The Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe is open at no charge through Friday, Nov. 6, giving North Shore residents a chance to walk 385 acres of fall color without paying admission.
The free admission window began Monday, Nov. 2, and covers five straight days, according to the Garden's free admission page. Two more free days follow later in the month: Monday, Nov. 9, and Wednesday, Nov. 11.
There is a catch. Nonmembers must preregister online for a ticket before visiting. Registration stays open until the Garden reaches capacity for a given day, so spots are not guaranteed. Parking fees still apply even on free days.
Several groups can skip preregistration entirely. Active-duty military personnel and their families, U.S. military reservists, former POWs, LINK and WIC cardholders and their households, Illinois primary and secondary educators with a valid ID, Native American and Indigenous tribal members with a tribal ID, and families using a Chicago Public Library Kids' Museum Passport all receive free admission without advance tickets. Most of those groups also receive free parking.
The free admission offer does not cover ticketed events such as Lightscape, which runs Nov. 13 through Jan. 3.
On Tuesday, Nov. 3, the Garden's hours for the general public are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with members-only access from 8 to 10 a.m. Visitors planning a trip later in the week should check the Garden's visit page for updated hours.
The Garden also hosts its Fine Art of Fiber exhibition at the Regenstein Center starting Friday, Nov. 6, running through Sunday, Nov. 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Garden sits at 1000 Lake Cook Road in Glencoe. After the Nov. 2–6 free days end, the next free admission dates are Nov. 9 and 11, with another stretch running Dec. 7 through 13.
