Anyone here ever been to an inauguration?

[Citizen_Penn]

Doing my decision making...

Will I regret not going?

What, if anything, may I expect in terms of seeing the ceremony?

Anyone have any experiences to share?

[sonias]

1. Tickets will be incredibly hard to come by

If you haven't made a request from your Congressman you better get in the line. They will only get about 200 tickets to distribute each and the competition for the tickets will be very fierce this year.

You can always just go and watch in the parade route but you'll be lucky to even get a small glimpse of the motorcade as it goes by.

If you actually have the opportunity to get in to the inauguration and can afford the trip, you should go. It will be historic.

inaugural.senate.gov
Tickets

Tickets to the 56th Inaugural Ceremonies will be provided free of charge and distributed through Members of the 111th Congress. The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies does not provide tickets to the public. Members of the public interested in attending the Inaugural Ceremonies should contact their Member of Congress or U.S. Senators to request tickets.

The public should also be aware that no website or other ticket outlet actually has inaugural swearing-in tickets to sell, regardless of what they may claim. Tickets will not be distributed to Congressional offices until the week before the inauguration and will require in-person pick-up.

“Any website or ticket broker claiming that they have inaugural tickets is simply not telling the truth,” said Howard Gantman, Staff Director for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. “Tickets for the swearing-in of President-elect are all provided through members of Congress, and the President-elect and Vice President-elect through the Presidential Inaugural Committee. We urge the public to view any offers of tickets for sale with great skepticism.”

Good luck!

Sonia

[Citizen_Penn]

2. i think I have a good chance of scoring a ticket

since I live in Mike McCaul's very red district, and his aide tells me only about 55 people are ahead of me.

But, in terms of travel expense, and access - I'm wondering if it's worth it.

The first time I heard Obama speak was in Austin at Town Lake Feb 2006 - and before he had Secret Service - very loose. This seems likely to be very different - but, I agree, historic.

[sonias]

3. Probably the only time it would be lucky to say you live in CD10

I guess he's willing to help his constituents this time.

Yes I would plan for very strict security procedures. There will be scanners like at the airports and you should not plan on taking backpacks etc to the ceremony either.

Hope you get to go.


Sonia