville

Visit the DuPage Children's Museum and Naper Settlement, and shop for books and toys in local downtown shops.

30. Make a splash at an indoor water park

Can't wait for pool season? Check out Great Wolf Lodge in Gurnee, Pirate's Cay in Sheridan, or Grand Bear Falls near Starved Rock.

31. Head north to Milwaukee

Another quick trip within two hours takes you to Milwaukee, where you can check out their lakefront, children's museum, zoo and more!