Wondering about all the hype surrounding inauguration week is about?  Well, if you happen to be in Washington DC during the week Obama is sworn in or if you live in the area there will be plenty of opportunities to both celebrate and take place in the historical occasion.  Quite frankly, there is no better place to be during inauguration week then in the heartland of Washington DC because everyone from celebrities to ordinary citizens will be living up the week in true style from concerts to parades to galas to the actual swearing in of Obama.

The theme for Obama’s inauguration week is “Renewing America’s Promise” as Obama has repeatedly promised change and a better America throughout his presidency. As such, there are many events happening in DC throughout the week to inspire change in the country and for people to respectfully come together to celebrate a new era in America’s history. The following is a breakdown of a few of the main events happening in Washington that the public is welcome to enjoy since the actually swearing in of the president is limited to those who hold tickets from their state senators or representatives.

First off, to begin inauguration week with a bang HBO will host a welcome concert on the steps of Lincoln Memorial with over thirty well known musical acts scheduled to perform. Among those scheduled to play are Garth Brooks, Bono, Shakira, Josh Groban, Usher, Bruce Springsteen, Beyonce, and many more. During the concert historical passages will be read by several stars to commemorate the occasion such as Queen Latifah and Denzel Washington. This event is open to the public and is scheduled to begin at 2:30 although the public gates will open at 8am for those who want to make sure they have the best viewing option.

On the twentieth, if you are not lucky enough to have landed a ticket to the inauguration day swearing in of the new president, you can still attend the parade which be held down the path of Pennsylvania Avenue.   For those who want to be as close as possible, the public is not allowed to assemble along the street by police orders until 7am.  Make sure to dress warm because the parade is not expected to begin until 2:30 and umbrellas are not allowed due to security concerns.  This is your best chance at seeing Obama on inauguration day if you do not hold a ticket to the swearing in ceremony.

After the official administration of the Oath and the swearing in ceremony, inauguration balls will be held through Washington both by government and personal agencies.  While you will need a special ticket to attend the balls held by the official Presidential Inaugural Committee Balls, there are a great number of balls that are open to the public or that still have tickets available for you to purchase.  Even if you simply attend a gala held by a club or an event hall you will not want to miss this unique opportunity to celebrate with your peers for what is a one-time historical event during your lifetime.