I love Halloween and Halloween is coming early early to the Lincoln Park Zoo's Spooky Zoo Spectacular on Saturday, October 24 at 11:00am.  The Auxiliary Board of the Lincoln Park Zoo invites children to celebrate Halloween at a free, family-friendly event at the Lincoln Park Zoo.  Come dressed in your favorite costume and make crafts, visit the Education Zone, and trick-or-treat with the animals.  There will be entertainment throughout the zoo.   Dont miss out on this free, spooktacular opportunity to celebrate Halloween with the Lincoln Park Zoo.     

Come down to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum as it celebrates its 10th anniverary with 10 free days filled with special programming.  From October 23 - November 1 admission to the Nature Museum is free!  Take the Family to see Videos shot by the National Geographic Crittercam in The World Through Animal Eyes exhibit.  Get up close to exotic butterflies as they sit on your shoulder or perch on your arms in the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven.  Engage in a bit of waterplay while exploring the dynamics of rivers in the Riverworks display.  These are just a few examples of the variety of learning experiences you can enjoy with your family for free during the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum's 10th Anniversary celebration.  The Museum is open Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 4:30pm and Saturday and Sunday 10:00am to 5:00pm.  It's located at  2430 N. Cannon Drive in Chicago, near Lincoln Park.

Has it been too long since you've seen a show?  Chicago has one of the most vibrant theater communities in the nation and now you can experience it for free.  The Theatre Communications Group is celebrating the 5th anniversary of a Free Night of Theater program by offering free tickets to over 700 plays coast to coast.  Starting October 1 2009, you can experience what our local theaters have to offer free of cost.  To see what is available in the Chicago area click here.  Stop using lack of funds as an excuse not to go out to a show.  Get your tickets now to a Free Night of Theater.  Hurry, tickets go fast!    

Has it been to long since you've seen a show?.  Chicago has one of the most vibrant theater communities in the nation and now you can experience it for free.  The Theatre Communications Group is celebrating the 5th anniversary of a Free Night of Theater program by offering free tickets to over 700 plays coast to coast.  Starting October 1 2009, you can experience what our local theaters have to offer free of cost.  To see what is available in the Chicago area click here.  Stop using lack of funds as an excuse not to go out to a show.  Get your tickets now to a Free Night of Theater.  Hurry, tickets go fast!    

Vickie from Houston on the Cheap  gave me the scoop on a tasty family deal.  Bring your kids to the nearest Boston Market for a free kids meal when you make an adult purchase of $6.00 or more.  The deal includes up to two meals for kids 14 and under.  If you're really hungry, or have a large family, you can purchase a family meal and get up to 4 free kids meals.  You don't need a coupon but you do need your kids to be present.  It's a great deal for my family because my kids are 13 and 14 and love Boston Market chicken.  The deal runs through October 31, 2009.

Do you know of a Chicago bargain?  Enter a comment and I'll post the deal!      

Celebrate art of all forms at the 24th annual Bucktown Arts Fest.  This weekend, on August 29th and 30th from 11:00am-7:00pm, artists from all over the city invite you to join them for a glorious celebration of art.  Participants will include painters, photographers, crafts people, dancers, musicians, poets, actors and more.  Film buffs can enjoy a film program curated by the Chicago Short Film Brigade.  Don't forget to bring the kids!  Children's activities include baloon artists, painting tles, and using found objects to create mobiles.  The fun takes place at Holstein Park located at 2200 N. Oakley in Bucktown.  It's a good opportunity to meet the artists, explore the neighborhood, and experience a wide variety of art.  For a schedule of performances click here.      

Hot, sticky and sweaty pretty much describes a typical August day in Chicago.   The airconditioner is broken, the kids are bored, the backyard is steamy, where can you get relief?  Pack your swimsuites and head over to the Crown Fountain in Millennium Park.  It's the coolest spot in Millennium Park.  Here you'll see kids of all ages keeping cool in the mists and sprays of the delightful Crown Fountain.  Giant faces smile down and occasionally spit fountains of water on people taking advantage of free, cool, refreshing entertainment.  This is one place where people are not only allowed, but encouraged to play in a public fountain.   If you don't feel like getting wet, it's a great place to people watch as mothers chase toddlers, kids play, and people of all ages keep cool on a hot summer's day.   If you want to be cool, head to Crown Fountain!   

Become a facebook fan of the Corner Bakery and tell them what you are doing to stay local this summer and they will send you a coupon for a free sweet.  Post pictures or stories about staying local and you could also be randomly selected to receive a coupon for a free BLT sandwich. this is another sweet deal from Jennifer Maciejewski of Atlanta on the Cheap ...... Thanks Jenn!

Satisfy your sweet tooth for half price in honor of National Cheesecake Day.  On July 30, 2009 the Cheesecake Factory will be offering a 50% discount on cheesecake slices from 11:30 am untill 11:00 pm.  This sweet deal comes from  Jennifer Maciejewski at Atlanta on the Cheap.    

It's the end of July and that means it's time for a party at  Chicago's 52nd annual Venetian Night.  This year's theme is "Hollywood on the Lake" and is expected to draw over half a million people to Chicago's lakefront. 

One of the highlights of this festival is the spectacle of over 35 boats decked out in their finest decorations and lights sailing in a parade along the lakefront between the Shedd Aquarium at Roosevelt Dr. and the Chicago Yacht Club at Monroe Street followed by a fireworks display over the lakefront.  Festivities begin at the Red Bull High Rise in Butler Field in Grant Park at 6:00pm.  The Chicago Fire Department's Air/Sea Rescue Reinactment will start at 8:00 pm followed by the boat parade at 8:15.  Immediately following the parade, there will be a mega fireworks display over the lakefront choreographed to music. 

If you really want to celebrate in style with a free concert, head over to the Jay Pritzker Pavillion in Millenium Park.  From 6:30pm until 8:30pm  the Grant Park Music Festival will be presenting a program of Italian arias featuring Nicole Cabell and Russell Thomas.  You can watch the fireworks from your seats at the end of the show.  This should be a fantastic night for all and it's free.

Grab a picnic and head down to the lakefront early, on public transporation, as it will be jamming and the parking will be scarce.