Free and cheap things to do in Chicago this weekend: August 24-26

Looking for things to do that won’t break the bank? Check out this week’s free and cheap guide. It includes:

• The Field Museum’s free admission day and farmers market
• The free U.S. Pizza Museum in the South Loop
• Midnight Circus in the Parks, starting at Garfield Park this weekend

And more!

Field Museum: Free Admission and Farmers Market

Provided

WHAT: The Field Museum is free for Illinois residents on Saturday. The museum is also hosting a farmers market on the same day.

Our museums are among Chicago’s greatest cultural assets, and the world-class natural history museum is no exception. The Field Museum is a great place to learn about our planet and its history, with exhibits on plants, dinosaurs, meteorites and mummies. Say hi to Máximo, the titanosaur that has replaced Sue the T. rex in Stanley Field Hall. The farmers market is also on Saturday at the museum.

WHEN: The museum is open every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Field Market Day is Saturday from 2 to 6 p.m.

WHERE: The Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago

GETTING THERE: CTA Red, Green, Orange lines, Roosevelt; bus #146 Museum Campus; Metra, Museum Campus/11th St.

COST: Free on Saturday (Illinois residents free day); regular basic admission, $24 adults

MORE INFO: Field Museum

Visit the U.S. Pizza Museum

WHAT: The U.S. Pizza Museum recently opened in the South Loop.

New Yorkers might be upset that the U.S. Pizza Museum opened in Chicago rather than in their city, but the museum — dedicated to all things pizza — recognizes all different sorts and styles, not just New York and Chicago. The museum’s history is pretty simple: Kendall Burns, the founder, says he’s a lover of pizza and decided to open a pizza museum.

WHEN: Museum hours are Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and weekend days from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

WHERE: U.S. Pizza Museum, 1146 South Delano Court, Chicago

GETTING THERE: CTA Red, Green, Orange lines, Roosevelt; buses 12, 18; Metra Rock Island, LaSalle Street terminal

COST: Free, tickets required

MORE INFO: U.S. Pizza Museum

Midnight Circus in the Parks

WHAT: Midnight Circus in the Parks is once again bringing circus performances to Chicago communities.

The performances, which begin this weekend in Garfield Park, are part of the Chicago Park District’s Night Out in the Parks program. Midnight Circus in the Parks brings together circus performers for affordable and accessible circus performances to communities across Chicago, while raising funds and awareness for the city’s parks. The organization’s 12th season will run for nine weeks in nine different Chicago parks.

WHEN: Saturday Sunday at 3 p.m.

WHERE: Garfield Park, 100 North Central Park Ave., Chicago

GETTING THERE: CTA Green Line, Conservatory-Central Park Drive; buses 20, 82

COST: $5 general admission, free for children under the age of two.

MORE INFO: Midnight Circus

Other suggestions

• The Taste of Greektown, organized by the Greektown Chamber of Commerce, will be a culinary fest on Halsted Street in the heart of Chicago’s Greek restaurant scene. This year’s Taste of Greektown will include a Gyro Eating contest for the first time. Friday 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.; 400 South Halsted St., Chicago; CTA Blue Line, UIC-Halsted, buses 8, 126.

•The 2nd Annual Assyrian Food Festival is being held at the Morton Grove Park District in Morton Grove on Saturday and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. both days. It features traditional Assyrian food, dancing and more. The event is sponsored by the Assyrian Church of the East.

• Logan Square is having a food truck social, with over a dozen food trucks and local restaurants, along with beer and music. The event is family-friendly and dog-friendly 🐶. Friday from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Humboldt Boulevard between Armitage & The 606 Trail; CTA buses 52, 72, 73; $5 suggested donation

More Sun-Times Guides with things to do

We’ve got neighborhood guides to help you explore Chicago. Check out “The Grid”, which includes lots of things to do and tons of fun.

Or check out the Sun-Times’ 2018 Summer Guide with all the best things to do in Chicago this summer, or our Sun-Times 2018 Farmers Market Guide with info on the farmers markets in the city and suburbs.

Tell us about free and cheap things to do!

We’d love to hear about your suggestions for free and cheap things to do in Chicago and the suburbs. Email us at freeandcheap@suntimes.com and we may include your events in a future story.