January 19, 2017
On Friday, Donald J. Trump will become the 45th president of the United States. Here's a guide to the inaugural events – and protests – both in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia:
The inauguration of Trump at the nation's 45th president will be held Friday, Jan. 20. The swearing-in ceremony will start at 11:30 a.m., preceded by a musical interlude, on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol. Trump will be sworn on two Bibles — his own and the Bible that Abraham Lincoln used at his first inauguration. Chief Justice John Roberts will administer the oath of office. Trump will then deliver his inaugural address, with readings and a benediction to follow, and closing with the national anthem. Holding to tradition, Trump and Vice President Mike Pence will then take part in the inaugural parade, beginning at 3 p.m.
Trump, his family and the Obamas will attend, obviously, and a number of ex-presidents will be in attendance, including George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter. Hillary Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, is expected to attend. George H.W. Bush will not be there, as he and his wife, First Lady Barbara Bush, were both hospitalized Wednesday. Religious leaders, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York and the Rev. Franklin Graham, will attend. Inaugural planners say they are expecting about 800,000 people to attend the event.
President Barack Obama and Trump are scheduled to meet at the White House before the inauguration and will be transported to the festivities with their wives. After the inauguration, the Obama family will board Air Force One one final time for a flight to Palm Beach, California.
Going to Washington, D.C.? There are ticketed and non-ticketed viewing locations for the inauguration ceremony. Security gates will open at 6 a.m. Tickets were distributed by members of Congress and the inaugural committee.
The parade route along Pennsylvania Avenue that stretches from the Capitol to the White House will feature many places that are open to members of the public without a ticket.
Event-goers are encouraged to dress warmly and wear shoes that are comfortable. Ticketholders to any event must pass through security screening. Have photo identification and check the list of prohibited items beforehand.
Huge video screens will stream the event to thousands of spectators on the National Mall.
Portable toilets are available on the National Mall and at Metro stations. Stands will sell hot dogs, pretzels and other snacks. There are also eating options at the Smithsonian museums on the Mall and many restaurants nearby.
If you need a hotel, it may be too late. Accommodations are scarce in the capital over Inauguration Day. Rooms are more expensive, and many hotels implement required stays of multiple days.
Vehicle parking is limited, and many roads will be closed. If not inclined to walk or bike, the Metro is the best option. Operating hours are extended on Inauguration Day from 4 a.m., with near rush-hour service levels on all lines until 9 p.m. Five stations - Federal Triangle, Smithsonian, Archives, Pentagon and Mt. Vernon Square – will be closed for the day.
Those planning to use Uber or Lyft will have to leave the security perimeter to get picked up, as their apps will be blocked inside it.
If you’re staying home and want to watch, the major broadcast and cable networks will air it. A number of online sites, including PhillyVoice.com, CNN.com and Politico.com, will stream the ceremony live.
If you'd rather watch the inauguration with others, you might consider events at:
• Rutgers-Camden viewing party, from 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Campus Center Multi-Purpose Room. Table topics will offer points of discussion for students, staff and faculty.
• Chickie's & Pete's South Philly, 1526 Packer Ave., from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., viewing party hosted by 1210 WPHT Talk Radio hosts Chris Stigall, Dom Giordano and Rich Zeoli.
• National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St., Old City Philadelphia, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., the museum will host special educational programs and a viewing party.
Trump will attend three galas at night. The Liberty and Freedom: The Official Presidential Inaugural Balls will be held Friday at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. One of those will be the Commander in Chief ball, a ball to honor the military. He will also attend a number of private dinners.
There are a number of unofficial balls on both Thursday and Friday night, however, in the capital, including New Jersey’s Garden State Gala on Thursday night at the Washington Court Hotel, which is sponsored by the New Jersey State Society. A Texas state party called the “Black Tie and Boots” is expected to draw 10,000 people.
Another inauguration night gathering of dinner and dancing, organized by Gays for Trump, will be held in Potomac, Maryland. Organizers are calling it "the gayest gala in D.C."
