Skip to content
America 250

July 4th Surprise & Delight

Celebrate the Fourth of July at the Obama Presidential Center with a festive, family-friendly gathering across the Plaza and Forum Building. Enjoy live DJ sets spinning patriotic and feel-good favorites, get creative with face-painting and button making stations, and challenge friends and family to lawn games on the campus grounds. Bring your own blankets and picnics to enjoy the park and outdoor areas of this beautiful 19-acre campus. This free, all-ages celebration is the perfect way to honor America's birthday while experiencing the newest cultural destination on Chicago's South Side.
Event Details
Sat, Jul 04 • 9:00am - 5:00pm John Lewis Plaza
Admission
This event is free. Please bring your confirmation email with your digital ticket(s).
July 4th Surprise & Delight  - https://api.use2.ticketuretest.com/v1/assets/obama/5a388817-8ae6-03e4-a1a8-e9d0b9693fb0

Plan Your Visit

John Lewis Plaza

Named in honor of late civil rights leader Congressman John Lewis, the John Lewis Plaza is a lively and animated outdoor space that welcomes visitors to the Center. The Plaza–which serves as an entry point for the Forum, Museum, and Library buildings–is a dynamic hub built to foster the spirit of community that was central to the legacy and work of Congressman Lewis.

Good to Know

Explore helpful resources regarding transportation, accessibility services, and on-site amenities before you arrive.

More America 250

Explore America 250
  • An illustration in a distorted, bold-line style featuring a smiling man with a beard, glasses, and a patterned headband, standing in the foreground with exaggeratedly large hands. He holds a small "Happy 4th July" flag and a gold medal. The background depicts the modern architectural buildings of the Obama Presidential Center campus under a pale yellow sky, with a small crowd of people holding American flags on a green lawn and a single firework bursting in the distance.

    July 4th Surprise & Delight

    Sat, Jul 04

    Kick off Independence Day at the OPC with live DJ sets, lawn games, face-painting, button making, and festive family fun across the campus.

    Get tickets
  • Chicago Philharmonic American Mavericks

    Sat, Jul 04

    Experience a special outdoor concert where Chicago Philharmonic musicians perform alongside community members in a celebration of America's musical heritage.

    Get tickets
  • Stories That Shape Us

    Wed, Jul 08

    Acclaimed filmmakers and storytellers explore how their work shapes our understanding of history, belonging, and the American experience.

    Get tickets
  • YOUmedia Alumni Workshop: From Self to Sound

    Wed, Jul 29

    Chicago music icons Saba, Nico Segal, and Jamila Woods lead teens through a hands-on workshop on music creation and storytelling in the OPC Media Suite.

    Get tickets