How to Get Them: Presidential Inauguration Tickets

Interested in attending the presidential inauguration 30 miles away and across the Potomac in January? There are a limited number of tickets and your best bet is to request them—now—from your member of Congress.

Each Senator and Representative receives a limited quantity of free tickets that they may distribute to the public at their discretion. 

Congressman Frank Wolf's (R-10th) office is also accepting requests for tickets. You can find a form to fill out here.

Sen. Mark Warner's office spells out what is required for anyone requesting tickets. You must:

• be Virginia residents (non-Virginians should contact their home state Senators and Representatives);
• request no more than 4 tickets;
• submit complete contact information on the form provided prior to December 15, 2012;
• if selected to receive tickets, be able to pick them up in person in the Senator's Washington, DC office on January 18, 19 or 20.  You will be required to show photo identification at the time of pick-up.

Warner's ticket request form is here.

(Patch will include information about tickets from Senator-elect Tim Kaine as soon as it's available.)

In 2009, President Obama's inauguration attracted 1.8 million to the National Mall, according to an estimate from the Washington Post.

President Obama's swearing-in is noon Monday, Jan. 21 on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. (He'll be sworn in privately the day before, due to a constitutional requirement that he be sworn in by Jan. 20, since the 20th falls on a Sunday.) If you don't get a ticket, there are large screens set up on the mall to watch the goings-on. 

Viewing the swearing-in ceremonies from the National Mall does not require tickets. The non-ticketed area of the National Mall begins at Fourth Street NW.

The swearing-in and address will be followed by a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, which is open to the public.

Many states have their own inaugural balls and Virginia typically is part of the Mid-Atlantic Ball. No details out yet on it.

For a list of unofficial balls associated with inaugural festivities, visit: http://www.presidential-inauguration.com/category/unofficial-inaugural-balls-2013/