Events celebrating the inauguration of Barack Obama will be held in Port Angeles, at 7 Cedars Casino in Blyn and at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Port Townsend today.
In Washington, D.C., inaugural festivities are scheduled to start on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol at 7 a.m., with musical selections.
Joseph Biden will be sworn in as vice president by Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens at about 8:30 a.m.
At 9 a.m., Obama will take the Oath of Office, using President Abraham Lincoln’s Inaugural Bible, administered by Chief Justice John Roberts.
From 9:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., after Obama gives the inaugural address, he will escort outgoing President George W. Bush to a departure ceremony before attending a luncheon in the Capitol’s Statuary Hall.
Bush and his wife will leave the Capitol in a helicopter.
At 11:30 a.m., the 56th Inaugural Parade will make its way down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House.
Later that day, the Presidential Inaugural Committee will host 10 official inaugural balls. The Obamas are expected to attend all of them.
Morning broadcast
CSPAN’s coverage of Inauguration Day activities will be broadcast at the Port Angeles Public Library from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.
The broadcast will be in the Raymond Carver Room at the library at 2210 S. Peabody St.
Doors will open at 6:45 a.m.
New PA venues added
Because tickets are sold out for the North Olympic Peninsula Community Inaugural Ball in Port Angeles, the organizers have arranged for three additional venues at which to celebrate the inauguration — Port Angeles CrabHouse Restaurant, 7 Cedars Casino in Blyn and Wine on the Waterfront in Port Angeles’ Landing mall.
For the 300 people now holding the $20 tickets, the ball will be held at the Elks Naval Lodge, 131 E. First St. in downtown Port Angeles, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
There will appetizers and a social hour from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., followed by music by the Fat Chance band from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
There will also be big-screen TV coverage of inauguration events in Washington, D.C.
The ball was organized by Kathy Charlton and Molly Rivard of Olympic Cellars winery and Edna Petersen of the Necessities and Temptations gift shop.
At the additional venues:
nâÇPort Angeles CrabHouse Restaurant at the Red Lion Hotel, 221 N. Lincoln St.: All four big-screen TVs in the lounge will be tuned to inauguration activities.
Special appetizers and drinks will be available.
nSEnS7 Cedars Casino, 270756 U.S. Highway 101, Blyn: Beginning at 4 p.m., “eat cake, dance and celebrate.” Drink specials; two-for-one night in the buffet with cake. Music by Stardust Big Band, no cover.
Must be 21 or over.
• Wine on the Waterfront in The Landing mall, 115 E. Railroad Ave.: 7 p.m., drink specials and live music.
In addition, two Port Angeles restaurants — Michael’s Seafood and Steakhouse, 117 E. First St., and Bella Italia restaurant, 118 E. First St. — will offer dinner specials in honor of the inauguration.
PT inauguration ball
In Port Townsend, the “Yes We Can-Can Inaugural Ball & Festivities” at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 4907 Landes St., will run from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Admission is by donation. Proceeds will benefit the Port Townsend Food Bank.
Organizers of the ball encourage all members of the community to dress in funky and formal attire and bring desserts and beverages for a potluck.
A big-screen presentation of footage from the inauguration ceremony will be shown.
Tim Halpin and the Better Half will provide live music.
Port Townsend writer Sandy Diamond will read a poem written for the occasion, accompanied by the band, Kinetic Kops.
There will also be informational booths of more than 10 community organizations, where participants can offer input for change in Jefferson County.
Children’s events
There will be after-school children’s activities at the Jefferson fairgrounds to celebrate the inauguration from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Children will have an opportunity to participate in interviews with OPeN Media Network and express their thoughts about the new president.
Free hot chocolate and apple cider will be served.
For more information, e-mail kdwyer@olympus.net.