The roster of gala entertainers now includes Tony Orlando, the singer best known for the 1973 No. 1 hit "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree." Added on Wednesday, he is set to perform at Friday night's Salute to Our Armed Services Ball at the National Building Museum. The ball is free by invitation only for members and veterans of the armed services and their families.
R&B singer Chrisette Michele will perform in concert on the Mall.
Other acts scheduled to perform include Three Doors Down, Toby Keith, Sam Moore (of the Sam and Dave duo), Lee Greenwood, the Rockettes, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the Talladega Marching Tornadoes and Jackie Evancho of Pittsburgh, the “America’s Got Talent” runner-up, who will sing the national anthem. Actor Jon Voight, a longtime supporter of Republican causes, is expected to attend some events.
A number of anti-Trump protests are planned for the weekend. The largest, by far, will be the Women’s March on Washington, whose organizers are expecting 200,000 people on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Independence Avenue and Third Street SW, near the National Museum of the American Indian on the National Mall.
• The Resist Trump Philly Peoples Inauguration will assemble at 3 p.m. Friday at Thomas Paine Plaza, 1401 JFK Blvd. (across the street from City Hall), for a rally and "show of local power," followed by a march through Center City.
• A Women's March on Philly is expected to draw more than 20,000 people to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Center City from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. (See list of street closures and restricted parking places below.)
• Marijuana activists will host an event at 4 p.m. Friday in Rittenhouse Square to help mark Trump's inauguration.
Washington
Friday – Rain, mainly after 8 a.m. High near 49. Southeast wind 3 to 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent.
Saturday – Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. A chance of rain after 1 p.m.
Philadelphia
Friday – A chance of rain after 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 48. Light and variable wind. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent.
Saturday – Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54.
Police have announced the following road closures and parking restrictions due to the Women's March on Philadelphia on Saturday.
The following streets will be closed from 6:55 a.m. to about noon Saturday:
• Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 16th Street and 20th Street (including Logan Circle)
• 19th Street between Race Street and Vine Street
• Race Street between 20th Street and Logan Circle
Streets closed for the march assembly will open as they are cleared.
The following streets will be closed from 6:55 a.m. to about 5 p.m.:
• Benjamin Franklin Parkway between 20th Street and Eakins Oval (all lanes)
• 21st Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Winter Street
• 22nd Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Race Street
• 23rd Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• Spring Garden Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
• Kelly Drive (outbound) from Benjamin Franklin Parkway to Fairmount Avenue
• Martin Luther King Drive between Eakins Oval and Sweet Briar Drive
• Spring Garden Street Bridge at 31st Street
• 20th Street will be closed between Callowhill and Race streets from about 10 a.m. to noon, but will otherwise remain open to traffic.
• Starting at 6:55 a.m., traffic headed inbound on Kelly Drive must exit Kelly Drive at Fairmount Avenue.
The following streets will be posted as “Temporary No Parking” zones from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.:
• Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 16th Street to 20th Streets (both sides of the street)
• 20th Street from Race Street to Benjamin Franklin Parkway (east side of the street)
• 19th Street from Cherry Street to Vine Street (both sides of the street)
• 18th Street from Arch Street to Vine Street (both sides of the street)
• 17th Street from Race Street to Arch Street (both sides of the street)
• 1600 Cherry Street (both sides of the street)
The following streets – both sides – will be posted as “Temporary No Parking” zones from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m.:
• Benjamin Franklin Parkway from 20th Street to Eakins Oval (all lanes)
• 21st Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Race Street
• 22nd Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Winter Street
• Park Towne Place between 22nd & 24th Streets (north side of the street only)
• Sedgley Drive from Kelly Drive to Poplar Drive
• 2100-2200 Spring Garden Street (north side of the street only)
Vehicles parked in these locations during posted hours will be relocated.
Due to related street closures from the Saturday rally, SEPTA Bus Routes 7, 32, 33, 38, 43 and 48 will be detoured from their normal routes through the Benjamin Franklin Parkway area from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Detours will be posted and specific route changes are available on the System Status Page at www.septa.org.
