Garden Gatherings

Garden Gathering: The Preservation Waltz

Learn food preservation through hands-on jarring and pickling in this Garden Gathering. Explore the zesty world of fermented foods with a festive tasting.
Event Details
Sun, Aug 23 • 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Fruit & Vegetable Garden
Admission
This event is full. Keep an eye on our event calendar for additional opportunities to attend.
An adult and 2 children planting seeds in a garden

Details

Take a break and spend time outside in the Fruit and Vegetable Garden for Garden Gatherings. Explore the garden's seasonal plants while enjoying music from DJ Iggy. 

Learn how to keep your food fresh for longer at The Preservation Waltz!. Explore simple vinegar and salting techniques to extend the lifespan of your produce and support food security. In this hands-on session, you will chop fresh produce, prep food for preservation, and jar your own creations.  You’ll even taste fermented favorites - kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles - and see how Mrs. Obama's garden initiatives promoted healthy eating.

Food and drink are available for purchase on site.

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A You Are America Event

To celebrate 250 years of American progress, this summer the Obama Presidential Center is hosting a series of community events and sparking a wider conversation about how we can shape our next 250 years. From inspiring talks and films to community engagement and empowering voices, You Are America honors how far we’ve come and looks ahead to where we can go together.

Learn More

In Partnership With

  • Urban Growers Collective logo featuring an illustrated avocado over a green watercolor background

    Urban Growers Collective

    We’re honored to feature Urban Growers Collective as our signature partner for the Fruit and Vegetable Garden. Urban Growers Collective is a Black- and women-led non-profit working to build an equitable local food system. Urban agriculture is our tool and method to create pathways for economic stability and abundance.

Plan Your Visit

Fruit & Vegetable Garden

From the Parking Garage: Follow the signs to the elevator and take it up one floor to the Garden level. Make a right out of the elevator and follow the signs to the Garden. From the Plaza: Accessible Path: Head toward the South end of the Forum building and continue through the breezeway between the Forum and the Chicago Public Library. From there, head toward the Parking Garage and follow the signs to the Elevator. Take it up one floor to the Garden level. Make a right out of the elevator and follow the signs to the Garden. Outdoor Walking Path: Head toward the South end of the Plaza and follow the walking path up the hill to your left. This path will swing around to point you back northward and arrive at the Fruit and Vegetable Garden. Celebrate the legacy of two extraordinary First Ladies as you learn how to grow and make your own food. You can find dozens of garden beds or local plants and native vegetables.
Mon - Sun 6 a.m. - 9 p.m. CT

Raised garden beds planted with leafy greens in front of the Obama Presidential Center Museum
Good to Know

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

More Garden Gatherings

Explore Garden Gatherings
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    Garden Gathering: From Plant to Pigment

    Sun, Sep 06

    Explore the garden through color and creativity. Make natural plant dyes and work with seeds while learning how roots, leaves, and other botanical materials can be transformed into art, beauty, and future growth.

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  • An adult and 2 children planting seeds in a garden

    Garden Gathering: Seeds for the Future

    Sun, Sep 20

    Discover the ancient art of seed saving. Harvest and explore heirloom seeds, learn how to store them for the future, and discover how preserving seeds can support food sovereignty, sustain communities, and carry a living legacy forward.

    Register