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Guidelines
and Schedule for
2009 Inaugural Parade on January 20,2009
The Parade
One of the best opportunities to participate in the inaugural events is the parade, when all the Inauguration fanfare will march along a 1.7 mile-route from Capitol Hill to the White House and hundreds of thousands of people are able line the route and watch the participating bands.
The parade will begin about 2 p.m. on January 20, 2009, following the Congressional luncheon. The official parade route starts at the intersection of Constitution and Pennsylvania Avenues, then travels down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.
Organizing this timed performance of 11,000 people, floats, vehicles and horses is no small project. From buses, warming tents and food, to security and public safety, much will be happening behind the scenes to create this Inauguration event that will be viewed by half million spectators.
Efforts are made to have as many states represented in the parade as possible. In the 2001 inaugural parade, 129 bands and other marching units were selected from 562 applications, resulting in about 11,000 participants representing 45 states. Two marching units are typically selected for every band to keep the music in one band from interfering with another.
The parade should last about two hours.
