Inauguration and other hot tickets

ARE YOU GOING? GET IN TOUCH: Alaskans heading back to Washington, D.C. for the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump will join hundreds of thousands of others from around the country — and for most of them, this will be their first presidential inauguration. There’s so much to know, the Metro doesn’t work as it should, and by now if they don’t have restaurant reservations they’ll be out of luck.

A few names of Alaskans we’ve heard who are heading to DC for the festivities include Alaska Republican Party Chairman Tuckerman and Kristie Babcock, ARP Treasurer Julie Tisdale, Past Chairman Randy and Gloria (Shriver) Ruedrich, Kathy and Fred Hosford, Randy Comer and his son Andy Comer, Kelly Cusack-Millen, Sharon Jackson, Misty Steed, Felice Schilling, Elisa Snelling, Erik and Angelina Burney, Tammi Lindsey George Lamoreaux and his daughter Ashley, Joe Mathis, National Committeeman for ARP Peter Goldberg,  Marti Goldber, Donna McCarrey, National Committeewoman for ARP Cynthia and Ken Henry, Ryan McKee, Jeremy Price, Bob Gillam and a private jet full of people, Lesil McGuire, Patti McGuire, Mike Robbins, Jerry and Margaret Ward, George Owletuck and his daughter Fiona Owletuck, Drue Pearce, Cam and Michelle Toohey, Bill Armstrong, Jim Musselman, Andrew Guy, President/CEO Calista Corp., Sen. Charlie and Becky Huggins, John Moller, Trevor and Lisa Marie Shaw, Gov. Bill and Donna Walker, and a host of officials from the Walker Administration that include senior oil adviser John Hendrix, presumably traveling on the state dime. Hendrix paid his own way and slept on a family sofa, sources tell us [updated 01.23.2017]. About 1,000 in all, so far as we know.

Alaskans attending the inaugural events are invited to send photos to [email protected] and we’ll post many of them here throughout the week.

Here’s a partial schedule of the official events that some Alaskans might witness if they can get to where they want to go on time:

Thursday, January 19

Wreath-Laying Ceremony
Arlington National Cemetery
When: morning
What: Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence honor the country’s military heroes at  Arlington, Virginia.

Welcome Concert
Lincoln Memorial
When: TBA
What: The inaugural events officially start with this event, which will include a concert and appearances by Trump and Pence. The two public events are themed: “Voices of the People” and “Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration.”

Voices of the People event includes the DC Fire Department Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, King’s Academy Honor Choir, the Republican Hindu Coalition, Montgomery Area High School Marching Band, Marlana Van Hoose, Maury NJROTC Color Guard, Pride of Madawaska, Webelos Troop 177, Northern Middle School Honors Choir, American Tap Company, South Park and District Pipe Band, Everett High School Viking Marching Band, TwirlTasTix Baton Twirling, and Celtic United Pipes and Drums.”

Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration follows with President-elect Trump delivering remarks. Special guests include: “Toby Keith, Jon Voight, Jennifer Holliday, The Piano Guys, Lee Greenwood, RaviDrums, 3 Doors Down, and The Frontmen of Country.

Deploraball

The Deploraball will take place at 8 pm Thursday night, along with several other inauguration balls. This ball does not take itself seriously, has no dress code and is at the National Press Club. The 1,000 tickets for the fun event have already been sold. Special big-name attendees include Mike Cernovich, Jack Posobiec, Lauren Southern, Cassandra Fairbanks, Bill Mitchell, Stephen Limbaugh, Joe Biggs, Roger Stone, Jim Hoft, Lucian Wintrich, Gavin McInnis, and Scott Isbell.  The event will be livestreamed on rsbn.tv.

They’re calling this a “big tent” event for Trump supporters. But there are likely to be a bunch of protestors there, too.

Alaska State Society Inaugural Reception.

