Submitted by Siobhan Adcock on Thu, 06/20/2019 - 4:57pm Free Kids' Concerts, Outdoor Movies, Free Festivals for Kids in Chicago This SummerGiven the high cost of raising kids these days, you might be surprised at just how much family-friendly summer fun in Chicago is totally FREE. Of course, the city's playgrounds and splash pads are always free, and there are free days at most museums and even a few restaurants. But in summertime, the no-cost fun ramps up all over Chicagoland. As you can see from the bursting-at-the-seams list below, there's literally something free and fun to do every single day of the summer—so there's no excuse for anybody to be bored. Outdoor movies, summer festivals and street fairs, concerts and performances, public art, cultural celebrations, picnics, and of course, fireworks await, and you can leave your wallet at home. (In theory, at least. There's always ice cream to buy.) Looking for more? Our list of 100 Things to Do With Chicago Kids Before They Grow Up might do the trick, and of course you can always find more daily activities in our Chicago Event Calendar. Free Things to Do All Summer Art on the Mart Daily at sunset — River North Family Fun FestivalWeekdays, Tuesday, June 25 - Friday, August 9 — Millennium Park Naperville Concerts in Your ParkSundays through July 28 — Naperville Cantigny Outdoor ConcertsSundays through September 1 — Wheaton Water Flicks at Navy PierMondays, June 24 through August 12 — Navy Pier Kids Evening on the RiverwalkTuesdays through July 30 — Naperville Picnic on the RiverwalkTuesdays through July 30 — Naperville Millennium Carillon RecitalsTuesdays through August 20 — Naperville Free Movies in Millennium ParkTuesdays through August 27 — Millennium Park Summer Fireworks at Navy PierWednesdays and Saturdays — Navy Pier Grant Park Music Festival Wednesday, June 12 - Saturday, August 17 — Grant Park Block to Block PartyWednesdays through July 31 — Elmhurst Movies on the Lawn at Oakbrook CenterWednesdays through August 7 — Oak Brook Movies on the Lawn at Oakbrook CenterWednesdays through August 7 (except July 3) — Oak Brook Glen Ellyn Movies in the ParkEvery other Wednesday through August 14 — Glen Ellyn Chicago SummerDanceThursday, June 27 - Saturday, August 4 — Grant Park Wheaton Municipal Band ConcertsThursdays through August 1 — Wheaton Millennium Park Summer Music SeriesThursdays through August 15 — Millennium Park Music at the GazeboThursdays through August 15 — Elmhurst Naperville Municipal Band ConcertsThursdays through August 15 — Naperville Rockin' Rock Bottom Concert SeriesThursdays through September 12 — Bolingbrook Movies Under the MoonFridays through August 2 — Woodridge Wiggleworms at Navy PierFridays, June 21 - August 23 — Navy Pier Vintage Rides Car ShowFridays through August 23 — Wheaton Movies in Cantigny ParkFridays through August 30 — Wheaton Naperville's A Night at the MoviesFridays through September 13 — Naperville Free Things to Do in June WTTW Kids' Big Idea TourWednesday, June 19 — Homer Glen Jazz in the ParkWednesday, June 19 — Glen Ellyn 85th Birthday Party at Maggie DaleyThursday, June 20 — Millennium Park Movies in the Park - AquamanThursday, June 20 — Edgebrook Rotary Grove FestThursday, June 20 - Sunday, June 23 — Downers Grove Sounds of Summer Concert SeriesFriday, June 21 — Wood Dale Chi Soul Fest Friday, June 21 - Saturday, June 22 — Navy Pier Gold Coast Greek Fest Friday, June 21 - Sunday, June 23 — Gold Coast Dragon Boat Race for Literacy Saturday, June 22 — Chinatown A Kid Market at Antique TacoSaturday, June 22 — Bridgeport Vintage Baseball GameSunday, June 23 — Elmhurst Deeply Rooted Summer Showcase at Palmer Park Sunday, June 23 — Pullman Logan Square Arts FestivalFriday, June 28 - Sunday, June 30 — Logan Square The Sesame Street Road Trip -- ChicagoSaturday, June 29 — Hyde Park Navy Pier Pride Saturday, June 29 — Navy Pier Juneteenth Family Celebration Saturday, June 29 — Beverly CircEsteem Social Circus Festival at Maxwell StreetSunday, June 30 — Near West Side Free Things to Do in July 85th Birthday Party at Indian Boundary Park Friday, July 5 — Rogers Park West Fest ChicagoFriday, July 5 - Sunday, July 7 — West Loop Toddlers, Tunes, & Turtles at Women's Park and GardensWednesday, July 10 — Prairie District Taste of Chicago Wednesday, July 10 - Sunday, July 14 — Grant Park Westchester FestFriday, July 12 - Sunday, July 14 — Westchester 80 Years Young: A Birthday Party for Hyde Park Art CenterSaturday, July 13 — Hyde Park FanCon: Comics and Pop CultureSaturday, July 13 — Arlington Heights Naperville PlaysSaturday, July 13 — Naperville Figment - ChicagoSaturday, July 13 — Logan Square Jazz Up Glen EllynSaturday, July 13 — Glen Ellyn Southport Art FestivalSaturday, July 13 - Sunday, July 14 — Southport Looney Tunes on 35mmSaturday, July 13 - Sunday, July 14 — Southport Family Friendly Astronomy NightTuesday, July 16 — Naperville Tacos y Tamales Festival Friday, July 19 - Sunday, July 21 — Pilsen Chicago Karaoke Festival at Horner Park Saturday, July 20 — Horner Park Monty Python's SpamalotSaturdays, July 20 - August 3 — Wilmette Chinatown Summer FairSunday, July 21 — Chinatown Jazz in the ParkWednesday, July 24 — Glen Ellyn Fiesta Del Sol Thursday, July 25 - Sunday, July 28 — Pilsen DuPage County FairWednesday, July 24 - Sunday, July 28 — Wheaton Prairie FestThursday, July 25 - Sunday, July 28 — Wood Dale Chicago Ridge FestThursday, July 25 - Sunday, July 28 — Chicago Heights Butterfield Park District Family Fun FestSaturday, July 27 — Lombard The Party That Shall Not Be NamedSaturday, July 27 — Naperville Shakespeare in the ParkSunday, July 28 — Wilmette Northbrook DaysWednesday, July 31- Sunday, August 4 — Northbrook Free Things to Do in August EdgeFestSaturday, August 3 — Edgewater Retro on RoscoeFriday, August 9 — Roscoe Village Chicago Karaoke Festival at Tom Ping Park Saturday, August 10 — Chinatown Edison Park FestFriday, August 16 - Sunday, August 18 — Edison Park A Kid Market at Antique TacoSaturday, August 17 — Bridgeport Pilsen Fest Saturday, August 17 - Sunday, August 18 — Pilsen Air and Water Show Saturday, August 17 - Sunday, August 18 — Lakeshore Jazz in the ParkWednesday, August 21 — Glen Ellyn Sounds of Summer Concert SeriesFriday, August 23 — Wood Dale Taste of Greektown Friday, August 23 - Sunday, August 25 — Greektown Chicago Karaoke Festival at South Shore Cultural CenterMonday, August 26 — South Shore México en el Corazón 2019 Tuesday, August 27 — Millennium Park Great American Lobster Fest Friday, August 30 - Sunday, September 1 — Navy Pier Free ActivitiesSummer ActivitiesKidsPreschoolersTweens & TeensChicago
