The Obama Foundation invites the public to a watch party on June 18. This event will take place along the Midway Plaisance to celebrate the opening of the Obama Presidential Center. The grand opening ceremony itself begins at 11 a.m. It is an exclusive event, featuring performances and storytelling about the Foundation’s mission to inspire community change.

If you want to join the celebration, you are welcome to attend the watch party at the Midway, situated just west of the center. To participate, request up to four free tickets through obama.org/grandopening. Submit your application by May 26. Keep in mind, space is limited, parking is unavailable, and applying does not ensure a ticket.

The foundation will also stream the opening ceremony on obama.org. The watch party, positioned as a picnic-style gathering, starts at 9 a.m. Attend to enjoy music, an art market, local food vendors, and exclusive merchandise.

Tickets to enter the museum during its official opening weekend have sold out. Prices were $30 for adults and $23 for children from out of state, and $26 and $15 for Illinois residents. The opening coincides with Juneteenth, and much of the summer availability has been taken. However, some tickets become available after August 10. Illinois Free Days on Tuesdays have filled up through November.

The center also offers a comprehensive campus tour, combining art, architecture, and landscape design insights, along with museum entry and a line-skipping pass. Prices range from $75 to $95, and these tours are booked until September 20.

While museum entry requires a ticket at a reserved time, other campus features are accessible to all. Features such as the Chicago Public Library branch, playground, athletic center, park spaces, and the Sky Room atop the museum are open without charge.

This announcement is part of ongoing preparations for the Obama center’s debut. Plans include new art commissions, final designations of museum spaces, and previews of a full-scale Oval Office replica.