5 MIN READ -- Summertime Chi is here and we have so many ideas for how to spend it in the Loop this July. The best part? All of these events are FREE. Read more to get ideas for how you can spend your July in the Loop!
Get Active
Every Saturday now through September 5, 2026, attend FREE summer workouts at Millennium Park. These workouts are 45-minute sessions ranging from Pilates, Yoga, Cardio Kickboxing, and Zumba. View the schedule below:
8-11:45 a.m. | Wrigley Square and the Great Lawn | 45-minute sessions
- 8 a.m. - Pilates (with live music)
- 9 a.m. - Yoga (with live music)
- 10 a.m. - Cardio Kickboxing
- 11 a.m. - Zumba
*Classes take place at Wrigley Square or on the Great Lawn and are led by top local instructors. American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation is available upon request.
Watch a Movie in the Park
Every Tuesday - August 18, 2026, the Department of Special Affairs and Special Events, is hosting free movies in Millennium Park. Catch a movie every Tuesday in Millennium Park this month! See the full schedule below:
6:30 p.m. | Jay Pritzker Pavilion
- Tuesday, July 14, 2026 - When Harry Met Sally... (1989, R) & This is Spinal Tap (1984, R)
- Tuesday, July 21, 2026 - NO FILM SHOWING
- Tuesday, July 28, 2026 - Hamilton (2020, PG 13)
*These movies run through Thursday, August 6, 2026. Click the button below to browse the full film schedule!
Spend a day at a museum
The American Writers Museum is the first museum in the nation devoted to American writers and their works. Take a visit to the museum to learn more about some of your favorite writers. On the third Sunday of every month, the museum is offering FREE admission for all.
Take a trip back to Chicago's Gilded Age, by visiting the Glessner House. Immerse yourself in this celebrated architectural treasure that inspired a generation of architects like a young Frank Loyd Wright. The Glessner House is offering free tours for Illinois residents on the first and third Thursday of each month.
Wander through the Art Institute and see historical pieces as well as contemporary works in the modern wing. Are you an Illinois resident? Explore the Art Institute for FREE with the museum's Free Summer Thursdays from 5-8 p.m. now through September 17, 2026.
Go to Trivia at Sterling Food Hall
Take your friends to Trivia at Sterling Food Hall. Trivia happens inside Sterling Food Hall at the Flamingo Bar every Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. Arrive early to grab a bite and a cocktail before they start.
Second Fridays at the Fine Arts Building
The second Friday of every month, from 5-9 p.m., the Fine Arts Building opens all ten of its floors for the public. Attendees can meet participating artists who make the Fine Arts Building a home for different kinds of art.
As you wander throughout the building, you will discover open studios, live performances, galleries, and creative spaces.
Get fresh produce at the Farmers Market
Need some fresh produce downtown? Every Thursday the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events hosts FREE farmers markets at Daley Plaza. These vendors are all from the Chicago area serving up everything from fresh produce, to flowers, baked goods, dairy and more. The farmers market happens now through October 22, 2026.
Browse more Events!
Make sure to browse our event page for more ideas below!
