Things To Do In Chicago, Chicago, IL (2026)

10/07/2026

🎄✨ Chicago’s Christmas Tree Lighting is back for 2026! ✨🎄

One of Chicago’s biggest holiday traditions returns to Millennium Park on Friday, November 20! 🎅🌟
The 113th Annual City of Chicago Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will light up the heart of downtown at 6 p.m. 🎄

Come early and enjoy seasonal treats, live entertainment, giant viewing screens throughout Millennium Park, and all the holiday magic before the tree officially lights up. 🎶✨

And stick around, the celebration ends with a fireworks display over Millennium Park! 🎆

📍 Millennium Park — Michigan Ave. & Washington St. 🗓️ Friday, November 20, 2026 ⏰ Tree Lighting: 6 p.m. 🎟️ FREE 🎆 Fireworks following the tree lighting 🎄 Tree illuminated through January 10, 2027

Save this for your Chicago holiday plans and send it to someone you want to go with! ❤️🎄

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📸 ©️ Grant Elliott | Chicago Videographer

09/28/2026

🎃 An adults-only Halloween night is coming to Lincoln Park Zoo!

🍻 Zoo Brews: Howls and Growls lets you “trick or treat” your way through themed stations across the zoo while sampling craft beers and ciders. Plus, enjoy unlimited rides on the carousel, Ferris wheel & giant slide, roaming entertainers, a live pumpkin carving demo, DJ, costume contest & more! 👻

📅 Friday & Saturday, October 23–24
⏰ 6:30–10 p.m. | 21+
🎟️ Tickets start at $44 for members / $55 for nonmembersGet tickets via the link in bio!

Not drinking? 🥤 NA tickets include unlimited fountain drinks, canned teas, energy drinks, specialty boba drinks & more.

Best part? Your ticket helps keep Lincoln Park Zoo free 365 days a year while supporting animal care and conservation. 🦁✨

09/20/2026

🌇 CHICAGOHENGE IS BACK!

One of Chicago’s coolest twice-a-year sights happens around the equinox, when the setting sun lines up almost perfectly with the city’s east-west streets. 🌆☀️
The fall Chicagohenge viewing window is happening now, around September 19–22, with sunset around 6:50 PM.

☁️ One catch: Chicago’s weather isn’t exactly cooperating today. Clouds and rain could make tonight’s sunset difficult to see, so keep an eye on the sky and the forecast over the next couple of days.

If the clouds break at the right time, you might get lucky. 👀
📍 Look west down one of Chicago’s east-west streets around sunset.

Send this to someone who needs to see Chicagohenge 🌇

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🎥 Doug

09/09/2026

🎟 Free Museum Days in Chicago - September 2026 Edition
Looking for free things to do in Chicago this month? 👀 Here are the FREE museum days still coming up in September for Illinois residents.

🎨 Art Institute of Chicago Free Summer Thursdays – Sept. 10 & 17 | 5–8 PM

🔭 Adler Planetarium Free days – Sept. 9, 10, 14, 15 & 16

🏛 Chicago History Museum Free day – Sept. 24

🦖 Field Museum Free every Wednesday – Sept. 9, 16, 23 & 30

🐠 Shedd Aquarium Free nights – Sept. 15, 22 & 29 | 5–9 PM

🖤 DuSable Black History Museum & Education Center Free every Wednesday – Sept. 9, 16, 23 & 30

🖼 Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago Free every Tuesday | 5–9 PM Sept. 15, 22 & 29

🏛 Obama Presidential Center Free admission every Tuesday (advance reservation recommended) Sept. 15, 22 & 29

🧪 Griffin Museum of Science and Industry Free days – Sept. 9, 10, 15, 16, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29 & 30

🦋 Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Free days – Sept. 9–11, 14–18, 21–25 & 28–30

🏠 Glessner House Free day – Sept. 17 (Third Thursday)

💎 Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art Free every Wednesday – Sept. 9, 16, 23 & 30

📚 American Writers Museum Free day – Sept. 20 (Third Sunday)

🎭 Heritage Museum of Asian Art Free night – Sept. 18 (Third Friday Night)

✨ Driehaus Museum Free every Wednesday after 4 PM – Sept. 9, 16, 23 & 30

Save this post so you don’t miss a free museum day, and send it to someone who’s always looking for fun things to do in Chicago! ❤️

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Things To Do In Chicago