As is usual for the evening of the inauguration, there will be a series of balls both unofficial and official. And as the day draws near, everyone’s vying for a visit from the president-elect, vice president-elect, and their families.
The Presidential Inaugural Committee announced Barack Obama will host the
Youth Inaugural Ball, along with five regional inaugural balls and a ball for his home states, Hawaii and Illinois. Vice President-elect Joe Biden will host a ball for his home states, Delaware and Pennsylvania, as well.The Youth Ball will be geared toward Americans aged 18-35 and will celebrate the inauguration and what young Americans can do to serve their communities. It will be held at the Washington Hilton, and tickets will be available to invited guests at $75 (a reduced price).
The regional balls are a tradition that Obama will continue. Balls for the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and West will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The Eastern Inaugural Ball will be held at Union Station, and the Southern Inaugural Ball will be held at the National Guard Armory.
For more information on the inaugural balls, visit the Presidential Inaugural Commitee’s Website.
If you’re a history buff, these tidbits might spark your interests. (Who knew African Americans marched in the inauguration parade for the first time after the swearing-in of Abraham Lincoln? At the time of his inauguration, rain poured down until the end of his ceremony.)
Janell Hazelwood is the copy editor and a reporter for BlackEnterprise.com.