Do you have the winter blues? A free visit to a Chicago museum might potentially lift your spirits.
Numerous museums and tourist destinations in the Chicago area, such as The Field Museum and the Shedd Aquarium, have announced numerous free entry days that will run through the winter of 2024 and beyond.
The complete list of locations and free entry times is shown below:
Free days at the Art Institute
Illinois citizens can enter the Art Institute Chicago for free on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from January 8 through March 22, 2024.
The Art Institute website states that reservations for free seats are accepted in advance. There can be a parking cost.
Every Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., citizens of Illinois can visit the Adler Planetarium for free. It is necessary to buy tickets online ahead of time.
Teachers in Illinois are always welcome to utilise the planetarium for free, according to the museum.
Free days at Brookfield Zoo
According to a press release, free entry will be offered to Brookfield Zoo, which is situated in the suburban Brookfield neighbourhood at 8400 31st St., on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays until January and February of 2024.
Officials have announced that the Hamill family Wild Encounters and the Jamil Family play Zoo at the Zoo will both be free on those days. The Zoo stated that parking costs, which start at $17, still apply.
Free days at the Chicago History Museum
The following free museum days for the winter of 2024 have been announced by the Chicago History Museum:
January: 15–19, 23–26, 30–31
February: 1-2, 6-9, 13-16, 19-23, and 27-29.
March: 12–27–28
Officials say that anyone under the age of eighteen, Illinois teachers, active duty Chicago police and firefighters, and all children under the age of twelve can always enter the museum for free.
Free days at the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Centre
Every Wednesday, the museum offers free entrance; however, reservations must be made online.
Free days at the Field Museum
A news release states that Illinois citizens will be able to enter the Field Museum free of charge on Wednesdays starting in 2024.
To receive free entrance, those residents will need to show evidence of residency. According to Field Museum managers, reservations for such tickets will only be accepted in person; they will not be available online.
Officials have stated that on the days of free admission, there will also be a kid-focused offering. Every week, children ages two to six can take part in PlayLab PlayDates. These events are free of charge and don’t require reservations in advance.
Science experiments, storytime sessions, and other activities are planned for the events.
Free days at the Illinois Holocaust Museum
According to a press statement from the museum, the Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie will provide free entry days on the last Friday of each month in January, February, and March of 2024.
Free days at the Museum of Contemporary Art
Every Tuesday, people of Illinois are free to visit the MCA. In addition, the MCA features a pay-what-you-can police and is always free for those under the age of 18.
Free days at Shedd Aquarium
For residents of Illinois, the Shedd is giving free entry on the following dates; however, reservations must be made online in advance.
- Jan. 9-16
- Jan. 23-25
- Jan. 30-31
Shedd Aquarium will also be offering free admission to Illinois residents on the following dates in February:
- Feb. 1
- Feb. 6-8
- Feb. 13-15
- Feb. 20-22
- Feb. 27-29
The Shedd also has free admission on the following Tuesday evenings, between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.:
March 5, 12, 19, 26
April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
May 7, 14, 21, 28
June 4, 11, 18, 25