Timeline, and how to watch events of the 59th Presidential Inauguration

Inauguration Day festivities will be mostly virtual, but you can still participate and view the events from home. Here is a timeline, and how to watch the 59th Presidential Inauguration official events.

News 12 Staff

Jan 21, 2021, 1:39 AM

Updated 1,353 days ago

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Inauguration Day festivities will be mostly virtual, but you can still participate and view the events from home. In keeping with public health guidance, travel to any official event is discouraged. 
Here is a timeline, and how to watch the 59th Presidential Inauguration official events:
NOTE: Times listed are in Eastern Standard Time.

Inaugural Ceremonies - Starting at 10:30 a.m.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be sworn in on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol building. After they take their oaths of office, Biden will deliver an inaugural address laying out his vision to defeat the pandemic, build back better, and unify and heal the nation. 
Streamed at BidenInaugural.org/watch and expected to be carried live on all major networks and platforms, including News 12. News 12 will start its coverage at 11 a.m. For accessible viewing options, please visit bideninaugural.org/accessibility.

Swearing In - 12 p.m.

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are sworn in as the 46th President of the United States and the 49th Vice President of the United States. The president delivers an inaugural address on the West Front of the Capitol.

Pass in Review - Following the inaugural ceremony - 1:40 p.m.

Following the ceremony, Biden, his wife, Harris, and her husband, will participate in a Pass in Review on the East Front steps of the Capitol with members of the military. Pass in Reviews are a long-standing military tradition that reflect the peaceful transfer of power to a new commander-in-chief. 

Wreath Laying at Arlington National Cemetery - Starting at 2 p.m.

Biden, Jill Biden, Harris, and Doug Emhoff will visit Arlington National Cemetery to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They will be joined by former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, former President George W. Bush and Laura Bush, and former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary Hillary Clinton.

Presidential Escort - Starting at 3 p.m.

Biden will receive a presidential escort from 15th Street to the White House with every branch of the military represented in the escort, including The U.S. Army Band, a Joint Service Honor Guard, and the Commander-in-Chief’s Guard and Fife and Drum Corps from the 3rd U.S. Infantry “The Old Guard."

Virtual Parade Across America - Following the presidential escort

The presidential escort to the White House will be followed by a “Parade Across America,” which will be televised for the American people and feature diverse, dynamic performances in communities across the country.

Celebrating America Primetime Special (8:30 p.m.)

Hosted by Tom Hanks, this 90-minute primetime program will feature remarks from Biden and Harris, and include remarks and performances from Ant Clemons, Jon Bon Jovi, Foo Fighters, John Legend, Eva Longoria, Demi Lovato, Bruce Springsteen, Justin Timberlake, and Kerry Washington.
The president and vice president are expected to deliver remarks at 8:48 p.m.
Carried live by ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, MSNBC, and PBS. Streamed at BidenInaugural.org/watchPIC’s YouTubeFacebookTwitter, Twitch and others. For accessible viewing options, please visit bideninaugural.org/accessibility.

Our White House: An Inaugural Celebration for Young Americans (10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.)

The Presidential Inauguration Committee (PIC) will host a first-ever curated livestream for young Americans before and during the inaugural ceremonies. The livestream, hosted by award-winning entertainer and advocate Keke Palmer, will feature a special message from Dr. Jill Biden; commentary from historians Doris Kearns Goodwin and Erica Armstrong Dunbar; a segment on presidential pets produced by Nickelodeon; excerpts of student voices from PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs “We the Young People” programming; trivia questions, including some asked by Doug Emhoff; segments produced by the Library of Congress; and other special features.
Streamed at BidenInaugural.org/youth and PIC’s YouTube channel; broadcasted by Nickelodeon and Discovery Education and steamed via their websites, apps, and social media platforms; steamed online by PBS NewsHour, Amazon Prime Video, and on ABC Owned Television Stations’ 32 connected TV Apps across Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Roku; and Spanish-language broadcast to air on Discovery Familia later on Jan. 20.