"Free, Free, Free!" is an e-newsletter and website that provides a monthly curated list of free programs, events and activities happening throughout the city in our libraries, museums, cultural centers and parks. We encourage you to express your culture through the arts and take advantage of the many opportunities the City of Chicago provides you to engage, create and participate!
(events are subject to change)
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2020,
Citywide
Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events have designated 2020 as the "Year of Chicago Music." The citywide, year-long initiative includes the launch of a marketing campaign for Chicago music, financial grants for music projects, an industry dialog around inclusion and equity, and a call for civic, philanthropic, arts, and business leaders to support the music industry.
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Chicago Latino Film Festival Film Series
Wednesdays, January 15, 22, 19, 6:30pm
Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., Claudia Cassidy Theater, 2nd Floor North
While you wait for the
36th Chicago Latino Film Festival (April 16-30, 2020) watch these six films for free at the Chicago Cultural Center! The films selected are from Colombia, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Argentina, and Chile and depict the wit of Latinos. The protagonist of these films finds themselves in adventures and sometimes misfortunate situations leaving joyful moments in the lives of the audience. The portrayal of family dynamics, the hardships of love, loss, or an identity crisis in the films showcase that laughter is always the best medicine.
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Maggie Daley Park Skating Ribbon
Open through early March
Maggie Daley Park, 337 E. Randolph St.
In the heart of downtown Chicago, with the City's skyline as a backdrop, a ribbon of ice winds through a rolling landscape providing an ice skating experience unlike any other. The skating ribbon is dramatically different from typical civic ice rinks, creating a multi-sensory activity that is integrated into the landscape. Skaters can experience "alpine in the city" as they lace up their ice skates and follow a path twice the length of a lap around a traditional skating rink. Complementing the ribbon are places to enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and rent skates.
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Requiem: A White Wanderer
Friday, January 31-Sunday, February 2, 11am-6pm
Millennium Park, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 201 E. Randolph St.
Requiem: A White Wanderer is an ongoing art and sound project by Chicago-based collaborative Luftwerk to inspire a robust public dialogue about climate change here in Chicago and beyond. An immersive sound installation amplified from the latticed Jay Pritzker Pavilion sound system will bring audiences into the way that aquatic animals might experience a calving iceberg, with the sounds of its disintegration reverberating throughout the ocean. Several Sound Walk tours will be presented throughout the weekend to give more guidance to the intricacies of the installation and is accompanied by two special concerts at 5pm and 7pm on Saturday, February. Visit the website for a full program schedule.
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The Chicago Shell Club at NPV
Sunday, January 12, 1:30-4pm
North Park Village Nature Center Park, 5801 N. Pulaski Rd.
Join the
Chicago Shell Club and guest speaker Lynn Funkhouser for the presentation: The Underwater Beauty of the Philippines. Lynn will once again electrify us with her world famous underwater photography. Registration is not required.
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Black History Celebration at Lindblom
Monday, January 20, 2-4pm
Lindblom (Robert) Park, 6054 S. Damen Ave.
Please join us in celebrating Black History through music, dance and poetry.
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Polar Adventure Day at Northerly Island
Saturday, January 25, 12-4pm
Northerly Island Park, 1521 S. Linn White Dr.
Explore Northerly Island and come face-to-face with live animals, engage in winter activities, and create nature-inspired crafts. Visit the website for a full list of activities. Dress for the weather as events take place both outdoors and inside the Visitor Center.
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Before the Skyscrapers: Chicago's Natural History
Saturday, January 11, 11am-12:15pm
Bezazian Branch, 1226 W. Ainslie St.
As conversations continue about Chicago's future, it is worth looking at how humans have modified what is now Chicago in the relatively recent past. Many changes have occurred and while some of them are well known (such as the reversal of the Chicago River), others are a bit hidden. This talk will look at Chicago's vast transformation over the past several centuries as land, water, and other resources have been moved around to create the city we now inhabit. We'll also talk about what's next as we move forward in the 21st century. Presented by urbanologist Max Grinnell.
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Aegea Greek Dance Troupe and Lessons
Friday, January 17, 1-2pm
Edgewater Branch, 6000 N. Broadway
Do you want to learn Greek dancing? Ever watched others doing the Zorba dance and wanted to participate? Would you enjoy performing at Greek festivals and other events? Join us for dance lessons taught by instructor Koula. Have fun and flex your body and brain. Opa!
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2020 Chinese New Year Concert
新年音乐会
Saturday, January 25, 2-3:30pm
Chinatown Branch, 2100 S. Wentworth Ave.
Featuring Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra, Philip Simmons, Founder and Music Director, Carol Wang, soprano, Michele McGrovern, flute and members of the Dong Fang Performing Arts Choir.
Musical program to include: Excerpts from Chinese Sights and Sounds by Bao Yuankai, Three Chinese Pieces by Abram Chasin and popular Chinese songs to celebrate the New Year.
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The Art Institute of Chicago
Free to Illinois residents Wednesday evenings, 5-8pm
111 S. Michigan Ave.
The Art Institute of Chicago, founded in 1879 and located in Chicago's Grant Park, is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States. Recognized for its curatorial efforts and popularity among visitors, the museum hosts approximately 1.5 million people annually. And, children under 14 are always free!
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