A New Birth of Freedom

The Presidential Inauguration on Jan 20, 2009 will not be the only item on tap in the DC area. With TPTB opening up the bars 24/7, "Happy days are here again!" will undoubtedly be the song of choice.

The agenda for other activities:

The Presidential Inauguration will be held on January 20, 2009. A week of festivities will include the Presidential Swearing in Ceremony, Inaugural Address, Inaugural Parade and a night of Inaugural Balls and galas honoring the new President of the United States.

The theme for the 2009 presidential inauguration will be "A New Birth of Freedom," commemorating the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. The words come from the Gettysburg address, and express Lincoln's hope that the sacrifice of those who died to preserve the nation shall lead to "a new birth of freedom" for our nation. The theme is particularly appropriate in light of the historic election of Senator Barack Obama.

With the election of Barack Obama - the first black president in America - inaugural events are expected to draw record breaking crowds to Washington, DC. This historic day immediately follows the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr which will be celebrated with special events as well. And just in time for Inauguration Day, the nation's capital honors Lincoln's Bicentennial with a city-wide celebration including special exhibits and tours.

Getting around the region throughout the four-day inaugural weekend will be challenging. Washington Metro is gearing up for the events with increased hours and security.

Click & bookmark this link as it will update as information becomes available.