First thing's first: President-elect Joe Biden will officially be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States of America at NOON EST on January 20.
RECOMMENDED: Here are the most popular destinations among U.S. travelers at the moment
Needless to say, the inauguration will look very different from what we're used to seeing every four years—courtesy of COVID-19 and new security concerns following the events that unfolded at the Capitol just last week.
Although Biden will still be sworn in on the steps of the Capitol, overall event attendance will be severely limited. Americans are being urged to stay away from the capital (Airbnb is cancelling D.C. reservations for next week), parade viewing stands around the White House have already been dismantled, members of Congress have only been given a single ticket each to attend and inaugural balls have been cancelled.
Americans looking forward to the traditional parade will also have to scale back their expectations: the Presidential Inaugural Committee has announced it will host a virtual event in lieu of an in-person one.
And, now, the really fun stuff: the committee just announced that Lady Gaga will sing the National Anthem during the happenings and Jennifer Lopez will follow that act with her own musical performance. Both artists will actually be at the Capitol. Amanda Gordon, the first-ever national Youth Poet Laureate, will also treat us all to a poetry reading.
"[The group of inauguration participants] represent one clear picture of the grand diversity of our great nation and will help honor and celebrate the time-honored traditions of the presidential inauguration as President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris take the oath of office on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol," said Presidential Inaugural Committee CEO Tony Allen in an official press release announcing the news. "They are also committed to the President-elect and the Vice-President-elect’s steadfast vision of a new chapter in our American story in which we are an America united in overcoming the deep divisions and challenges facing our people, unifying the country, and restoring the soul of our nation."
It is the dawn of a new era indeed.
Most popular on Time Out
- The latest food recall may force you to throw out that ice cream you've been storing in your freezer
- Dr. Fauci predicts live shows could return and theaters could reopen as soon as this fall
- Nearly 300 miles were just added to the U.S. Bicycle Route System
- These are the most wish-listed Airbnb stays in each U.S. state
- White Castle celebrates Valentine’s Day with a retro drive-in dining experience