Friday, January 20

Inaugural Swearing-In Ceremony
West Front of the U.S. Capitol Building
When: Ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m.; opening remarks at 11:30 a.m.; swearing in at noon by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. Security opens up the stand-only and seating areas at 6 a.m. Wear warm clothes.
What: Trump and Pence families will attend, as will members of Congress, the U.S. Supreme Court, and other guests. Several Democratic members of Congress are boycotting, so there may be seating that opens up. Notables who will attend include Bill and Hillary Clinton, George W. and Laura Bush, and Jimmy Carter. George HW Bush cannot attend due to his fragile health.

Six faith leaders have been chosen to participate: His Eminence Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, Reverend Dr. Samuel Rodriguez of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, Pastor Paula White of New Destiny Christian Center, Rabbi Marvin Hier, Dean and Founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Reverend Franklin Graham of Samaritan’s Purse and The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, and Bishop Wayne T. Jackson of Great Faith Ministries International will offer readings and give the benediction.

Supreme Court of the United States Clarence Thomas will administer the Oath of Office to Vice President-elect Michael Pence. Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the Oath of Office to President-elect Donald Trump.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and America’s Got Talent star Jackie Evancho will perform.

Inaugural Parade
Starts at the steps of the Capitol Building and proceeds along Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.
When: After the inauguration ends
What: Trump, Pence and their families will be escorted down Pennsylvania Avenue, followed by a parade. Viewing areas require tickets. The Talladega College Marching Band and the Rockettes are slated to perform.

Parade participants include: 

1st Cavalry Division Horse Cavalry Detachment – Fort Hood, Texas
1st Infantry Division Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard – Fort Riley, Kansas
Boone County Elite 4-H Equestrian Drill Team – Burlington, Kentucky
Caisson Platoon, Fort Myer – Fort Myer, Virginia
Cleveland Police Mounted Unit – Cleveland, Ohio
Coastal Florida Police & Fire Pipes & Drums – Palm Coast, Florida
Columbus North High School Band – Columbus, Indiana
Culver Academies Black Horse Troop & Equestriennes – Culver, Indiana
First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Fishburne Military School Army JROTC Caissons Battalion – Waynesboro, Virginia
Frankfort High School Band – Ridgeley, West Virginia
Franklin Regional High School Panther Marching Band – Murrysville, Pennsylvania
Indianapolis Metro Police Motorcycle Drill Team – Indianapolis, Indiana
Lil Wranglers – College Station, Texas
Marist College Band – Poughkeepsie, New York
Merced County Sheriff’s Posse – Hilmar, California
Michigan Multi-Jurisdictional Mounted Police Drill Team & Color Guard – Ann Arbor, Michigan
Mid America Cowgirls Rodeo Drill Team – New Buffalo, Michigan
Nassau County Firefighters Pipes & Drums – East Meadow, New York
North Carolina Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association – Hillsborough, North Carolina
NYPD Emerald Society Pipes & Drums – East Moriches, New York
Olivet Nazarene University – Bourbonnais, Illinois
Palmetto Ridge High School Band – Naples, Florida
Russellville High School Band – Russellville, Arkansas
Talladega College Band – Talladega, Alabama
Texas State University Strutters – San Marcos, Texas
The Citadel Regimental Band & Pipes and Summerall Guards – Charleston, South Carolina
The Freedom Riders – Kersey, Colorado
Tupelo High School Band – Tupelo, Mississippi
University of Tennessee Marching Band – Knoxville, Tennessee
VMI Corps of Cadets – Lexington, Virginia
West Monroe High School Marching Band – West Monroe, Louisiana

American Veterans – National
Boy Scouts of America – National
US Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations – National
Disabled American Veterans – National
Paralyzed American Veterans – National
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors– National
US Border Patrol Pipes & Drums – National
Wounded Warrior Project – National
Military & DoD Kids Overseas– U.S. Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy

Many streets will be closed. Visit the official website and Twitter account for more information. The officially determined social media hashtag is #Inaug2017.

Parade route.

The Official Inaugural Balls
Walter E. Washington Convention Center and National Building Museum
When: Friday night
What: Two official inaugural balls are in the works featuring entertainment and appearances by Donald and Melania Trump.

Inaugural Balls

Numerous unofficial balls will also take place, including: Alaska Inaugural Ball, Native American Ball, More details on Alaska-oriented events here.