By Jessica D'Onofrio and Sarah SchultePresident Barack Obama will give his final farewell speech on Jan. 10 at Chicago's McCormick Place, the White House confirmed Monday.
The event will be free and open to the public, but tickets are required.
Tickets will be distributed at McCormick Place on Saturday. The exact time of the ticket release has not yet been set. Only one ticket per person.
For more information, visit www.whitehouse.gov/farewell/info.
For those who cannot get tickets, the event will be live streamed on the White House Facebook page and on the White House website.
Obama will say goodbye to the American people where his political career started and then gave his 2008 victory speech, which electrified Grant Park.
In an email from President Obama, he said he just started writing his speech, but he plans to make it a thank you to those who have been with him on what he's calling an amazing journey. He also wants to ensure the smooth transition of power.
Donald Trump is set to be inaugurated as the 45th president of the United States 10 days after this farewell speech.
"He's gonna talk about what's next in a trump administration not overtly but he's going to talk about some things that Trump is trying to dismantle and he's going to try to calm the waters," said ABC7 political analyst Laura Washington. "I think he is trying to keep his cool and make sure that there is no question about who is president and there's no question about that Trump is our new leader and we have to respond to that."
The speech gives President Obama one last chance to define his presidency and how his two terms have reshaped American life.
In an email, Obama said, "Since 2009, we've faced our fair share of challenges, and come through them stronger."
The president also said he'll offer some thoughts on where he thinks the country is going in the future.
"I think it's appropriate. He's from here. I think a lot of people here care about his presidency. It impacted a lot of people," said Emily Flaherty.
"It's history. It's definitely history to see an African American president do the things he's done. I would definitely want to be there I will be there if I'm not at work," said Malik Covington.
PRESIDENT OBAMA'S FULL EMAIL ON HIS FAREWELL ADDRESS:
In 1796, as George Washington set the precedent for a peaceful, democratic transfer of power, he also set a precedent by penning a farewell address to the American people. And over the 220 years since, many American presidents have followed his lead.
On Tuesday, January 10, I'll go home to Chicago to say my grateful farewell to you, even if you can't be there in person.
I'm just beginning to write my remarks. But I'm thinking about them as a chance to say thank you for this amazing journey, to celebrate the ways you've changed this country for the better these past eight years, and to offer some thoughts on where we all go from here.
Since 2009, we've faced our fair share of challenges, and come through them stronger. That's because we have never let go of a belief that has guided us ever since our founding -- our conviction that, together, we can change this country for the better.
So I hope you'll join me one last time.
Because, for me, it's always been about you.
President Barack Obama
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