The program in Chicago started early at 7 AM, when the president went for a morning run around Lake Michigan. A considerable group of expatriates joined him on the approximately four-kilometer route, many wearing Sokol jerseys.

The historic visit continued at the University of Chicago, where Tomáš G. Masaryk himself taught in 1902 and 1907. The university played a significant role in his struggle for independence and freedom for Czechoslovakia. President Pavel symbolically launched a series of lectures dedicated to Václav Havel with a speech titled “The Transatlantic Bond: Challenges and Opportunities.” Following the lecture, he engaged in a lively debate with students who appreciated the chance to ask questions of a foreign statesman.

At the nearby Masaryk Memorial, the president, together with Mayor Brandon Johnson, Dean John Boyer, and many members of the Czech and American community in Chicago, honored Masaryk’s legacy by laying a wreath at his memorial. They also commemorated the 100th anniversary of President Woodrow Wilson's death and his connection with Masaryk, a relationship in which the University of Chicago played an important role. As the president noted in his speech, the cooperation between Masaryk and Wilson was crucial for the creation of Czechoslovakia after World War I and laid the foundations for a strong Czech-American partnership that continues to expand today. The mayor of Chicago also took the opportunity to declare the week of September 21 to 29 as Czech Heritage Week in Chicago.

The president was further welcomed by Governor JB Pritzker, with whom he agreed on the necessity of strengthening cooperation between democratic countries and discussed the development of economic collaboration between the Czech Republic and the state of Illinois. The large Czech community could be very beneficial for further deepening these relations.

Petr Pavel also expressed support to representatives of Czech companies in Chicago. The president was accompanied by a business delegation focused on innovative startups in cybersecurity and defense. At the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in Chicago, a high-level discussion on “International Security Threats and Emerging Technologies: The Role of Private Sector” took place as part of the business and presidential program.

The symbolic conclusion of the president's visit occurred at Sokol Tábor, where Czech culture was celebrated. The evening, organized by the Czech American Community Center in collaboration with the consul general and other local expatriate organizations, featured performances by dancers in traditional costumes from the Moravian Cultural Society and United Moravian Societies. Live music was provided by Ed Wagner's Brass Band, and talented Matěj Číp played the Czech and American national anthems on the cimbalom. The evening was hosted by Teddy Polashek and Radka Kutálková Veverková. Traditional Czech food, including delicious goulash prepared by the Czech Mission in Brookfield, IL, was also part of the event. During the meeting with expatriates, Petr Pavel and his wife openly discussed and took photos with attendees, and they also launched the book "The Girl from the Stamp". This work by Markéta Pilátová, illustrated by Renáta Fučíková, depicts the life of Eva Haňková-Neugebauerová, who became famous through a photograph of her as a small girl in traditional dress held in the arms of President T. G. Masaryk.

President Petr Pavel concluded his week-long visit to the United States in Cedar Rapids. On Friday, September 27, he, alongside Slovak President Peter Pellegrini, attended the ceremonial unveiling of a new astronomical clock in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Inspired by the Prague astronomical clock, this clock features 12 figures, each symbolizing the stories of Czech and Slovak immigrants who arrived in the USA at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The figures rotate every hour to the music of Czech composers Antonín Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana, making the clock a symbol of cultural ties between the two countries.

The National Czech and Slovak Museum and Library in Cedar Rapids, which commissioned the replica of the Prague astronomical clock, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, having been established in 1974. The visit of the Czech and Slovak presidents symbolically connected to the visit of Presidents Václav Havel and Michal Kováč, who personally congratulated the museum on its 25th anniversary in the company of Bill Clinton in 1999. The current presidents visited the museum together and viewed exhibits on Czech culture, freedom, democracy, and immigration.

During the visit, Petr Pavel met with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, where they discussed topics related to economic, scientific, and cultural cooperation. Productive discussions on business and research partnerships indicated the potential for long-term collaboration supporting mutual progress.