Events With Free Meals in Chicago

• Chicago has several opportunities for free meals. Allan Baxter/Photodisc/Getty Images

  The cost of living in Chicago is high and whether you live there are or planning a trip, you may be interested in events that offer free meals. The city has several events that offer free food throughout the year. Some are free breakfasts to celebrate annual holidays, others offer free lunch to promote a service. Whatever the reason, it is a good opportunity for those on a budget to enjoy some food and participate in the city's events.

St. Patrick's Day

• Binny's Beverage Depot sells alcoholic beverages and has 25 locations in the Chicago area. On St. Patrick's Day, it hosts a free breakfast that includes scones, coffee with Irish whiskey and music by the City of Chicago Pipers. The two-and-a-half hour event is held at the River North, South Loop, Lakeview and Willowbrook locations.

  The South Loop Binny's also hosts a lunch on the Saturday before St. Patrick's Day. This lunch includes free corned beef and cabbage, live Irish music and a variety of Irish beverages. Free samples of Guinness beer, Bushmill's Irish whiskey and Bailey's liqueur are featured.

Computer and Document Recycling Event

• L-Technology provides technical services to computer users. It hosts a recycling event wherein people are encouraged to bring in old computers and other hardware as well as old documents that need to be shredded. The hardware is recycled and the company offers an opportunity for sensitive paperwork to be shredded and then recycled. A free lunch and live entertainment are featured at this event. The event was first held in July 2010 with plans to make it an annual event.

Looptopia

• Looptopia is an annual event held in May each year. It's a nighttime event, held from dusk until dawn, and is a chance for artists to celebrate the city's culture, architecture and nightlife. It is on for 14 hours, and at 5 a.m. those that are still awake can enjoy a free breakfast. In past years, this breakfast has been held at the Chase Promenade Central and Millennium Park. Participants can also take part in games such as a park-wide game of hide and seek and Frisbee.