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Star lineup for June 18
The Obama Foundation announced that the Obama Presidential Center will hold its grand opening ceremony on Thursday, June 18, on Chicago’s South Side, with performances headlined by Stevie Wonder, U2, and Bruce Springsteen.
“CHICAGO — The Obama Presidential Center is celebrating its grand opening this week — and Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson, The Roots and Bono and The Edge from U2 are coming into town to perform — and celebrate”
Newser reported that the ceremony will stream live on the center’s website starting at noon Eastern, and that the Juneteenth weekend of public celebrations runs June 19–21.
That Eric Alper said the invite-only ceremony takes place at Chicago’s John Lewis Plaza beginning at 11 a.m. CT, with the Obama Foundation planning a global livestream at the same time.
The lineup for the June 18 dedication ceremony includes Bono, The Edge, Eddie Vedder, Common, Marc Anthony, Tems, The Roots, Christina Aguilera, John Legend, and Jennifer Hudson, alongside the headliners.
Time Out Worldwide added that actress and producer Marsai Martin is also scheduled to participate, as the center opens to the public on Friday, June 19.
Valerie Jarrett frames it
Obama Foundation CEO Valerie Jarrett described the June 18 ceremony as something singular, saying, "This Grand Opening ceremony will be unlike any other, filled with music, performances, and hope."
Time Out Worldwide said the June 18 program is centered on democracy, culture, service and hope, and that the ceremony will be livestreamed globally beginning at 11am CT on June 18 via Obama.org as well as the Foundation's TikTok, YouTube and Facebook channels.
USA Today reported that the Obama Foundation told USA TODAY that President Donald Trump was "welcome" to visit and tour the grounds, even as Trump had bashed the center as a "total disaster."
CBC said Trump will likely be absent, and it quoted University College Cork lecturer on American history and politics Clodagh Harrington saying the Obamas have "very high cultural legitimacy."
The Chicago Tribune described a separate Tuesday thank-you celebration on the campus, quoting Michelle Obama saying, "To be able to look out across and see the South Side of Chicago, to see the beauty of our parks".
Public opening and access
The Obama Presidential Center officially opens to the public on Friday, June 19, after the June 18 grand opening ceremony at John Lewis Plaza.
Chicago Sun-Times said museum tickets for the opening weekend sold out in hours, while the rest of the campus remains free and open to visitors, including the Chicago Public Library and a sprawling playground.
It also reported that the center’s opening weekend public events run through that Sunday, Father’s Day, and that the ceremony itself is invitation-only with tickets to a public watch party at Midway Plaisance Park no longer available.
Newsradio 95 WXTK said the grand opening is expected to bring jobs, tourism, and new investments to Chicago's South Side, while also noting concerns about rising rents and property values voiced by local residents.
Relix said the June 18 event features both speeches and musical performances, with former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama addressing the crowd from the site in Chicago.
