2013 Inaugural Balls Are Announced

Do you want to attend an inaugural ball? There will be
plenty of opportunities during
the second inauguration of President Barack Obama. State societies and other organizations have begun to make public information about their planned balls. There will be something for everyone, in just about every price range. Most are black-tie,
but not all. There are 17 state society balls, 18 so-called “unofficial” balls,
and at a later date, the presidential inauguration committee (PIC) will announce
the “official” balls, which four years ago numbered ten. (The
Washingtonian is also
hosting its first ever inaugural ball, at the National Air and
Space Museum on January 20; more
details are available
online.) It’s safe to assume President Obama and the First Lady will
attend some of the
balls, though exactly which ones will likely not be made public
until closer to the
events.*

This inauguration weekend will be different than most because inauguration day, January
20, falls on a Sunday. While President Obama will take the oath of office that day
at the White House, he will be sworn in again publicly at the Capitol on Monday, January
21, followed by the traditional parade. Balls and galas will happen Friday, Saturday,
Sunday, and Monday nights of that weekend, and we’ve even found one, the Sister Cities
International Inaugural Gala, happening on Thursday, January 17. 

Below we have links to the balls that have set up pages for information and tickets.

State Society Balls

Arkansas Inaugural Gala 

Sunday, January 20, 8 PM to 1 AM
National Press Club
Tickets: from $125 general admission; $200 VIP
Dress: Black tie

Delaware Inaugural Ball
Sunday, January 20, 7 PM
The Fairmont Hotel, 2401 M St., NW
Tickets: $410
Dress: Black tie

Florida Inaugural Ball 
Saturday, January 19, reception at 6 PM, dinner at 7, ball from 9 to 12:30
Andrew Mellon Auditorium, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW
Dress: Black tie

Garden State Inaugural Gala
Sunday, January 20, 7:30 to 11:30 PM
Washington Court Hotel, 525 New Jersey Ave., NW
Tickets: start at $225
Dress: Black tie optional

Georgia Inaugural Gala
Sunday, January 20, 7 PM to midnight
National Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Ave., NW
Tickets: $150 members; $200 nonmembers
Dress: Black tie

Hawaii State Society Inaugural Ball
Sunday, January 20, 6 PM to 1 AM
Renaissance Arlington Capitol View Hotel, 2800 S. Potomac Ave.
Dress: Black tie or ethnic formal

Illinois State Society Inaugural Gala
Saturday, January 19, 8:30 PM to 1:30 AM
Renaissance Hotel, 999 Ninth St., NW
Tickets: $260
Dress: Black tie

Indiana State Society Inaugural Ball

Sunday, January 20
Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert St., NW

Iowa State Society “First In The National Celebration” Inaugural Party 
Saturday, Jan. 19, 7:30 to 11 PM
Museum of Women in the Arts, 1250 New York Avenue NW
Tickets: $85 for regular, VIP at $135
Dress: Cocktail or business

Kentucky Bluegrass Ball
Saturday, January 19
Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, 2660 Woodley Rd., NW
Tickets: $250

Maryland Inaugural Ball
Sunday, January 20, 8 PM to 1 AM
Gaylord National Hotel, 301 Waterfront St., National Harbor
Tickets: $225 regular; $1,000 VIP
Dress: Black tie

Michigan Inaugural Celebration

Monday, January 21, 7:30 PM to midnight
National Museum of American History, 14th St. and Constitution Ave., NW
Dress: Black tie optional

New Mexico Inaugural Ball 
Saturday, January 19, 7:30 PM to midnight
Carnegie Institution for Science, 1530 P St., NW
Tickets: $125 to $160
Dress: TBA

New York State Society Inaugural Gala
Sunday, January 20, 7 PM to midnight
The Fairmont Hotel, 2401 M St., NW
Tickets: $415
Dress: Black tie preferred

