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January 13, 2009
Ten tips for attending the Inauguration
U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette (R-Bainbridge Township) today offered suggestions for Ohioans traveling to Washington, DC, for next week’s historic Inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama.
“Washington can be a difficult city to navigate in normal times, and getting around on Inauguration Day is going to be especially challenging because of road closures and massive crowds,” LaTourette said. “The day will be much less stressful if you plan ahead and don’t leave your visit to chance.”
Here are some things to remember for your trip:
1) Tickets are not needed to witness the Inauguration or the Inaugural Parade. The Mall will be open and will have non-ticketed areas. You will be able to watch the ceremony on Jumbotron screens set up along the Mall and listen via loud speaker. You can line up along the parade route starting at 7 a.m., but please know that no bleacher tickets are available and my congressional office was not provided with any parade tickets. The parade begins at 2:30 p.m., and reserved bleacher seats that are not filled by the parade's start will be opened to the public for free. Please note: There are specific access points for the Inauguration and it will be difficult or impossible to cross some streets by foot. You can learn more here.
2) Prepare for bad weather and prepare to stand outdoors for hours. The vast majority of people attending the Inauguration, both in ticketed and non-ticketed areas, will be in standing-only areas. You should expect to stand for six hours or more in the cold and should dress appropriately, as if you’re going to a Browns game in December. Also, if it’s raining, no umbrellas are permitted in the ticketed area. The weather is typically in the mid-30s in January.
3) Expect long waits to clear security. Those with tickets near the Capitol will have to pass through a stringent security checkpoint. You can learn more here. Gates open at 8 a.m. The musical prelude begins at 9 a.m. and the official program begins at 11:30 a.m. If you are not through a security checkpoint by 11:30 a.m., officials say you may be denied access to the ticketed area. Canes, including those with a fold-down seat, walkers, wheelchairs, and scooters are allowed. There are many prohibited items you cannot take into the ticketed Inaugural area, and the police will not make exceptions. If you make the mistake of taking a piece of luggage or a backpack and decide to stash it by a tree or bench outside the ticketed area, it most likely will be treated as a legitimate threat by police and the Bomb Squad could be called.
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