The Obama Presidential Center is set to unveil its long-anticipated campus in Chicago with a grand opening weekend scheduled for June 19-21. Located at 6001 S. Stony Island Avenue, the 19-acre site will host a variety of family-friendly events, many of which are free and open to the public.

The center’s museum began construction in 2021 and features a prominent 225-foot tower. The museum itself will open on June 18 with an invitation-only ceremony, followed by public access starting the next day, coinciding with Juneteenth. The festivities will continue through Father’s Day on June 21. Tickets for the opening weekend sold out within hours, and the center’s Illinois Free Days—when admission is free for Illinois residents—are booked through October.

Visitors can look forward to an array of programming, including live music, dancing, and activities like face painting. The adjacent Home Court athletic center will offer interactive sports and play stations and appearances by mascots representing Chicago’s major professional sports teams, including the Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs, and White Sox.

A full slate of activities will complement the entertainment. These include performances by artists commissioned specifically for the Obama Presidential Center, storytime and workshops at the on-site Chicago Public Library branch, and Double Dutch jump rope demonstrations coupled with crochet jump rope-making activities. Guests can also explore the Eleanor Roosevelt Fruit and Vegetable Garden through interactive experiences focused on food cultivation and holistic wellness. Additional offerings include talks in the auditorium and both guided and self-guided audio tours of the campus.

Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation, emphasized that the inaugural celebration marks only the beginning of ongoing programming designed to engage and inspire visitors. “We will foster a spirit of civic engagement and joy,” she said in a statement.

Beyond the grand opening, the center plans an extensive summer calendar. In July and August, it will host the “You Are America” series featuring talks, films, and community events to commemorate the United States’ 250th anniversary. The series will launch with a free Independence Day event called “The People’s Fourth,” which will include live music and family activities.

Urban Growers Collective will help facilitate Summer Garden Gatherings every other week from mid-July through late September, centered around the fruit and vegetable garden. On August 4, the center will hold an all-ages celebration of former President Barack Obama’s birthday featuring a karaoke DJ set. Additionally, an ongoing walk-run club for participants aged 50 and older, named At Your Pace, is set to meet Thursday mornings beginning August 6 through October 8.

Information and updates on all programming at the Obama Presidential Center can be found on the Obama Foundation’s website at Obama.org.