President Barack Obama will make a campaign stop in Madison on Thursday, holding a rally on the UW campus at Bascom Mall and, in all likelihood, prompting enthusiastic support as well as grumbling about traffic chaos downtown for the better part of the day.

The event is free and open to the public but registration is required. Tickets can be had via this link. Registration doesn't automatically guarantee entrance.

If you're more interested in protesting the president's appearance, conservative group Americans for Prosperity is bringing their "Obama's Failing Agenda" bus tour to town on the same day.

For the rally, doors to the public will open at noon. The line to enter the event will form on the sidewalk on Observatory Drive to the west of Bascom Hall, no earlier than 7 a.m. Thursday. All who enter the event must show their registration on their mobile phone or a printout and undergo screening by metal detector.

The carry-in policy for the event is to bring as few personal items as possible, and expect to pass through "airport-like" security. Small cameras will be allowed. Prohibited items include laptops, umbrellas, sharp objects, metal or plastic drink bottles (water will be provided free of charge inside the secure area), backpacks and bags or purses larger than a standard sheet of paper. No food will be allowed in. No signs will be allowed. iPads and tablets will be allowed, but need to be turned on for security.

Bottled breast milk and formula will be allowed, with an infant. However, the event is not designed for small children and no strollers or other food will be permitted.

Accessibility information, building closures and more can be found here.

The event will likely be broadcast live at both Memorial Union and Union South. Parking in the area will be extremely limited for most of Thursday and residents of the UW campus and the city of Madison are highly encouraged to walk, bike, or bus to the event (or just around the area in general).

From the City of Madison Traffic Engineering and Parking Divisions:

The City of Madison will provide Special Event parking at the State Street Campus (both Lake Street and Frances Street garages), State Street Capitol and Overture Center garages to accommodate visitors for President Obama’s visit to Madison and rally at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on Thursday, October 4th.

The Special Event rate of $5 must be paid upon entry, and is payable with cash only. Special Event parking will begin at 9 AM at the State Street Campus garage (both Lake Street and Frances Street garages), and at 10 AM at the State Street Capitol and Overture Center garages. Visit our link bit.ly/cityparking to determine real-time availability for City-operated parking.

In addition, some downtown bus routes will be changed: Eastbound Route 80 will detour Thursday, turning west onto University Avenue from North Lake Street, continuing on University to North Charter Street, turning north on Charter and west on Linden Drive. No other routes will be affected. Extra buses will be added to Metro routes after the event.

Downtown traffic will be affected by street closings throughout the day. Campus streets that will be entirely or partially closed include:

• Observatory Drive, closed from Park to Charter. Observatory Drive will be west-bound only from Charter to Babcock.
• Langdon Street will be closed west of Lake Street.
• Park Street will be closed north of University Avenue.
• Charter Street will be closed north of Linden Drive, except for ADA drop-off.

All of these details are subject to change prior to event time.

Photo by Sean Rowley.