The Air Force Academy graduation ceremony on Thursday will feature Vice President JD Vance and an air show by the Thunderbirds.

The graduation ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. at Falcon Stadium. The gates open at 6 a.m., and no one will be permitted to enter after the ceremony begins. All guests are subject to security screening.

Members of the public can pick up free tickets at two locations:

The Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce offers tickets at 166 Second St. in Monument.

Visit Colorado Springs offers tickets at its offices at 515 S. Cascade Ave.

Each adult can pick up four tickets on a first-come, first-served basis.

Those visiting the base need to register at visit.gvt.us/steps/special_event_pass/event_detail.

The ceremony will be livestreamed on the academy’s official YouTube channel.

Children ages 7-10 are welcome to take home a hat after the end of the ceremony. Parents should wait for their children east of the scoreboard, on the south end, and pick up their children directly after the hat toss.

Parking

Gates to the academy and Falcon Stadium open at 5 a.m. It’s suggested that you arrive early.

Thunderbirds

The Thunderbirds are scheduled to practice their aerial acrobatics noon-5 p.m. Wednesday over Falcon Stadium, according to the academy’s schedule.

The official graduation air show is planned 11:25-11:55 a.m.

Permitted items

Food is permitted inside a 1-gallon Ziploc bag.

One clear bag 12 inches by 12 inches is permitted per person.

One small clutch bag or fanny pack, 5.5 inches by 7.5 inches.

Diaper bags and collapsible umbrella strollers are permitted for those with small children.

Prohibited Items

Backpacks, camera cases, baby seats, large strollers, sticks, bats, poles, umbrellas, aerosol sprays, Frisbees, balls of any kind, pets, weapons, flash photography, camera sticks and tripods. For a full list of items, visit usafa.edu/graduation/graduation-ceremony/.