North Carolina Society Inaugural Ball
Saturday, January 19, 8 PM to midnight
Stars and Stripes Club, Nationals Ballpark, 1500 S. Capitol St.
Tickets: $150
Dress: TBA

Oklahoma State Society Inaugural Gala
Saturday, January 19, 7 PM to midnight
Tickets: $60 for members; $80 for nonmembers
Clyde’s of Gallery Place, 707 Seventh St., NW
Dress: Cocktail

Pennsylvania Inaugural Gala
Sunday, January 20, 7 PM to midnight
Ritz-Carlton West End, 1150 22nd St., NW
Tickets: $225
Dress: Black tie

South Carolina Presidential Inaugural Ball
Sunday, January 20, 8 PM
Museum of Natural History, Tenth St. and Constitution Ave., NW
Tickets: $135
Dress: Black tie or military dress

Tennessee State Society Inaugural Ball
January 21, 8 PM to midnight
Sphinx Club, 1315 K Street, NW
Tickets: $160 per individual, $285 per couple, $500 group of 4
Dress: Black tie 

Texas Black Tie & Boots Inaugural Ball
Saturday, January 19
Gaylord National Resort, National Harbor, Maryland
Tickets: $250 members; $300 nonmembers
Dress: Black tie and boots

“Unofficial” Balls

Washingtonian Starry Night Inaugural Ball
Sunday, January 20, 8 PM to midnight
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, 601 Independence Ave., SW
Tickets: $350
Dress: Black tie optional

All American Inaugural Ball 
Sunday, January 20, 9 PM to 1 AM
Hyatt Regency Washington Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Ave., NW
Tickets: $175
Dress: Creative black tie

Ambassadors’ Inaugural Ball
Monday, January 21, 7 PM to 1 AM
Mead Center for American Theater, 1101 Sixth St., SW
Tickets: $350 general admission; $1,000 VIP reception; $150 after-party
Dress: Black tie

American Indian Inaugural Ball
Sunday, January 20
Tickets: $140; $150 at the door

Chef’s Ball
Saturday, January 19, 10:30 PM
Art and Soul Restaurant, the Liaison Hotel, 415 New Jersey Ave., NW
Tickets: $125 VIP, $75 regular
Dress: Celebration (black tie to no tie)

Bytes & Books Inaugural Ball

Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 E. Capitol St., SE
Dress: Black tie

Creative Coalition Inaugural Ball
Monday, January 21

Disability and Pride Inaugural Ball
Saturday, January 20, 7 to 11 PM
National Press Club, 529 14th St., NW

Enduring Legacy Inaugural Ball
Monday, January 21, 9 PM to 3 AM
The Holiday Inn Washington Capitol, 550 C Street SW
Tickets: $75
Dress: Black tie

Entrepreneur Inaugural Ball
Friday, January 18, 7 to 11:30 PM
JW Marriott Hotel, 1331 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Tickets: $199 general admission; $299 VIP
Dress: Black tie

The Fitness Inaugural Ball
Saturday, January 19th, 8:30 PM to midnight
Ritz Carlton West End 1170 22nd Street, NW
Ticket Price: $50 online  $75 at the door
Dress: Your cutest athletic wear

George Washington University Inaugural Ball
Monday, January 21, 8 PM to midnight
Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert St., NW
Tickets: $150
Dress: Black tie

Global Peace Inaugural Ball
Monday, January 21, 6:30 PM
Hyatt Regency Washington Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Ave., NW
Tickets: $250

Green Inaugural Ball
Sunday, January 20, 7 PM
The Newseum
Tickets: $400 regular; $1,950 VIP
Dress: Black tie

HBCU Inaugural Ball
Saturday, January 20, 8 PM to midnight
The Sphinx Club at Franklin Square, 1315 K St., NW
Tickets: $250
Dress: Black tie

Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball
Sunday, January 20, 9 PM to 2 AM
The Harman Center, 610 F St., NW
Dress: Black tie

Hope for St. Jude Inaugural Reception 

Carol Ross Joynt